Boston's Multi-Cultural Wedding Trend

Boston, even more than most of America, is the melting pot of the world. It is here in Boston that young people from diverse cultures come together to learn and receive their professional degree in our prestigious halls of learning. And therefore it follows that Boston is a flourish of multi-cultural weddings, as young adults graduate and seal their relationship with their college sweetheart.

I thoroughly enjoy photographing weddings, events and ceremonies of diverse cultures. Having traveled far to photograph cultures in Asia, Europe and across the United States it is a pleasant trend to be able to take my love of cultures to my immediate work in Boston.

Such weddings include combining Jewish traditions with Chinese. A prime example was the wedding where a Jewish Ceremony was performed with the traditional Chuppa (canopy above the couple which represents their future home together) adorned with not only the Jewish cloth, but a beautiful Chinese cloth and design as well; thoughtfully symbolizing the co-mingling of cultures and traditions. This ceremony was soon followed by the brides wardrobe change from her white-wedding gown to her Chinese ceremonial attire for the custom of serving tea to their parents and immediate family. Again both cultures participated in this Chinese ceremony.

Yet another ceremony involved the Indian and Pakistani Mehndi or henna ceremony, where women gathered together to sing and play ethnic music and celebrate their new bride and groom in the style familiar to South Asia. Traditional henna was drawn on the hands of guests of any ethnic background, while the traditional ceremony played out and well-choreographed Indian dancing was performed.

This trend is a welcome sign and shows how one can truly celebrate diversity and differences.