Many people like the idea of an Asian themed wedding, but many picture a woman in a kimono and headgear, with lots of gold and red kanji as decorations. This, of course, is not the sum and total of an Asian themed wedding. Asia is a lot more than just Japan or China, and this article will give you ideas from all over the continent.
First of all, let's start with Japan. For a Japanese wedding, you could have your bridesmaids wear kimonos instead of Western bridesmaids dresses. The decorations can be red and gold, both good luck colors in Japan. For the ceremony, you could include the sake ceremony. This is when the bride and groom take nine sips of sake, working their way up from tiny cups to big cups. And don't forget, in Japan, a wedding is not between a man and a woman-it is between two families. All of your planning should keep this in mind. After all, you'll be living with your spouse for the rest of your life. Wouldn't it be nice to include your family and his in the ceremony?
For the favors, you could give guests red envelopes with coins in them. This is another traditional good luck gift, normally given to the bride and groom, but in this case perfectly suitable for the occasion. Or, if you can find them, decorate the tables with small bonsai trees, and let the guests take them home at the end of the reception. This type of garden based favor is twofold; not only is it pretty, but practical too.
China's traditions are similar, but not quite the same. Try to make your wedding on the half hour instead of on the hour. This belief stems from the idea that couples should start their lives together with the hands of time going up instead of down. A fun one for the bride is the idea of three dresses on the big day. The first one is the wedding dress, worn during the ceremony. The second one is the party dress, worn during the banquet or reception. And the last one is the going-away dress for the honeymoon. Many American brides already change after the wedding, but the change usually involves one other dress, not two.
Chinese favors can include things like chopsticks or anything with the symbol for "shuangxe", or "double happiness", on it will work nicely. Dragons and phoenixes are symbols of fidelity and happiness, and work as lovely decorations as well.
Last but not least, let's talk about a little discussed part of Asia-India. Indian wedding traditions are just as beautiful as other Asian countries, although not necessarily as well known. In India, as part of the pre wedding ceremonies, the bride and her bridesmaids and family get together for a ladies sangeet. We would think of this as a bachelorette party. Unlike the stereotypical American version, however, the women in question meet at the bride's home and bond with each other. One of the activities includes mehindi, or henna decoration. The belief is that the process is symbolic of the love between the bride and groom, and the stronger the color, the stronger the love. For the ceremony itself, the bride wears (depending on the region) a traditional red salwar kameez or langa as her wedding dress. The best part about these dresses is that they flatter just about everyone! Favors for this kind of wedding can be items like sandalwood fans, incense cones, or even little mehindi kits. Your guests will love the uniqueness and creativity behind each one.
It's possible to have a beautiful Asian themed wedding without being disrespectful to the culture. With a little research, time and talent, your guests and you will have a wedding to remember.
First of all, let's start with Japan. For a Japanese wedding, you could have your bridesmaids wear kimonos instead of Western bridesmaids dresses. The decorations can be red and gold, both good luck colors in Japan. For the ceremony, you could include the sake ceremony. This is when the bride and groom take nine sips of sake, working their way up from tiny cups to big cups. And don't forget, in Japan, a wedding is not between a man and a woman-it is between two families. All of your planning should keep this in mind. After all, you'll be living with your spouse for the rest of your life. Wouldn't it be nice to include your family and his in the ceremony?
For the favors, you could give guests red envelopes with coins in them. This is another traditional good luck gift, normally given to the bride and groom, but in this case perfectly suitable for the occasion. Or, if you can find them, decorate the tables with small bonsai trees, and let the guests take them home at the end of the reception. This type of garden based favor is twofold; not only is it pretty, but practical too.
China's traditions are similar, but not quite the same. Try to make your wedding on the half hour instead of on the hour. This belief stems from the idea that couples should start their lives together with the hands of time going up instead of down. A fun one for the bride is the idea of three dresses on the big day. The first one is the wedding dress, worn during the ceremony. The second one is the party dress, worn during the banquet or reception. And the last one is the going-away dress for the honeymoon. Many American brides already change after the wedding, but the change usually involves one other dress, not two.
Chinese favors can include things like chopsticks or anything with the symbol for "shuangxe", or "double happiness", on it will work nicely. Dragons and phoenixes are symbols of fidelity and happiness, and work as lovely decorations as well.
Last but not least, let's talk about a little discussed part of Asia-India. Indian wedding traditions are just as beautiful as other Asian countries, although not necessarily as well known. In India, as part of the pre wedding ceremonies, the bride and her bridesmaids and family get together for a ladies sangeet. We would think of this as a bachelorette party. Unlike the stereotypical American version, however, the women in question meet at the bride's home and bond with each other. One of the activities includes mehindi, or henna decoration. The belief is that the process is symbolic of the love between the bride and groom, and the stronger the color, the stronger the love. For the ceremony itself, the bride wears (depending on the region) a traditional red salwar kameez or langa as her wedding dress. The best part about these dresses is that they flatter just about everyone! Favors for this kind of wedding can be items like sandalwood fans, incense cones, or even little mehindi kits. Your guests will love the uniqueness and creativity behind each one.
It's possible to have a beautiful Asian themed wedding without being disrespectful to the culture. With a little research, time and talent, your guests and you will have a wedding to remember.
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