Intercultural wedding customs

[thea]

Having seen the Indian/Chinese wedding I was curious if anyone in this forum has seen, or participated in an intercultural wedding?
What customs from both sides were incorporated in the marriage ceremony?

My Chinese friend's friend married a Navajo guy and so they had a Western Christian wedding, Chinese banquet, tea ceremony and a Navajo blessing.

[╗]

I went to a wedding where the bridesmaids wore traditional Chinese dresses at a Catholic Church. I guess that's intercultural because you usually don't wear something Asian to a Catholic wedding (but Catholicism does exist in Asia, so maybe it's common among Catholics in China).

Their wedding reception was completely Chinese-themed. It was my brother's friend, who's Chinese, and her husband is White.

[saeka]

Ohh that sounds interesting.. My parents had a traditional Japanese wedding, but then again most of those kinds of weddings over there wear western bridal gowns and suits as well anyway..
None of my mums family from NZ went to my parents wedding except her sister, but she wore a kimono too so umm does that count? lol

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saeka said:

My parents had a traditional Japanese wedding

Do you know what religion it was? Like, Buddhist or Shinto or whatever.

[saeka]

cristobal said:

saeka said:

My parents had a traditional Japanese wedding

Do you know what religion it was? Like, Buddhist or Shinto or whatever.

Umm well, like this --> www.japan-guide.com/e/e2061.html
They both have the western and Japanese mixed, some couples even have a full on christian style wedding, even if they are not chritians.. wth?? lol err random I know, it says on that site, it explains better than what I can. Is it only Japan that have this obsession with having the western thing with thier weddings or something?

[thea]

When I and my husband got married we had a traditional Filipino Catholic wedding with Veil/Mantle Sponsors, the Cord Sponsors, and the candle Sponsors. Our parents/ mothers who were widowed lighted the Unity candle. We also had arras.
Towards the end of the wedding mass we also placed flowers at the statue of the Virgin Mary.
(I'm sure some people could interpret that as a vestige of Goddess worship.)

Here is a website that gives a brief explanation:

www.blissweddings.com/library/filipinowed.asp

The Mexicans do the same thing as well.
Here is an even better explanation of the custom:

www.weddingdetails.com/lore/mexican.cfm

I actually want to know the actual origins of that tradition.
I kind of wonder if it has it origins in the Jewish wedding ceremony.
Alot of Catholic traditions have their origins in Judaism-cardinals and popes wear skullcaps, Passover and Lent overlap , brides wearing veils that cover their faces.

My interpretation of the veil and or mantle held over the couple is similar to the Jewish tradition of the huppah (large canopy, under which the bride and groom stand) which symbolizes God's presence, shelter and protection.
Why do brides wear veils in Christian Western style weddings?
A symbol of purity? A vestige when brides remained hidden until the actual ceremony.
According to Jewish tradition:

"After the couple have signed the Ketubah, the groom lowers his bride's wedding veil after studying her face. This wedding custom recalls the biblical story of Jacob, who married the wrong woman when she covered her face with a veil. "

Trying to remember, I wore my veil down until it the ceremony was nearly over and it was time to kiss, then the veil was raised.

Here is a brief description of a traditional Jewish wedding:

www.worldweddingtraditions.com/ethnic_wedding_traditions/jewish_traditions.html

As to the tradition of the cord bound around the couple's necks in a figure 8. It just symbolically reminds me of 2 oxen on a yoke sharing the burden of work. Maybe that's what its supposed to symbolize.

During our wedding reception we had the traditional money dance in which the bride dances with the men and groom dances with the women and they both get money pinned on them.
Do other ethnic groups have this custom.
We recieved the usual money in envelopes and household goods.
Personally, I like the Chinese custom of just getting money in red envelopes. With household goods as gifts, people may choose the same gifts or things you don't like.
Keep it simple and give money. ;D

Here's another site explaining the different types of Indian weddings according to region.

www.indianslivingabroad.com/matrimonial/history-indian-wedding.asp

Indian weddings celebrations I think by far last the longest compared to the other wedding celebrations.