Ethnic Wedding Traditions

Did you know that many parts of the wedding ceremony and reception are based on ethnic wedding traditions? Some of them tie into ancient practices as well as 21st century ones too. The reason weddings are special is because of these unique wedding traditions and cultures that have influenced everything from the planning to the execution of the event. To make your own impending nuptials unique and memorable for everyone involved, look to those different cultural wedding traditions that reflect not only your heritage but that of your future spouse and family.

Whether you are Irish, Korean, Dutch or Vietnamese, ethnic wedding traditions can be the difference in catapulting your ceremony from just another event to one that touches everyone’s heart and imprints in their memories forever. Some cultures perceive weddings as sacred so using some of those ethnic wedding traditions is the ultimate nod in recognizing and rejoicing in your heritage.

Ethnic weddings also expose your guests to another culture. For instance, the color red is symbolic of joy and hope in the Japanese culture. One of the ways a non-Japanese bride could honor her groom’s Japanese ancestry is to choose a wedding gown or at least a reception gown made from red silk. Of course, this is not the standard virginal white as worn at other times.

Cultural weddings are also a time to honor your ancestors and current family members who are steeped in tradition. For Cuban ethnic wedding traditions, every male that dances with the bride must pin money to her clothing. In related Filipino cultural weddings, there is also money pinning, only to both bride and groom. In fact, some families take this cultural wedding event to the extreme and compete to see whether the bride or groom’s side pins the most money.

When you start planning your upcoming nuptials, keep in mind the different wedding culture traditions there are. Incorporate both the bride and groom’s beliefs when possible and honor their cultural legacy with their respective ethnic wedding traditions. Of course, you cannot include everything; just choose a few meaningful traditions to follow.

Wedding + culture equals a significant and memorable occasion. And that is what starting a new life as a married couple is all about - blending the heritage of both families to create a new one. What better way to reflect those new ties than through your wedding ceremony and reception!