The world feels like a smaller place than ever before. This can primarily be attributed to the rise of the internet. Nowadays, it is easy for a person to connect with someone on the opposite side of the world within moments. This “shrinking” of the world has brought about some fantastic advancements for the human race, and it has also brought about a handful of strange dilemmas. Though the world may seem smaller, people are still quite different. This is especially true when it comes to language.

If you and your partner come from families that speak languages different from what the rest of your guests speak, you may need to take extra considerations when it comes to throwing a wedding everyone will understand. Explore some of these tips on how to host a bilingual wedding, and see what you can do to make the event special for everyone involved.

Breaking Bilingual Barriers

Planning for a bilingual wedding starts the moment you and your significant other decide to tie the knot. If you know your partner’s family speaks another language, or vice versa, you need to bring up the topic for discussion as soon as possible. By keeping the issue in your mind during the entire process, it will be easier for you to make the right decisions. For example, you may need to hire a translator to work alongside the officiant to help half the crowd understand what’s happening.

While choosing a bilingual officiant may seem obvious, there are a few other vendors you may want to check with. Having a photographer who speaks both languages can also be a smart move. The members of both your families are going to want to grab the photographers every so often during your wedding to make sure certain photos are taken. To make life easier for everyone involved, you want to hire photographers who will be able to understand and respond to any ideas or questions brought their way.

Invitations and Websites

It is also important to note you’ll have a certain degree of control when it comes to the languages featured throughout your wedding. Since you are most likely the one designing your invitations, it makes sense to include information in all languages your potential guests speak. If you plan on having a wedding website, registry, or similar features for your event, then you also want to ensure these sites are all available in multiple languages so your guests understand everything you’re presenting to them.

If you and your partner do not fluently speak the languages your guests do, you may want to make sure you’re translating information correctly. Using Google Translate or similar internet tools will only provide you with so much information. A lot of pertinent data can get lost when languages are transferred, meaning your guests might miss a vital piece of info on your invitation due to poor translation. Make sure to hire professionals for translation services when required, and you’ll be putting yourself and your guests in a better position.

Speeches

Finally, a bilingual crowd can prove challenging when it comes to the speeches and toasts that pepper most wedding ceremonies and receptions. In order for guests to understand what’s happening, it might be easiest to instruct any speakers to keep their speeches short, clear, and concise. This allows for everyone present to get the general idea of what’s happening, regardless of whether or not they understand the exact phrases being said.

These days, the world can seem like a smaller place than ever before. The internet has made it easier for people to connect with each other, and this can be as wonderful as it is problematic. To keep guests at a bilingual wedding happy, be sure to take extra care and consideration when planning out the finer details.