5 Subtle Ways to Sneak Culture into Your Wedding
Often, getting married isn't just about you and your husband. For many couples, it's also about celebrating two families becoming one. And with that celebration comes many different cultural aspects that you and your fiancé may want to incorporate. Whether you are joining two different cultures and want to sprinkle in a little bit of both, or want a full-blown culture-filled wedding, here are some tips on how to do it right.
The Ceremony The ceremony is a great place to recognize your culture. Consider adding in a few readings that fit well or incorporating a tradition. For example, if you want to add Jewish flair, consider breaking a glass at the end of the ceremony or circling the groom after you walk down the aisle. Greek tradition has the bride and groom wearing crowns as they marry. Adding in a few different things your culture or cultures do will make for a beautiful and unique wedding.
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The Reception The reception is all about fun—but that doesn't mean you can't sprinkle in some culture here, too. Most cultures have traditional wedding songs, like the Horah or the Italian jig Tarantella. These songs only last a few minutes, but can make a big impact on your family and make the reception feel personal.
The Décor This is where you can get creative. See if your culture uses a certain type of flower, or even consider using your country or state's official flower. You can also base your color scheme off your culture—use the colors of the flag for napkins, centerpieces or invites.
The Food Your menu is a great way to add culture with a big impact without changing any other aspect of the wedding. Use your cocktail hour to add in a variety of bites that please different cultures or go all out and have your main course resemble your family heritage. Did your grandma always cook a specific meal from her home country? Serve that as the entrée! Is your fiance's family Greek? Try adding Mediterranean aspects to your cocktail hour—just make sure everyone knows not to break any plates!
The Fashion When it comes to your fashion, you can go all out or keep it simple. Wearing jewelry that has been passed down through generations is a simple way to do this, but many brides may also want to consider wearing traditional garb down the aisle or during the reception. You can always do an outfit change if you still want to wear a traditional dress—the choice is yours! Style Me Pretty Contributor - Jessica Tzikas is a freelance writer, editor, and content manager from South Florida, who recently moved back to the sunshine state after living in Philadelphia for the past few years. When she isn't writing, you can find her reading by the beach, practicing yoga, and exploring nearby towns with her new husband.
