Wedding Theme Planning
Ethnic Wedding
Traditions
When deciding on a wedding
theme, most couples tend to lean toward the more
popular ones: beach, western, butterfly, etc. However, by
turning your attention toward an ethnic theme wedding you'll
find that it's a wonderful way to incorporate your heritage and
personalize your wedding day. Your wedding guests will also
appreciate experiencing some of your wonderful cultural
traditions.
Just as in any traditional wedding theme planning, you need
to look at each aspect of your wedding plans and decide how and
what ethnic traditions you can include. Here are some ideas to
help you along.
Choosing Wedding Colors
In some cases, you can interject certain colors into your
color scheme. For example, those with a Scottish background
could use the colors of their tartans in their table
decorations, wedding flowers and bridal attire. Couples who are
planning an Asian wedding would look at including reds and
yellows, perhaps.
Wedding Attire
The bride, groom and attendants should all wear culturaly
traditional bridal attire for the ceremony. The guests will
certainly love this, especially those who don't know much about
your culture.
Wedding Favors
Look about your home for ethnic house decorations that you
might have to provide you with some inspiration. Items such as
artwork could lead to handing out low-cost small framed posters
or art work featuring your native country.
Bookmarks or music CD's from your homeland would also make
great wedding favors.
Ethnic Wedding Decorations
Choose wedding flowers and arrangements that would be
popular for your culture. For example, orchids are widely used
in Hawaiian cultures, while lotus blossoms are popular for
Chinese weddings. Daisies and zinnias are suitable for a
Mexican wedding.
Use decorating accents and props
strategically placed through out the reception area that are
appropriate to your culture to help bring the "feel" of the
theme to your guests. Fringed table runners in deep colors
would enhance an Arab or East-Indian theme, while colorfully
small-beaded coasters would look lovely on tables for an
American Indian wedding (these could also double as favors).
Small African masks could be used as decorating accents in a
variety of areas for an African-American wedding.
Additional Theme Ideas
It goes without saying that music from your native country
is a must. Hire a musician for the ceremony to play a
traditional musical instrument. Play some of this type of music
during key parts of your reception (however, don't play it
throughout the whole night a small sampling is best in this
case).
If there are dances that are special to your culture, hire
some dancers to entertain guests during dinner or to start off
the reception.
Plan to have a small part of the ceremony done in your
native tongue (preferably with a translator for those that
don't speak the language so they don't miss anything).
For entertainment, include any interesting or simple games,
if appropriate, during the reception.
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(c)2005. Rose Smith is the owner of Wedding Themes and More, a
website designed to help you discover and plan your perfect
theme wedding. Find more cultural wedding ideas and wedding
planning articles by visiting http://www.wedthemes.com
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