Things To Remember While Planning A Multi-Cultural Wedding In India!
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Boy met girl and they both fell in love! But did the families too? Planning a multi-cultural or inter-religious wedding in India is more difficult than convincing your parents to say yes to the marriage itself. Two different rituals, different cultures and most important – different people – how do you start? Don’t you worry, like always, we have your back! Here are the top things to remember while you plan your dream multi-cultural wedding in India
Understanding Each Other’s Cultures
Familiarize yourself with the traditions, customs, and rituals of the cultures represented in the wedding. Learn about the significance of different ceremonies, attire, music, and food. This understanding will help you plan a wedding that respects and incorporates the traditions of all cultures involved. Not only will your in-laws be happy that you are open to knowing their culture, it’s a great way to spend more time together!
Two Weddings, Double The Fun!
Gone are the days when you had to pick one or have a registered marriage because which wedding to do was a huge question! Decide whether you want to have a combined ceremony that incorporates elements from both cultures or separate ceremonies to honour each culture individually. Deepika and Ranveer also had a Konkani style wedding along with a Sindhi style one!
Communication Is Key!
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Once everyone has accepted each other happily, make it a happy occasion instead of a serious one. Have a welcome lunch where everyone is introduced, games are played without the cloud of culture and rituals. This way people are more inclined to get along with each other!
The Destination Wedding Trick!
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If possible, have a destination wedding! A destination wedding is usually a big party. Everyone is celebrating and living together for 2-3 days, allowing families to mingle and have fun.
Seek Professional Help
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If you feel overwhelmed or inexperienced in planning a multi-cultural wedding, consider hiring a wedding planner who specializes in multi-cultural weddings. They will have the expertise and experience to handle the complexities of blending different cultures seamlessly.
Have A Neutral Ritual
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Don’t want two events? Have a neutral wedding! When this Hindu-Muslim couple got married they created their own ritual. It wasn't a nikah, and there were no pheras. Instead, they wrote speeches for each other, and let their family speak about their love as well. They created something special to them and also ensured the issues of 'whose ritual to follow?' dont get created.
Have Themed Nights From Both The Cultures
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Are you a Tamilian marrying a Punjabi? Keep a Punjabi Dholki night one day where everyone is told to dress up in a patiala Salwar and parandi and a traditional South Indian theme the next morning for brunch where you can serve appams and stew with 'Kanjivarams' as the dress code. It’s a fun filled way for guests to truly be involved in each religion’s customs
Cultural Dress-Up Booth
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Or you can spice up the celebration with a dress-up booth where guests can try on traditional attire from both cultures. Provide props, accessories, and a photo booth to capture their multicultural transformations. It'll be a riot of laughter and unforgettable memories. Ensure that this is ok with both families so that no one is offended!
Choose a Suitable Venue
Select a venue that can accommodate the rituals and traditions of both cultures. Ensure that the venue has space for different ceremonies, diverse food options, and comfortable seating arrangements for guests from both sides. Consider outdoor or indoor venues depending on the weather and cultural requirements.
Keep The Wedding Intimate
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If you think that extended relatives may cause issues from both ends, keep the wedding ceremony intimate. Invite them for the sangeet and have a big reception while keeping the wedding ceremony limited to only close family and friends.
Have Fun!
Inter-religious weddings are tedious as it is, so embrace fun and light-hearted rituals & traditions of each faith. For example: The ‘joota churana’ tradition in a Catholic-Marwari wedding can be fun. Also, you can have a ‘vaarat’ instead of a baraat in a Maharashtrian-Gujju wedding making the ‘bidai’ livelier and happier.
Cultural Crash Course
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If you have decided to go a particular route with your rituals, and all your guests are familiar with different rituals, hand them a little scroll during the ceremony explaining what the significance of each custom is, so that they don't get lost during it. Make it fun, give them little bells to ring during the rituals so they can join in too!
Food, Food and Food
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Food is one of the most important aspects of a wedding ceremony, it is better to include the traditional dishes of both the sides in your menu. Create menu cards that introduce each dish, explaining its cultural origins and significance. Make sure that no food item offends the other religion or their guests. If you have veg/non-veg issues, have separate food sections.
When In Doubt, Don't Hesitate To Ring The Help Hotline
While planning all the functions, make sure one person from both the families is looped in. This will help you to understand and plan rituals which you may not have knowledge of. Also, you’ll avoid the risk of hurting someone’s sentiments. You may also want to rope in a friend who follows the same customs as your in-laws. Sometimes it’s easier to ask your friend about things you may be uncomfortable asking the in-laws.
Don’t Go The Fusion Way!
We encounter many brides wanting to wear a 'Christian - Indian' fused gown with a dupatta, or something like that. While the thought is lovely and as a bride you should totally wear what you want to wear, it doesn't work in most of the cases. Stick to an outfit which makes you feel beautiful, irrespective of whose religion it belongs to. You can pick one element and make it your own. Like how brides are now opting for veil-style dupattas instead of changing the whole bridal look!
Love knows no religion, language, caste or tradition. So, do not let the love between you and your partner be affected by any of these things. Just keep these tips in mind, and make your wedding the most beautiful memory of your life.