Incorporating Overseas Marriage Traditions into Your Wedding
Thoughts of weddings and dreams of the perfect wedding feature more prominently in a woman's mind than it does in a man's. Probably has something to do with the fact that men would rather put it off until the inevitable happens!
There is no denying that a wedding is one of life's most momentous occasions. There is a special solemnity to it that no other event quite matches. There is also a great deal of fun, laughter, happiness and tears all blended into a strange mix.
As society has evolved there have been numerous changes in the way we did things in the past and how we do them today. Weddings have undergone a lot of changes, progressing to what they have become today. Though we still hold on to many of the wedding traditions of yesteryear - no wedding would be complete without them - couples have become more adventurous in their wedding planning.
Many people like to incorporate overseas marriage traditions into their weddings to spice up the entire event. With globalization spreading its wings on a truly massive scale, why not import some of the foreign wedding traditions as well, with everything else we import. We also live in an age where online dating allows relationships to span the globe. This of course has resulted in a larger number of inter-racial marriages than ever before.
Let us look at a few examples that showcase the incorporation of overseas wedding traditions into a western wedding ceremony. In other words, just how well do these traditions and customs merge together? Let's take a look at some classic examples that really highlight the wide range of differences in marriage traditions that exist.
A marriage between a Christian bride from the west and a non Christian groom from Asia means what exactly? Simply put the church wedding is out because the groom will have to convert first before being allowed to marry in a church.
Then you have customs that dictate which family pays for the wedding. The Chinese custom says the groom pays for the wedding while in the western world the bride’s family pays. The Chinese wear red as a ceremonial wedding color, of course in the west people wear white.
These examples barely scratch the surface of what lies in store for couples from different racial backgrounds who plan to wed. You can choose to either turn it into a three ring circus with everyone squabbling with everyone, or the bridal couple can decide what foreign wedding traditions they want to incorporate into the wedding.
How about a Belgium wedding to really add to the ceremony? Here are some noteworthy Belgian wedding features you can incorporate into your wedding. The bride walks up the aisle to give her mother a single flower and a huge embrace. When the wedding ceremony is over, the bride presents her new mother in law with a single flower followed by the embrace. This is a very symbolic gesture to show the bride’s acceptance of her new mother.
Another very traditional wedding tradition is that the bride carries a special handkerchief, embroidered with her name on it. After the wedding the handkerchief is framed and hung in a place of honor till the time when it is passed on to the next female family member on the bride’s side who is getting married.
Why not try the French croquem bouche or French wedding cake that has survived since the 1600s! A pyramid of cream puffs that have to be covered with hard-crack sugar followed by spun caramelized sugar. Quite a deviation from the traditional wedding cake one might say.
Maybe you would like a touch of Scotland with its strange blend of ancient Highland traditions and modernistic rights. Have a wedding reception filled with music, singing, toasting and much drinking – a celebration to end all celebrations that continues on till the early morning hours. Too much to handle! Try having the groom carry you over the threshold of your new home. This is a 700 year old custom and a very symbolic one at that.
There are so many cultures and wedding traditions that you can borrow from to make your wedding the talk of the town.