What makes a wedding “real”: Why our gay wedding will be traditional
Same-sex weddings are still new enough that a lot of people wonder how different they will be compared to a straight wedding. I suspect that some straight people automatically think that all queers are alternative, counter-culture types and in their minds gay wedding = rainbow musical theatre circus. But here’s why our gay wedding will be relatively traditional…
Lenna & Matt’s big fat traditional Armenian and Japanese wedding
The bride comes from a traditional Armenian background, so her offbeat spirit had a ton to contend with. But somehow these two managed to infuse their concert-going, comics-loving, board game-playing selves into a traditional Armenian Orthodox celebration. Add in the Japanese influences and you’ve got some multicultural mash-ups to rival all others.
Am I still offbeat if I love white chair covers? (Hint: YES.)
Not long after I joined the Offbeat Bride Tribe, another member posted her feelings about the more traditional elements of her wedding. Ariel posted a reply stating that this issue comes up every year or so and she finds it’s best to let Tribe members figure it out for themselves.
Wise words, Ariel. I didn’t get it at the time, but the last six months have been a journey for me, a journey of discovery about myself, about my future husband and about the US we have created. If I could sum it up in one line, it would be:
I LIKE WHITE CHAIR COVERS AND I CANNOT LIE.
Why do couples borrow cultural elements for their wedding, and how can you do so respectfully?
Many Anglo-Americans have such a mishmash of culture that they have few or no traditions that hold significant meaning for them. Perhaps people are inclined to like culture, symbolism, rituals, and traditions. Maybe they seek these out in other cultures because they don’t have any of their own. Perhaps people seek to set themselves apart from a family or culture that they don’t wish to be a part of or celebrate.