14 Ideas for Planning a Multicultural Wedding

Planning a wedding, whether it’s a small, intimate affair or a 250-guest extravaganza, can have its challenges. From choosing a wedding dress to deciding on a band or a DJ, there are A LOT of decisions to make. Add in trying to incorporate multiple cultures and religions, and things can get even trickier. To help you out, we’re sharing some of the most gorgeous multicultural weddings out there, along with tips on how to include everything important to you on your big day. From traditional rituals to elaborate entertainment, here are 14 weddings that marry different cultures seamlessly.

1. Bit of Everything: Sometimes all it takes is adding a little bit of each culture in significant ways. This simple Indian-Japanese-American wedding is a perfect example of this. The couple incorporated Japanese gold paper cranes, Indian wedding outfits and wore a traditional white dress and suit for their reception to celebrate the groom’s American background. (via Our Labor of Love)

2. Times Two: For this Puerto Rican-Dutch couple, one wedding ceremony wouldn’t be enough to accommodate their large families and friends scattered across the globe. So instead of one wedding, they celebrated their love twice — once in Rochester, New York with the bride’s family, and a second time in Barcelona, Spain, with the groom’s family. (via Craig Griffin)

3. Switching Sides: This creative couple took wedding wardrobe changes one step further by wearing traditional clothing from each other’s cultures. The Japanese bride stuns in an Indian sari while the groom rocks a traditional Japanese kimono during their first dance. This is a beautiful example of how a couple can embrace each other’s cultures through clothes. (via Josh Ohms)

4. Faith Fusion: Sometimes mixing cultures means mixing religious traditions. If your multicultural wedding is interfaith, try combining them like this colorful Nigerian-Jewish wedding. Their ceremony was performed by a pastor and a rabbi, who both stood under a huppa. Groomsmen wore traditional Jewish yarmulkes in a vibrant green hue inspired by the Nigerian flag. (via Michelle Logan)

5. Reception Entertainment: You can also showcase your culture with a post-dinner performance to get the party started. Not only did this couple honor the bride’s Asian heritage with traditional Chinese lion dancers, but they also gave their guests a wedding experience they’ll never forget. (via Ein Photography)

6. Bright Blooms: Some people consider flowers to be the most important decorative element of a wedding, so why not inject your culture into the floral arrangements? This Pakistani-Indian wedding used marigold and poppy, traditional colors that are significant to both their cultures, to create vibrant centerpieces and bouquets. (via Dennis Kwan)

7. Decor Details: This Spanish-Moroccan wedding shows that cultural elements can be used everywhere, especially in the decor design. The couple used pillows and rugs in traditional patterns for guests to sit and socialize on during their cocktail hour. (via Leila Brewster)

8. Love Language: With more than one culture, inevitably there comes more than one language. When planning their Chinese-German-Jewish ceremony, this couple created a multilingual kebutah (the Jewish marriage contract that outlines the obligations of the groom to his bride) so both sets of parents would be able to understand and sign it. (via Erin McGinn)

9. Wedding Party Variations: When this Brazilian-American couple thought about the breakdown of their wedding party, they decided against choosing bridesmaids and groomsman separately and used the Latin tradition of “Padrinhos.” Together, they chose six married couples that they knew well and whose marriages they admired to stand beside them at the altar. (via Sera Petras)

10. Stand by Me: In this Jewish-Greek wedding, you’ll see another way to choose your wedding party. Since it’s customary in both Greek and Jewish cultures, this couple decided to have their families stand with them at the altar. It’s a beautiful representation of two families and two cultures blending. (via Brookelyn Photography)

11. Total Immersion: Taking your celebration abroad is an incredible way to celebrate a multicultural wedding. This couple had their wedding in Thailand, where a traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony took place. You and your guests can fully immerse yourselves in the cultural rituals that are important to both of you. (via Alison Mayfield)

12. Generous Gifts: One of the best parts of attending a multicultural wedding is experiencing the beautiful blending of cultures. To honor this bride’s Nez Perce culture, the couple gave their guests gift bags filled with food and useful home items. (via Lucas Mobley)

13. Printed Programs: The programs for your wedding can be a great place to tell the story of your love. Putting thought into the design can make them a unique keepsake for your guests long after the party is over. The programs at this Indian-American wedding were created as mini books and designed with a colorful pattern inspired by Indian saris. (via Andi Hatch)

14. Traditional Treats: Food is an easy way to bring two cultures together and give your guests a taste of dishes they haven’t tried before. As a nod to the bride’s Latina heritage, this couple had their guests sip on sangria during cocktail hour and enjoy paella for dinner. They even skipped the traditional wedding cake in favor of churros for desert. (via Our Labor of Love )

How will you incorporate traditions in your wedding? Have you been to any multicultural weddings lately? Tell us in the comments below!

I truly feel like I’ve been living under a rock when it comes to what’s good at Whole Foods. Turns out, they’ve been hiding some really impressive deals on groceries in the shadows, but I’m here to shed some light on ‘em. Whole Foods offers savings every week, and I’m fully convinced that my local Whole Foods will be seeing a whole lot more of me from now on.

Scroll on for details on Whole Foods’ top deals to shop starting today!

Kaboompics / PEXELS

1. BOGO 50% off packaged soups (Tuesdays)

Tuesdays and Fridays are the main days of the week that Whole Foods offers savings on their groceries. The first amazing deal for Tuesdays is BOGO 50% off packaged soups – perfect for this time of year!

They’ve got every kind of flavor from minestrone and chicken noodle to Italian wedding and broccoli cheddar. Their packaged soups average out at about $9 per 24-ounce tub, so saving 50% on one when you buy one is pretty good, especially for meal prep purposes.

Lukas / PEXELS

2. $2 off classic and organic rotisserie chickens (Tuesdays)

You can take $2 off two kinds of Whole Foods’ rotisserie chickens every Tuesday. Their classic rotisserie chicken goes for $9 while the organic version sells for $13. I love using rotisserie chicken for soups, sandwiches, wraps, and pastas, so getting a whole chicken to use for recipes all week long for just $7 is so nice!

Nadin Sh / PEXELS

3. $8 large cheese pizzas (Friday)

Sometimes you just do not feel like cooking on a Friday evening after work – that’s where this Whole Foods savings hack comes in! Every Friday, you can get a large cheese pizza for $8. While there’s nothing wrong with a plain cheese pizza (nostalgia galore!), I’d take advantage of this deal then bulk up my slices with various toppings like peppers, pepperoni, and olives.

Nadin Sh / PEXELS

4. 12 for $12 wild caught oysters (Friday)

Ooh, fancy! Every Friday, Whole Foods’ wild caught oysters go for $1 a pop. Buy a dozen for just $12, and you’re golden. This deal would be perfect for a bougie at-home date night.

Pixabay / PEXELS

5. BOGO 50% off packaged sushi rolls (Friday)

This is another great date night pick! Buy one packaged sushi roll, and get another 50% off on Fridays only. From rainbow rolls to California rolls, this Whole Foods savings hack has my cravings going crazy.

Minchephoto Photography / PEXELS

6. $10 family-sized tiramisu (Friday)

Got a hankering for a sweet treat? Don’t fret – you can shop a whole family-sized serving of tiramisu at Whole Foods for just $10 every Friday.

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7. $12 bottles of prosecco (Friday)

The death of the work week and start of the weekend is obviously a cause for celebration, and Whole Foods has you covered with $12 bottles of Presto prosecco every Friday. Cheers!

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more deals!

As much as I love celebrity couples, I love celebrity sibling relationships even more. And Elle and Dakota Fanning are two sisters I've grown up watching since I first saw Dreamer in 2005. Considering Elle Fanning is only five months older than me, and I have a sister of my own, this is one relationship that feels particularly familiar. And while Elle has also watched Dakota Fanning act since we were kids, Dakota just revealed seeing Elle onscreen is just as special for her.

Here's why Dakota & Elle Fanning get emotional seeing each other onscreen.

Elle remembers "sobbing" during one particularly emotional Dakota Fanning movie.

“When Elle’s in anything, it makes me feel it deeper,” Dakota Fanning said at TheWrap’s Power Women Summit on December 3. “She never can fully disappear into a character totally for me as her sister. She obviously does an amazing job, but I’m always gonna see my little sister a little bit.”

And Elle is just as touched by Dakota's roles, and remembers "uncontrollably sobbing" after seeing Now Is Good, a movie where Dakota's character was dying of cancer. “Because it was my sister, I had a real traumatic reaction after that premiere and the screening,” Elle says. “Obviously the acting, but it was something felt on a deeper level.”

“I’m doing this job, I’m an actor because my sister started before me and I watched her,” Elle continues. “I wanted to do exactly what my big sister wanted to do.”

And their movies have also made an impact on everyone who watches them.

When Brit + Co caught up with Dakota Fanning at the world premiere of The Watchers, I had to ask about one of her most iconic movies: Uptown Girls. "I love it," she says of TikTok memes and edits giving the movie new life. "It's nostalgic for people who are kind of around my age, who grew up watching that movie, I think it's like a comfort movie for people. And so I love that people are still revisiting it and loving it. And maybe now that everyone's older [they're] understanding different things about it."

Dakota starred opposite Brittany Murphy, who also had roles in movies like Clueless, 8 Mile, and Girl, Interrupted. Brittany passed away in 2009 when Dakota was 15. "I loved Brittany so much and I still miss her," she says. "So anytime that she has, you know, a moment where people think about her is also nice."

You can see Elle Fanning in A Complete Unknown, in theaters December 25, and you can also stream Dakota Fanning's new show The Perfect Couple on Netflix now.

Heaping plates of Christmas cookies are synonymous with the holidays. It seems that nearly every country around the globe has their own variation on the holiday classic. In fact, some of these regions have been making their version of Christmas cookies for literal hundreds of years.

If you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your heritage, or maybe just want a little baking inspiration, check out our picks for the yummiest Christmas cookies from around the world.

The Noshery

Mantecaditos con Guayaba

These may look like ordinary thumbprint cookies, but these almond shortbreads from Puerto Rico are filled with a special guava marmalade. (via The Noshery)

Broma Bakery

Meringues

French meringues are a classic crumbly egg white cookie with a chewy interior. These get an extra European twist with the addition of Nutella. (via Broma Bakery)

Pretty. Simple. Sweet.

Alfajores

Deeply flavored dulce de leche, a caramel made from whole milk commonly found in Spain and many Latin American countries, is the key ingredient in these super pretty sandwiched Christmas cookies. (via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.)

Fancy Peasant

Melomakarona

These Christmas cookies that hail from Greece get their sweetness from a generous soaking of fresh honey! (via Fancy Peasant)

Very Eatalian

Baci di Dama

The name of this Italian treat translates to “lady’s kisses” — how adorable is that? These bite-sized cuties are made with ground hazelnuts and filled with a dollop of dark chocolate. (via Very Eatalian)

Cooking Classy

Linzer Cookies

These Austrian Christmas cookies are typically made with raspberry jam, but feel free to get crazy with a filling of your choice. Plus, the gorgeous windowpane look will make them a prize takeaway at your next cookie exchange. (via Cooking Classy)

Olivia’s Cuisine

Basler Brunsli

If you’re hanging out in Switzerland around Christmas time, you’ll definitely see these chocolate treats around. They’re often described as Swiss brownies due to their deliciously chewy texture. Perfect with a cup of eggnog or coffee! (via Olivia’s Cuisine)

Cilantro Parsley

Buñuelos

These tender miniature fritters from Mexico are a mix between a donut and cookie. Whatever you want to call them, they’re delicious. (via Cilantro Parsley)

Chef Lindsey Farr

Apricot Kolachys

The Hungarians definitely know what’s up when tart apricot jam gets wrapped in a blanket of flaky pastry. They’re a bright spot on a cold Christmas day. (via Chef Lindsey Farr)

Life, Love and Sugar

Cutout Sugar Cookies

In the United States, a plate of these festively decorated sugar cookies is just what Santa ordered. (via Life, Love and Sugar)

Saveur

Polvorones

You’ll find these simple pecan shortbread cookies all over Mexico around this time of year. The coating of powdered sugar and canela, a type of Mexican cinnamon, really bring the flavor to the next level. (via Saveur)

A Healthy Life for Me

Pignoli

These Italian Christmas cookies are made of a chewy almond base and topped with pine nuts. (via A Healthy Life for Me)

Fancy Peasant

Kourabiedes

These Greek Christmas cookies feature a buttery biscuit topped with mass amounts of powdered sugar. (via Fancy Peasant)

Does your family have a traditional cookie recipe for the holidays? Tag us @BritandBo in your Instagram photos and let us know!

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Lead image via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.