Multicultural Wedding

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I was invited to a co-worker’s wedding last Friday night. The young couple was born here, but they have different ethnic backgrounds although both are of Asian origins. In fact, multicultural marriages seem to have run in both families already. Parents of the bride and groom all have different heritage, and some married siblings do as well. I learned throughout the night they have Australian, Indian, Malaysian, Vietnamese, and Indonesian heritage among the family members through marriages. I came after work with other co-workers and we caught the end of the traditional (or was it religious?) ceremony conducted inside the house attended by family and close friends. Tables and chairs were set up outside on the back garden and I could see the caterer inspecting the buffet table making sure all were set up nicely. There were people setting up the sound system on what appeared to be like a stage in front of the guest tables. After the marriage was officiated, the wedding party moved outside. The couple wore traditional wedding costume and the family as well as some guests also had their traditional outfit on. There were some speeches made introducing the newly wed to the guests then we were asked to enjoy dinner. The food was amazing, varieties of traditional dishes were offered and I could not even name any of the desserts and snacks. I passed on the rice and chicken or beef main courses and went straight to the snack table. They looked more interesting to me and I wanted to try a bit of each one of them which I was sure would make me full enough. Live band entertained the guests as we dined. After dinner, the entertainment part of the party took over with more music, singing, and dancing. I noticed the bride and groom had changed from their rather restricted costume to a more lose-fitting traditional outfit which allowed them to move around mingling with the guests more easily. Overall, it was an interestingly different wedding party but an enjoyable one as well.