Nigerian weddings that involve different tribes are hard enough to plan as it is, so imagine the thought process that is required to plan a multicultural wedding successfully.
Here are some Dos and Don’ts of planning a multicultural wedding:
Dos
Decide on House of Worship: The couple is to decide how they intend to get married and under what religious guidelines they intend to conduct their ceremonies.
Communicate: It is essential always to have full disclosure of intentions when it comes to planning a multicultural wedding. Also, explaining cultural rituals that take place during the wedding will be helpful to guests.
Seek Counsel: This should be done in order to highlight any significant differences or areas of non-agreement that could potentially damage the relationship in future or cause problems at the wedding ceremony.
Plan Menu: Ensure that the wedding menu reflects cuisines from two different cultures or plan a fusion menu that will be acceptable to both sides of the family and all guests.
Make a Balanced Guestlist: Agree to accommodate a certain number of guests from both sides of the family.
Don’ts
Cultural Faux Pas: Make sure you do not say or do things that are considered disrespectful in each other’s culture. This means a lot of research should be done before the wedding.
One-sided: Do not plan a wedding that shows one culture as more dominant to the other. It may be wise to consider planning a second ceremony if some cultural practices cannot be skipped.
The Couple’s Personal Touch: The couple may not really care much for traditional nuances and may prefer a ceremony and reception that is neutral enough for everyone to enjoy. The wedding planner process should incorporate this into some aspects of the wedding.
Sometimes, planning a successful multicultural wedding is all about how well a couple is willing to compromise on their cultural display and activity during the wedding ceremony, ultimately in the name of love.