The Beauty of a Multicultural Wedding
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being apart to two different multicultural weddings. I took great pride in learning to speak some of the ceremony in French on the Saturday and a little Spanish on the Sunday! "Everyone is the world experiences love but to people who fall in love it is a profoundly unique and wonderful experience. It is a love that goes beyond any religious tradition, looks past different hardships and focuses only on the heart."
"There’s nothing I love more than an excuse to celebrate life and have a gathering with family and friends." -@OfficiantRobLewis
Cultural Ceremonies
I learned the Mexican custom of exchanging coins and the Lazo ceremony. The coins, or arrhea, was a Roman custom of breaking gold or silver, one half to be kept by the woman and the other half by the man, as a pledge of marriage. The custom of the giving of wedding coins originated in Spain. Thirteen gold coins (arras) are given to the bride by the bridegroom, signifying his willingness to support her. Often presented in ornate boxes or gift trays, this represents the brides dowry and holds good wishes for prosperity. The symbolism, which was explained by myself, is that the Groom recognizes his responsibility as a provider, and pledges his ability to support and care for her. Acceptance by the bride means taking that trust and confidence unconditionally with total dedication and prudence. The groom will then pour the coins into the bride's cupped hands and places the box on top as a symbol of his unquestionable trust, confidence and pledge to provide financially for them. (coin box below on left)
(Lazo above on right)
The Lazo Lasso (sometimes called, "lazo") or rope is placed around the bride and groom's shoulders (groom's shoulder's first) in the form of an "8" (the infinity symbol) - after they have exchanged their vows - to symbolize their everlasting union. This is usually done by the officiant, however, family members can also take part in this ritual. The couple wears the lasso throughout the remainder of the service. If you have children; they may also be included as they will definitely be a part of the new family.
Food
One thing’s for sure – you’ll never get bored with dinner. Having a spouse from a different culture will introduce you to a completely different cuisine – Martin from La Mesita Catering
put on a beautiful display of food. You can find him on facebook at the link above or at the ptbo farmers market.
Learning about new dishes and how to cook them enriches the lives of all those who celebrate culture.
Language
Adding variety to the wedding with different languages for guest makes your ceremony unique! Most people would like to learn another language, but they have to sign up for a class and find a way to practice it. When you marry a spouse from a different culture, you automatically have a language teacher. Just from overhearing them converse with their family, you can pick up on many words and pronunciation. Have readings in 2 languages or a Bride or a Groom saying vows deepens the connection to your guests. I suppose in my case having an Officiant who learns parts of the service in a differently language (mostly thanks to my wife who is a french teacher!) Makes the service unique and a celebration of you and the new life you are making together.
When you learn about a different culture in a positive way, you also stop thinking that your own culture is superior to others. It’s great to learn how different cultures do things and then apply it to your own life – anything from mealtimes to parenting. It adds diversity to your daily life and can make your wedding something for people to remember.
FB- @officiantRobLewis
www.kawarthaceremonies.com
Twitter- @weddingkawartha
