Fleur and Jaap's bilingual wedding ceremony (Dutch-English) at the Horniman Museum, London
The language of love is universal, but when you are a bilingual (or multilingual) couple, framing your vows in your own language adds an unforgettable touch to your wedding.
It is a great way to celebrate your heritages and include your guests - especially if they are not fluent in the chosen language.
A wedding ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate not only the love that connects you, but also the different cultures that you represent as a couple.
Below four tips to make your bilingual wedding ceremony an unforgettable experience.
1. Use a bilingual celebrant or ask a friend
Most couples choose one leading language. A bilingual celebrant (or friend) can give summaries in the other mother tongue. A bilingual celebrant can seamlessly switch between the two languages whilst delivering your ceremony in an engaging and professional way.
Elena and George got married in Mykonos. Their ceremony was mainly in English but included Spanish and Greek elements to honour their cultural backgrounds. A friend gave summaries in Spanish, and George's brother read a reading in Greek.
Elena and George's wedding ceremony in Mykonos. Photo credits: Spyridon Paloukis @sunshineweddingsgreece
2. Prepare a printed translation of the script
You can give print-outs of a fully translated script to those who are not fluent in the chosen language.
Elena and George had their order of service booklets in two languages so each guest could follow the running order in their preferred language.
3. Include a reading, or a song in your bilingual wedding ceremony
You can ask a friend or family member to do a reading (or sing a song!) in your language. A song adds another special touch to the ceremony as the music may stir the hearts of those who know the song, and may even want to join in!
4. Do your vows in your languages
Prepare personal vows, in your own, and your partner's language. It's a heartfelt way to share your love for each other’s language and blend your cultural backgrounds!
For their destination wedding in Nantucket, Andrew had especially taken some German classes to be able to say his vows in German! He impressed everyone not only with his flawless delivery, but also by doing the vows from his heart.
Laura and Andrew's bilingual wedding ceremony (English-German) in Nantucket. Photo credits: Brian Sager Photography
Looking for a bilingual wedding celebrant?
Are you interested in working with a bilingual celebrant? I am fluent in Dutch, and also deliver wedding ceremonies in German and French.
Couples I have worked with have included Rumanian, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Urdi, Persian, Korean, Spanish, Greek and Swedish readings in their ceremonies. I have also worked with sign language interpreters to include people with hearing impairments.
Let's celebrate cultures, languages - let's fuse! Get in touch - I would love to hear from you.