Getting Married Multiculturally

The wedding planning can get overwhelming when you are inviting people from all over the world, while trying to communicate in different languages, explaining a variety of cultural traditions, becoming a tour guide, and food expert.

So why not put all of this information on a website and direct your guests to it?

I've played around in my favorite platform, Zola and collected a bunch of ideas that will help you set up a multicultural wedding website. Press play!

***

Shownotes: https://editvasadi.com/multicultural-wedding-website/

GMM community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/

Sponzor: ZOLA

Grab your Wedding Website Checklist: https://editvasadi.com/weddingwebsitechecklist

Episode 32: Introducing that unknown culture on your wedding day

Episode 16: Gift giving traditions in Multicultural Weddings

Bilingual Wedding Invitations: https://editvasadi.com/bilingualwedding/

Naira Bonilla shares the story of how she met her Egyptian husband in her home country, Colombia, and about their multicultural wedding in Cairo, Egypt. 

Two very different cultures, and I loved listening to how she blended the Latin and Egyptian music together, since for her that was the most important part of the event. Naira spiced up her wedding with the Latin American tradition called “La Hora Loca”. She also ended up wearing a very unexpected accessory that some people may consider as a curse or bad luck, but Naira turned it into a blessing and positivity. 

And if you are planning a destination wedding, make sure you listen to this episode, because Naira will be sharing some of the logistical side of the planning and also how she did everything with the help of her mother-in-law and a wedding planner. Who, by the way, had a completely different style than her.

***

Show Notes: https://editvasadi.com/colombian-egyptian-wedding-naira/

***

Connect with Naira Bonilla:

Instagram: @traversing_life

Amor Diverso Podcast: @amordiversopodcast

***

GMM community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/

Friends from all over the World! Which holiday are you celebrating? Christmas? Diwali? Eid? Hanukkah? Chinese New Year? Kwanzaa? … Or I should say HOLIDAYS! Because multicultural people don’t just celebrate one holiday, right?

No matter which holiday you celebrate, in the end it’s about spending time with family. And eating good food!

I invited 7 amazing guests from different cultures to talk about holiday celebrations from all over the World:

First you will hear from Mary, who is Canadian Chinese talking about her experience living in a country that mainly celebrates Christmas. As somebody who grew up in a Chinese culture celebrating Chinese New Years Eve, instead of Christmas, she feels pretty confident to teach her daughter that just because everybody else is does something, doesn’t mean that you have to follow!

***

Show Notes: https://editvasadi.com/multicultural-holiday-celebrations

***

Connect with Mary:

Website: www.organizedsound.ca

Instagram: @organizedsoundproductions

Podcast: The Homestay Kitchen

Podcast Instagram: @homestaykitchen

My second guest (or guests I should say) are Charis and Mahesh, an Indian-American couple, talking about their Christmas and Diwali celebration.

Connect with Charis and Mahesh:

YouTube channel: I Am Naidu

YouTube video about Diwali: What is Diwali

Instagram: @i_am_naidu_007

Facebook: facebook.com/iamnaidu007

After them I have Lolitta who is originally from Uzbekistan. She spent 4 years in Israel before moving to the States, so I invited her to talk about the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. She is also sharing a little bit about the New Year celebration in Russia.

Connect with Lolitta:

Instagram: @hairwithloveby_lolitta

After Lolitta you can listen Petronella’s story about her journey from Uganda to the United States, and how the constant moving shaped the way her family celebrated Christmas.

Connect with Petronella:

Website: www.ypetronella.com

Instagram: @petronellaphotography

Podcast: I Am Multicultural Podcast

Podcast Instagram: @iammulticultural

My next guest is going to be Nivi, who was born in South India, but moved to America when she was only a year old. Nivi is going to tell us about the holidays she grew up celebrating and how they transformed over the years.

Connect with Nivi:

Website: www.soapboxproject.org

Instagram: @soapboxproject

Podcast: Get Schooled 

Then you will hear from Aneesa (also known as ‘expat panda’) who is from South Africa currently living in the Middle East. I invited her to talk about Eid and her journey celebrating different holidays with her Christian partner.

Connect with Aneesa:

Blog: expatpanda.com

Instagram: @expatpanda

My last, but not least guest is going to be Diana from Romania. She is one of my friends here in Arizona. Diana will be sharing her orthodox Christmas traditions and how she adopted some of the American holidays.

Connect with Diana:

Website: www.makeupbydiana.com

Instagram: @diangelmakeup

Facebook: facebook.com/arizonaweddingmakeup

***

Last year I shared our Hungarian-American Christmas traditions, feel free to check it out if you are interested. (Episode 9.)

***

GMM community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/

I had such a great conversation with Kate and Val about how finances affect you emotionally, and how it can form your relationships. Because in a multicultural marriage we come from a variety of backgrounds. We were raised differently, or lived in a country with different level of lifestyle or attitude toward financials. Kate and Val are also in an intercultural marriage, and I’ll let them tell you more about why they’ve decided to help multicultural couples manage their money.

***

Connect with Kate and Val:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateandval/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KATEandVAL/

Family Business Strategies Summit (Dec. 12-14): https://www.ourmodernheritage.com/summit-registration33599427

Teach your little ones about money E-Book: https://www.kateandvalfavstov.com/optin-parents-guide

Free Masterclass: 3 pillars to live a debt-free life

***

SHOW NOTES: https://editvasadi.com/multicultural-couples-finances

***

GMM COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/

Many couples get engaged in December, and I think we can ‘blame’ all the romantic festivities and family gatherings for that. If you are one of these lovebirds; hoping to get the ring, or nervously planning to pop the question, this episode is for you!

I invited an Arizona based wedding and proposal planner, Allison Whitaker, from ‘The One Occasion’ to chat with me and help us prepare for this important moment.

We talked about... 

-should you pop the question privately or publicly? 

-ideas for a Christmas or New Years Even proposal.

-how to respect your partner’s culture when asking for marriage?

-what to do after she or he says I DO?

...and more!

***

Show Notes: https://editvasadi.com/holiday-engagement-allison

***

Connect with Allison Whitaker:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoneoccasion/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoneoccasion/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/theoneoccasion/

Website: https://www.theoneoccasion.com/

***

GMM Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/

When you listen to Rachel and Vidur speak about their Indian-American wedding, you will notice how effortless and important it is for them to communicate and check in with each other on every little detail. It was definitely a team effort, which you don’t get to see very often. No wonder they both wanted to be part of this conversation and share what they learned from planning a multicultural wedding. 

From equally balancing out the traditions, guest list, and smallest details, to accepting the sacrifices they had to make. Even her dress was the perfect blend of the two cultures.

***

Show Notes: https://editvasadi.com/indian-american-wedding-rachel-vidur

***

Connect with Rachel and Vidur:

Rachel’s Instagram: @rachmillmod

Wedding Album: Miller-Moudgil Wedding 

Vidur’s Instagram: @vid_mod

Vidur’s Linkedin: Vidur Moudgil

***

GMM Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/

Camilla and I have so much in common as we both have a multicultural family, are raising bilingual children, and have a passion for helping others who move to a new country. Her commitment as a certified life and relationship coach is to help women who moved abroad for love, and to live a fulfilled life.

“With the right attitude and mindset I think you can really make it work.” - Camilla Quintana

***

Show Notes: https://editvasadi.com/living-abroad-camilla-quintana

***

Get in contact with Camilla:

Website: camillaquintana.com

Instagram: @coach.camillaquintana

Facebook: camilla quintana

TV Show Camilla mentioned: The O.C. -Set’s Christmukkah Speech

***

Free Resource: Multicultural Couples Checklist

***

GMM Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/

Today is November 17th, and that’s the day when I arrived to America. Exactly eleven years ago! I landed in Seattle and was on my way to reunite with my then fiancee, Adam, so we can start our life in Kennewick, Washington. But things went wrong at the border and I decided to cancel our wedding.

I never shared this story before, because I was scared and worried. However, I had to realize that there are so many of you out there that could benefit and learn from my experience. So when Kelli form Love Beyond Borders Podcast invited me to her show, I was so excited and decided that it was a perfect place to share my immigration journey. Love Beyond Borders Podcast shares stories of couples affected by the American immigration system, families who are going through this complex process, and it gives useful information about different visa processes as well.

This is a special bonus episode celebrating my AMERICAVERSARY, and it was originally aired on the Love Beyond Borders Podcast. If you want to know a little bit more about my arrival to America, or if you are filing for the ESTA program -with the goal to get married and live in this country- hit play! 

***

Connect with Kelli on Instagram: @kelli.fm

Listen to the Love Beyond Borders Podcast: LOVE BEYOND BORDERS ON ITUNES 

***

Show notes: https://editvasadi.com/my-immigration-to-america

GMM Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/

Today I have Leah with me, who is going to share her Jamaican-Guyanese-American-Canadian Wedding. Yes, she added traditions from all of these nationalities! And beside the cultural traditions she put so much effort into adding personal meanings, small details and family heirlooms into their wedding day. But at the same time, she didn’t get disappointed when something didn’t go the way they have planned. I think that no matter which country you are from, you’ll find some great ideas in our conversation. I definitely did!

***

Show Notes: https://editvasadi.com/jamaican-guyanese-canadian-american-wedding-leah/

***

Connect with Leah:

Wedding Website: thesweedestthing.com

Wedding Instagram: @thesweedestthing

Leah’s Instagram: @misslocs

***

GMM Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/

This is the second part of my conversation with wedding celebrant, Carly Petracco. I love Carly’s advice on making sure to focus on the feelings when it comes to making the ceremony more engaging.

“Language is such an important way to make your wedding inclusive. It’s how we express ourselves in the most basic way. If your ceremony has a lot of love, laughter and happiness; but people don’t know what’s going on for a few minutes, that’s ok.”⁠

In this episode Carly and I chat about:

• How to have bilingual ceremonies where the guests can feel included.
• How to write your personalized vows.
• What questions to ask from your celebrant.
• How to prepare for your wedding, if you are not hiring a celebrant.
• Advice for same sex-couples.
• Destination weddings.
• For which couples are elopement weddings right.

Carly is sharing some of her favorite multicultural wedding stories, which is my favorite part of our conversation! So let’s get into it!

***

Part 1 of our conversation: https://editvasadi.com/multicultural-ceremonies-carly/

***

Connect with Carly:

Website: https://youreuropeanweddingcelebrant.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourweddingcelebrant/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youreuropeanweddingcelebrant/

Udemy courses: https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-write-your-perfect-wedding-speech/

https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-write-your-perfect-wedding-vows/

***

SHOW NOTES: http://editvasadi.com/bilingual-ceremonies-carly

GMM: https://www.gettingmarriedmulticulturally/

GMM INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/editvasadi/