On occasion, a couple will request a bilingual wedding ceremony because they really want the ceremony to be all-inclusive. Ceremonies by Lori is lucky enough to have a Spanish language translator on board, Maria Tejeda.* Maria was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States at the age of 9. She has stated that being a part of Ceremonies by Lori has given her the opportunity to connect with couples on a more intimate level. Each ceremony is unique, and it is an amazing feeling to experience firsthand how people can express their love for each. “Lori has a passion for what she does, and it shows in every single ceremony I have had the honor of being a part of. This is, hands down, my favorite part of being on her team.”
Having a bi-lingual ceremony is a little tricky to write but not really any different than writing an English language ceremony. Lori writes the ceremony in English and then Maria translates the ceremony paragraph by paragraph. Ceremonies by Lori does their bilingual ceremonies a bit differently than other officiants we have seen. We translate paragraph by paragraph instead of just the parts of the ceremony where the parents, siblings, family, or friends will be participating in. We at Ceremonies by Lori believe that the entire ceremony is important for the family and friends to be a part of and understand.
A bilingual ceremony is also the recognition of two or more cultures blending together. Amor Latino Unveiled stated in a blog post “… my experience is that English-speaking families are usually delighted to experience some of the ceremony in Spanish – and vice-versa! And this seems to be true even if the family does not understand a word of the other language the bottom line is that an officiant who is able to switch back and forth between two languages is able to connect with all your guests, while at the same time showcasing the blending of two cultures.”
Another important thing to remember when planning a bilingual wedding is to celebrate the differences of your respective cultures and religions. Whether it is through food, music, dance, or ceremony rituals your wedding is a great time to highlight the beauty of your ancestry. The blending of cultures at the ceremony is an amazing way to show family, friends, and the world that love does not discriminate and that is the tenant here at Ceremonies by Lori.