Source: Khadija Yousaf on Unsplash
Living in Singapore, we are sure to make
friends from across different races. And, with many friends, comes many
weddings!
While it’s true that many weddings bear
resemblance to each other across ethnic groups—everyone enjoys a beautiful
setting with sophisticated decor and delicious food, couples and families may
still opt for a wedding oriented more towards their religious or cultural
practices, depending on their preference.
We round up a few tips on what you should do
before attending a wedding of a different culture from yours, so you can be the
perfect guest and friend
1. Be Curious
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Do a bit of research before the wedding.
Ideally, reading up on the Internet may be a better idea than asking your busy
friend, especially because certain customs may be so intuitive to her, while
being new to you.
After your research, choose a few questions to
ask your friend directly. This way you’ll be completely prepared, and maybe
will even learn more about the historical or cultural ideas behind different
wedding traditions.
2. Ask About the Dress Code
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madhan sham on Unsplash
Clarify the dress code for the wedding ahead
of time!
For example, in many Indian or South Asian
weddings, guests don’t hold out, and instead wear glamorous ethnic wear—so it
may be easy to feel under-dressed!
Being aware of the dress code will give you a
better idea of the clothes and accessories you should opt for. Don’t feel too
much pressure though, in most weddings a simple, elegant dress or suit goes a
long way.
3. Know Your Gifts
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Jason Leung on Unsplash
You may also need to clarify what type of
wedding gifts the couple will be accepting (or if they won’t be accepting any
at all!).
In some weddings, couples accept gifts they
could start their new life together with, such as your classic coffee machines
and beautiful crockery. They may even have an online registry prepared.
However, many Asian weddings also opt for
wedding gifts in the form of an envelope of money, with the amount depending on
your relation or closeness to the couple.
4. Participate and Have Fun!
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Andrew Knechel on Unsplash
Now that you’ve spent ample time researching
and preparing the perfect outfit, why not join in some of the festivities?
For example, many Indian or Arab weddings
incorporate dancing to traditional or regional music, so you may just be asked
to join the party!
As long as you’re comfortable, enjoy and soak
up the atmosphere of the wedding event as much as possible.
