A Sikh-Jewish wedding

Jo & Richie

Long Island, New York

In today’s globalized world, multicultural weddings are increasingly becoming a norm. While most couples overlook their differences, planning for a big event that celebrates both their cultural backgrounds can be hard to achieve. Some may have divergent views on which religion to focus on for their ceremony, while others may try to bring in traditions from both sides. Since conflicting values are typically involved, finding a way to navigate this can be challenging. However, magic can happen when worlds collide and prove to have so much in common.

I would like to introduce you to a couple that had a remarkable fusion of cultures despite being from very different backgrounds: Jo & Richie, and their Sikh-Jewish wedding.

Jo and Richie decided to keep things simple by planning their day similar to a standard American wedding. Jo wore a stunning lehenga, a traditional desi bridal dress, but opted for a white one with red accents to honor her American and Sikh identity. They did a first look before the ceremony, along with portraits with their families.

Jo and Richie blended their individual cultures beautifully during their outdoor sunset ceremony. They had two different officiants who incorporated traditions from both sides, such as a group prayer that is typical to Sikh weddings and breaking glass that symbolizes a Jewish union.

After the ceremony, everyone moved indoors for the reception. Guests were politely meeting each other, but stayed primarily within their own familiar groups.

However, as soon as the dance floor opened up, the fusion of the two cultures really shined as everyone seamlessly followed each other’s dance moves! The Jewish side created large dance circles around the bride and groom, and everyone locked arms with them without fail. As soon as Bollywood music came on, the Sikh side threw their arms up in the air and non-desi guests mimicked the “pros” with the biggest smiles on their faces. It was a truly spectacular moment!

In sum, Jo and Richie’s wedding followed an American formula with touches of Jewish and Sikh traditions that were important to them. Knowing how complicated it can be to pull off a multicultural wedding, sometimes keeping it simple and going with the flow is the best way to go. Some resistance may arise, but having variety makes each union truly special and unique.

I would love to share more of my experience and advice if you need any help planning your wedding. It’s a friendly free service I offer as your wedding photographer or videographer ;)