Spectacular Two Day Multicultural Wedding in Hong Kong : James + Mita

Spectacular Two Day Multicultural Wedding in Hong Kong : James + Mita

In some Indian weddings, brides walk down the aisle with their close family and friends under a “bed of flowers.” This is something I envisioned for my own wedding, however, it was hard to find such a frame in Hong Kong. Therefore, James did a bit of research on how it looks, picked up blocks of wood, hard string, and an array of flowers, and constructed the frame from scratch.

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Real Couple // A Fijian-Mexican Engagement Shoot in Oakland: Falisha + Jorge

Real Couple // A Fijian-Mexican Engagement Shoot in Oakland: Falisha + Jorge

We chose to have our engagement photos in Oakland because it's special for both of us. My grandparents migrated from the Fiji islands to Oakland, and his parents from Mexico to Oakland. It was the landing place for both our families – their first taste of a foreign culture where they longed to be and the start of the American dream. 

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Real Couples // Classic Downtown Edmonton Wedding: Crystal + Jimmy

Real Couples // Classic Downtown Edmonton Wedding: Crystal + Jimmy

Crystal and Jimmy met in the gym. Jimmy approached Crystal to show her how to use a piece of equipment, and that's how it all started. Crystal and Jimmy even decided to do their engagement session in the gym where they met, as that's a special place to them.

Crystal is the most down-to-earth bride that I have ever worked with. She is easy going and relaxed. For instance, she prioritized comfortable shoes for her and her maid of honor to wear on the wedding day, as comfort is very important to her. Jimmy is East Indian, and Crystal adopted the tradition of getting henna hand painting for the wedding.

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Real Couples // A Multicultural Indian Wedding in Washington State: Patrick + Trupti

Real Couples // A Multicultural Indian Wedding in Washington State: Patrick + Trupti

Trupti and Patrick met a few years ago at work. They got to chatting over Star Wars, and the rest (as they say) is history. Their friendship grew into romance, and eventually they adopted a cat and a fluffy white puppy. Getting married was in the stars. We had the honor of photographing their wedding. It was extra special to us, as the bride and groom are friends of mine. The rain came and went during the day, and a few thunder rumbles added a bit of extra drama to the tented outdoor ceremony. But nothing could ruin this day (not even a terrible mishap with a safety pin in the bride’s sari). Just look at their faces, and it is plain as day: these two are madly in love. Their wedding was beautiful, the food was amazing, and it really was difficult to pick a favorite between Trupti’s traditional Indian attire and the stunning white wedding dress she changed into for the reception.

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The ARQ Wedding Guide // Navigating Culture and Family Expectations Together

The ARQ Wedding Guide // Navigating Culture and Family Expectations Together

No matter what your background is, this guide will help you and your partner prioritize the religious and cultural traditions that matter to you and prep you for those tricky family convos. These tips also set you up to understand, honor, and incorporate traditional Jewish customs into your wedding in a relevant and inclusive way.

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The Language of Love: 10 Tips for a Bilingual Wedding

The Language of Love: 10 Tips for a Bilingual Wedding

Some couples opt to have a wedding celebration in each of their native countries (my husband and I had one in Munich, Germany where he’s from and a second one several months later in California). If it isn’t feasible to have two weddings, another option is to have one ceremony and include as much of both cultures in it as possible.

However, hosting a wedding for guests who don’t speak the same language runs the risk of many people feeling out of the loop. Here are some ways to keep everyone engaged and make all guests feel included.

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Real Couples // Off-Grid Hippie Uzbek Festival Wedding: Nodira + Alex

Real Couples // Off-Grid Hippie Uzbek Festival Wedding: Nodira + Alex

This wedding was a game changer due to the both the creative and brilliant multicultural couple Nodira and Alex and the amazing experience they put on for their guests (and me!). Nodira and Alex wanted their wedding to create a unique community-building experience out in nature with all of their friends and family for a weekend. Most of the guests camped out in tents on the property, Moon Mountain Lodge, which is a beautiful off-the-grid place in Northwest Washington State.

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