Wedding Blog
A big part of my wedding research has consisted of wedding traditions. Growing up in the South, I very much want to convey a sense of richness typical here. However, much of my family is Puerto Rican, and my fiance’s family grew up in the Panama Canal Zone. I never had a strong tie to Puerto Rico (I barely speak Spanish, for example), so I didn’t want to include Spanish style in a phony or contrived way. I just wanted to add a hint of Latin-American flair to the festivities, which I think his family will also enjoy.
We decided to accomplish this through our wedding meal. Although a strictly Latin inspired meal might alienate some of our guests, Spanish style hors d’oeuvres will hit the spot. We are including traditional mini-empanadas, white fish ceviche, and manchego cheese topped crostini. Oh, I’m getting hungry.
Picture from Brides.com
I was wondering: What are you doing to add cultural flavor to your celebration?
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Share this post: Food For the (Latina) Soul
First, let me just say that I LOVE empanadas! Yum.
My dad’s side is Pakistani, and while I don’t speak Urdu I did live there from age 3-13. Like you, I didn’t want to have a “fake” ethnic flavor to our wedding. But our wedding favors are groups of multicolored (traditional glass) bangles tied with ribbon as a nod to that side of my family. My BM gifts are also from Pakistan.
Yes…I LOVE empanadas as well!!
We are not Jewish, but through our faith, look to Judaism as the beginning of it all. So we decided to incorporate the Jewish tradition of stepping on the glass after we are pronounced husband and wife to symbolize that we are joined together now and no one else can ‘drink from our cup’ and also to symbolize the frailty of marriage and how we must treat it with care because shattered pieces cannot easily be put back together.
I’m Scandinavian (mainly Norwegian), so I’m doing a traditional Norwegian wedding cake (kransekake–which is a stack of soft cookie-like rings). I’ve never been a big fan of normal wedding cakes and we were going to forgo one anyway, so this is a good way to do something different and still have something to cut for pictures. =)
Traditionally, they put little Norwegian flags (which we’ll still do), but since FI is Dutch, we’re also going to add Dutch flags as well. I can’t wait to see it/taste it!
I’m Indian and my fiance is from Pakistan, so we’re going to have a lot of South Asian elements– I’m going to wear an Indian bridal outfit and my fiance will be an sherwani (an Indian style suit). For favors, we’re giving coconuts and bags of dates and nuts (customary in Indian/Pakistani weddings). The floral decor is lots of reds and burgundy and bright colors to evoke the festive, colorful feel of Indian weddings. The food is going to be American, with Asian/Indian influences. And hopefully ppl will dance to the Indian bhangra music! Should be a good time.
Ours does not have to do with our culture as much as including something that represents our past- I lived in Sevilla, we visited there last summer and that is where my FI proposed- so we are serving sangria at our cocktail hour, and have a flamenco guitarist playing during cocktail hour - I love incorporating things from our relationship into wedding day. I love Manchego cheese, yum!
I’m Greek, so we’re having the full Greek Orthodox ceremony. At the reception, too, the money dance is going to be Greek style - a circle dance with the whole wedding party.
Also, in my dress, I’ll have pinned a mati (one of those blue eyes that protect you from evil curses) and a gold coin in a nod to FH’s gypsy heritage. We’re working on incorporating as much as possible without being fake - our heritages are very important to us.
Gret post subject!
I have British background, so we’re going to give tea as a favour to share my heritage
I am half Colombian and we decided to do the same! Serve some latin inspired hors d’oeuvres- empanadas, ceviche, we are also doing gazpacho even though that’s more Spanish (but then again I have family from Spain too). We will also be serving up some aquardiente for the brave. We will have a latin jazz ensemble play during the reception.
my FI is half Japanese so we’ll be having sushi at the wedding.
Yum, yum! Your guests are going to enjoy this.
Since we are getting married in Costa Rica we are keeping with a local menu. Gallo pinto, ceviche, jerk chicken (coastal Caribbean Costa Rica), grilled pineapple, etc.
Our couple’s shower is going to be a Day of the Dead theme featuring recipes favored by our departed loved ones… majorly cross-cultural there.
My family is all Puerto Rican, but I too don’t speak Spanish.
All the 2nd generation family here lost it.
Still, I’m incorporating it into our wedding.
Our officiant happens to be Puerto Rican as well as our DJ.
We’re having the menu be Latino mostly.
Our processional and cocktail hour will have a Spanish Guitarist.
And our DJ will be playing Salsa, Meringue and though this is just what I like…Disco!
My fiancé who’s family is of German descent…um we didn’t really incorporate anything :O
i’m half korean so we’ll be doing a pae baek. i explained the ceremony and showed pictures of the clothes we’d wear to my bf and he’s very excited. he even thinks his mom will enjoy it as well.
We’ll be incorporating Filipino traditions during our ceremony. The veil, cord and coins will all have a significant role in our wedding 
Yummy app choices!
Well my wedding is in Spain and will have lots of Spanish influence…everything will be Spanish and we are implementing all the traditions. I’m still searching for ways to subtly implement my American and Italian heritage…
I grew up in New Orleans and love Jambalaya. My aunt and uncle have volunteered to make the family recipe for our rehearsal dinner. YUM! Also we will have mini mufalattas which are very new orleans wedding.
Part of my FI’s family is Finnish, so aside from having vodka at the bar, we are also going to make a few loaves of Pulla, which is a traditional sweet braided bread, and put them out on the dessert table.
i’m filipino and he’s chinese, so we’re doing the tea ceremony during the rehearsal dinner. our wedding mass will have the veil, cord, arras traditions and we’ll also have some tagalog songs sung. our motif includes sinamay (abaca fiber from the philippines), so i’m using that throughout the invitations and other paraphernalia.
We are originally from Hawaii, getting married in Hawaii, and my fiance is of Hawaiian descent, so it is natural for us to have a complete Hawaiian Luau with the Kalua Pork, poi, and many more Hawaiian delectables. Yummm, I can’t wait.
My fiance’s Italian, so we’re having traditional Italian pastries/cookies at the short “get-together” type reception we’re having immediately following the ceremony at the church. This is where our church friends (who aren’t coming to the evening reception - strictly family & OOT friends) can hang with us and give our families a little somethin’ somethin’ for the wait until dinner 
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Mrs. Licorice, Atlanta
Age and Occupation: 25, Full-time Interior Design Student
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Pilot
Engagement Date: February 6, 2006
Wedding Date: September 1, 2007
Blogging Since: July 18, 2007
Venue: John Oliver Michael, a historic farm house and barn replica
About Me: I love artistic pursuits of all sorts! I'm creative and organized, but my downfall is obsessing over details. I enjoy running outdoors, trying new restaurants, and staring at décor and wedding magazines for hours on end. I hope to one day design a hotel in a foreign country, preferably France, Greece, Japan, or Australia. I am elated to marry Mr. Licorice and experience life’s adventures with him!
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