When East Meets West: A Multicultural Marriage
Wednesday August 13, 2008
Wordless Wednesday Wedding
Uniting two unique families is probably one of the most difficult aspects of marriage, especially when you're newlyweds. You're still getting to know your in-laws and that makes it hard to always do right by them. There's also usually a natural generational gap between you and your spouse and your parents and in-laws. Couples who come from different cultures or have the same culture but are first-generation Americans have even more challenges to face.
The first step in bringing together families from different cultures is to get to know one another and slowly start to blend your ideas and traditions together. This often starts at the wedding as it did for Falguni and Louis Dieso. Falguni, who is Indian wore a traditional white Western gown, and Louis, who is American, wore a sherwani, formal attire worn by many Indian grooms.
As newlyweds you must keep up this kind of cultural exchange. If you're Japanese and your husband is American, you can invite your in-laws over for sushi and maybe even teach them how to make it. If you're Catholic and they're Jewish, ask to attend service with them. Show them that you are interested in their culture, too. Sharing is what marriage -- and family -- is all about. In fact, having different cultures can make your relationship that much more interesting and rewarding.
If you're part of a multicultural marriage, we'd love to hear from you about what it's like and how you overcome cultural differences, forge relationships with your in-laws, and create new traditions. Let us know on the Newlyweds Forum! There's more:
See and Share More Beautiful Wedding Photos in the Newlyweds Forum
Favorite Wedding Day Photos
More Wordless Wednesday Photos from Other Bloggers
Bringing together two cultures, Falguni and Louis Dieso wed on April 12, 2008. © Damion Edwards Photography
Uniting two unique families is probably one of the most difficult aspects of marriage, especially when you're newlyweds. You're still getting to know your in-laws and that makes it hard to always do right by them. There's also usually a natural generational gap between you and your spouse and your parents and in-laws. Couples who come from different cultures or have the same culture but are first-generation Americans have even more challenges to face.
The first step in bringing together families from different cultures is to get to know one another and slowly start to blend your ideas and traditions together. This often starts at the wedding as it did for Falguni and Louis Dieso. Falguni, who is Indian wore a traditional white Western gown, and Louis, who is American, wore a sherwani, formal attire worn by many Indian grooms.
As newlyweds you must keep up this kind of cultural exchange. If you're Japanese and your husband is American, you can invite your in-laws over for sushi and maybe even teach them how to make it. If you're Catholic and they're Jewish, ask to attend service with them. Show them that you are interested in their culture, too. Sharing is what marriage -- and family -- is all about. In fact, having different cultures can make your relationship that much more interesting and rewarding.
If you're part of a multicultural marriage, we'd love to hear from you about what it's like and how you overcome cultural differences, forge relationships with your in-laws, and create new traditions. Let us know on the Newlyweds Forum! There's more:
See and Share More Beautiful Wedding Photos in the Newlyweds Forum
Favorite Wedding Day Photos
More Wordless Wednesday Photos from Other Bloggers
Comments
You have great words of wisdom! Thank you!!
What a great comment! I’m honored you think so. Thanks!
At first glance, I thought she had a lacy glove on. It took me a moment to realize that it’s henna!
You are so very right about inter-cultural marriages. They are even more challenging than intra-cultural ones, but also more enriching in ways. Best of luck and happiness to all those brave and loving souls who undertake these marriages!
Fascinating and insightful Wordful Wednesday post. The photo is very elegant. Good black and white is hard to do.
that’s a fabulous shot! A neat idea, too.
How nice to switch clothing customs! His is so elegant. I notice she still has her hand hennaed. That’s a most unusual looking bouquet. I wish it were easier to find wearable clothing from other cultures.
My husband is Mexican and I am Canadian. I think it’s true that our different cultures make life more interesting and rewarding (though there have also been added challenges along the way!), and I’m glad that my kids are growing up bilingual and with a rich cultural heritage.
That’s a beautiful photo!
Lovely photo. I liked that only the torsos and hands were shown, and the hands were particularly appealing to me.
Suzanne, I think you make a great point about your kids. It’s wonderful that couples with different cultures can teach their children about both. It’s especially rewarding to speak more than one language in the home. I’m planning to raise my children — in the hopes that I someday have children — both English and Italian because my husband to be is a native Italian and I’m an Italian American. Thanks for sharing!