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Multicultural NYC Elopement
A wedding celebration is the most beautiful way to blend families together. For this breathtaking Central Park wedding in New York City, this couple was not just merging two families but two cultures. And the Chinese + Indian wedding could not have been any more perfect!
With the pandemic still going strong, these two decided on a small, intimate outdoor wedding. Surrounded by a handful of their very closest friends and family, they tied the knot and began their forever together.
One of the things I love most about this Chinese + Indian wedding is that the couple incorporated both personal and more modern touches along with time-honored cultural traditions. For instance, they both chose to wear traditional attire. In Chinese tradition, the groom wears red to symbolize success, love, and honor; similarly, in Indian wedding tradition, the bride also wears a red since it is the most sacred color. So, these two were able to display their family traditions and wear complementary outfits at the same time! He wore a gold and cream-colored sherwani with red accents, and she wore a red dress with cream and gold accents – so symbolic and beautiful!
Even though we had to change things up a bit due to the pandemic, everyone took it in stride. The wedding party even wore matching custom facemasks! Thankfully, the weather cooperated, and their wedding day was everything they hoped it would be and more! I had a blast photographing them and their families as they laughed, danced, and celebrated their special day together. Congratulations to the happy couple!
3 Ways to Incorporate Cultural Traditions into Your Wedding
1. Wear traditional wedding attire.
Traditions run deep in every culture. Even western brides today often incorporate the “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” tradition. Each piece symbolizes something important – things our families have cherished over the years.
In some traditions, different pieces or colors of the wardrobe symbolize things like love, prosperity, or fertility. For instance, for Indian weddings, henna hand paintings are certainly beautiful, but they also symbolize positivity and good luck. Similarly, red symbolizes luck in Chinese culture as well. Wear cultural attire is a great way to show respect and appreciation for your cultural roots.
My favorite places for traditional Asian wedding attire:
East Asian designer wedding attire for men and women – East Meets Dress
- Qipaos
- Cheongsams
- Tang suits
- traditional dresses
- tea ceremony dresses
- …and more)
South Asian/Indian designer wedding attire for men and women – Traditional: Vintage India NYC; Modern and fashion-forward South Asian wedding attire: Harleen Kaur (based in NYC)
- Pagaris
- Kurtas
- Sherwanis
- Jodhpuris
- Sarees
- Anarkalis
- Lehengas
- …and more
South Asian/Pakistani designer wedding attire for men and women – Bargello
- Banarasi turbans
- Shalwar kameez
- Kurta suits
- Prince coats
- Anarkalis
- Sarees
- Designer Abayas
- …and more
2. Serve traditional food.
First of all, cultural food is delicious! No matter who is celebrating with you, they’ll be delighted with the exciting tastes and aromas of traditional food. Even if you aren’t serving a full course, you can serve fun appetizer bites or traditional desserts. Can’t decide? Think back to some of your family’s favorite dishes, and share the experience with those you love.
3. Dance to traditional music.
If you decide to host a full reception, it’s fun to dance with friends and family to cultural music. For instance, Jewish weddings usually include the hora, and it’s easy for everyone to pick up and join in. During Indian weddings, it’s almost impossible to stand on the sidelines when you hear the lively rhythmic beat of the tabla drums. Even those who don’t know the moves find themselves laughing alongside the bride and groom.
Wedding Vendors
Henna: Shamina at NYC Henna Queen
Makeup: SB Beauty
Qipao: East Meets Dress
JiLon’s pagdi (hat): Vintage India NYC
JiLon’s Platform Shoes: John Fluevog
Sasha Chou is a boutique New York City engagement, wedding, and maternity photographer. She specializes in timeless, photojournalistic images. Discover her style by visiting her portfolio here. Learn more about the dedicated Sasha Chou Photography team here. To book video or photography services or learn more about wedding packages, click here.
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