Bilingual DJs?

ETA: never mind. I just reread what you wrote and realised what you actually said about hating to leave your guests clueless. SORRY! I misunderstood originally.

I'd say if you can find a bilingual DJ/MC who you like and is within your price range, there's no reason not to go for it.

If you can't manage that (I can see why that could be difficult depending on your location), then maybe print out some programs in Cantonese for your Cantonese speaking guests, so they can at least follow along.

I have attended a Spanish only church service with my fiancé a few times (it's his native language, but he also speaks English--I can only understand a little bit of basic Spanish), and it is very, very awkward and uncomfortable to sit and listen to someone talk for a long period of time while having no idea what they are saying.

Can you have the ceremony in English and just have the reception announcements (first dance, food is served, and all the commentary, etc.) in Cantonese? I feel like the ceremony isn't a large percentage of time, so perhaps something as simple as having a translator or a bilingual DJ would make your Cantonese-speaking guests feel more relaxed and informed at the reception. Someone who can make some jokes or do a toast in Cantonese will also help it feel less robotic, like the translator is just repeating words. It's awkward to have everyone around you laughing at a joke you didn't get or to have them stand up and get in line for food first while you wait for the translation (I'm currently living in a foreign country where everything needs to be translated to me.) so putting them at ease would go a long way.

For the ceremony you could have a Cantonese program option?

Sorry, double post.

I think that if some of your guests speak very little English, it's really necessary to have some kind of Cantonese included. For the ceremony, a program would suffice. For the reception, a translator for the DJ if you can't find a bilingual one that you like (Being the only bilingual DJ option isn't really a good enough reason to hire him - he also needs to be a good DJ!) and maybe include at least one Cantonese toast. You definitely need important announcements at the minimum.

It doesn't need to interrupt the flow or the feel of the wedding, but it's a courtesy to your family.

The DJ doesn't really have to announce that many things. It would be very considerate of you to have someone who can speak their language so they know what's happening. Or if you like the DJ you found, can you get a translator for that part? How does it harsh the vibe? What does that even mean?

I totally understand my FH only speaks Spanish he cant understand and all but if you start talking to fast he can comprehend it all ... that being said I have alot of friends and some family who only speak English and would be totaly clueless if I went full Spanish so I decided (with him of course) everything would be bilingual evn if that means having a program for people to read or translators ... I just feel like if they bothered to go to your wedding making time for you then they should know what's being said

ChocolatierKT, I meant it as in an interruption to the flow of the wedding (Having to stop and translate a joke after everyone laughs, having to stop and translate everything said during wedding games, etc...).

I agree that the DJ doesn't have to announce that many things, and I'm still considering a bilingual DJ to do just that, I'm just frustrated with the limited choices of DJs I now have. I think finding a translator to work alongside the DJ might work.

We have a similar problem with Spanish. I think it's important that guests know main event. For example if the DJ is asking everyone to stand up, that should be bilingual. If the DJ is announcing cake cutting, something that is being served, the dances, etc. that should be bilingual. Nothing else, really. If a toast is being given, the language should the choice of the speaker- whatever they are most comfortable with.

I think a bilingual DJ or a person willing to translate the major announcements would make your wedding so much more enjoyable for guests who don't speak English. By no means do they need to translate things like speeches, just say things like "dinner is served, please be seated" and so on. I will tell you two experiences I've had with this:

I went to a wedding in Sweden, the groom was Swedish and the Bride Finnish and they had some English-only speaking guests including myself. They had the bride's sides major speeches translated into Swedish and printed on programs that were placed at every seat. Great for the Swedes, not helpful for the English speakers but I thought it was a good solution (Basically the father of the bride wrote his speech early, they translated and printed it so people could follow along).

Secondly, we are getting married in Israel but my family is American and speak no Hebrew, FH's family is Swedish and they speak no Hebrew either. We purposefully found a native-English speaking Rabbi to marry us who will do the ceremony in English. The blessings will be in Hebrew, but the parts inbetween such as saying which part of the ceremony we are at will be in English.

Good luck! Navigating these things is tough!

Botty, great insight, a bilingual DJ or a translator is probably going to be what I'll do.

Thank you all for your insight and input!