Incorporating Spanish and a Guatemalan culture into the wedding?

Omg I'm in the same boat! FH is Mexican, not Guatemalan though. FFIL can not read English or Spanish, along with a few others. The rest can't read or speak English.

We plan on having the Lord's Prayer in both English and Spanish for the ceremony. FH wants to say his vows in Spanish, which I will be able to understand almost 90% & they will be written down in case I want to read later. Someone from my church choir was able to sing a hymn in Spanish for his family. We made sure our DJ would be able to play a good mix of songs. FH/FMIL dance will be a Spanish song. I also plan on having Spanish invitations for those who I know would prefer. If they can't read, I know it will be easier for their children to read to them in their native language. One of the ring bearers will have a sign in Spanish. We're doing a dollar dance wth Spanish songs because that's part of their culture & traditions.

It's been hard, but we've found great balance between the two cultures and languages.

A friend of mine married a man from Chile, though her parents were missionaries there and so she grew up speaking English and Spanish as an American. Their wedding ceremony was beautiful, and the officiant said everything in English and then again in Spanish. Then the two of them said their vows in both English and Spanish. It sounds tedious, I know, but it didn't feel that way at all. I'm sure his family would appreciate hearing your promises to their boy in their native language if you're willing to learn how to do that

For my bilingual ceremonies I don't recommend translating every single element, just the key parts. It's important to say the gathering words in both English and Spanish. This makes all the guests feel welcome and lets every one know it will be a bilingual service. One of the readings can be in Spanish. It's up to my couples which language(s) we use for the wedding vows. If we include a lasso ceremony or las arras those are usually done in Spanish. The last element I recommend be done in both languages is the introduction as husband and wife. This format is always well received and the Spanish speaking guests don't feel like they missed any of the important parts of the ceremony. Best wishes!

Both of our families have Spanish speakers so we usually do a bilingual ceremony and reception, but not everything is translated. People will understand in any language what a father-daughter is once they see the bride and her dad get up to dance. I agree with pps have a reading and/or a speech in Spanish so everyone can be included. We didn't want to deal with figuring out bilingual programs so we're not doing them, our families don't usually look at them. Oh and if you're having dancing have some Spanish songs you'll definitely get points there. Bachata, salsa, cumbia and merengue are what my aunts usually ask for lol

We are having a bilingüal officiant. My parts are in Spanish and FHs in English. There will be a prayer and something else in Spanish.

I think it's an over kill to translate every word.

We will have a bilingual guest list too. Language wise, while I would love to please everyone I don't have the time or money to print everything in two languages. This, I am going to go with the language that accommodates most VIPs. For example, my parents speak English and Spanish but his only speak Spanish- so we are going with Spanish. I have hired a bilingual MC who can make all the special announcements in both languages.

What you may want to do, for example, is if the ceremony will be in English, print out a summarized version of it in Spanish for Spanish speaking only VIPs.

MrsWrs... yes. Oh gosh.

I'm Portuguese and we sent a ton of my family in Portugal invitations in English. They all just cared about the pictures anyways. Plus, most of them couldn't come. At the reception it was in English but we talked to my family in Portuguese. My husband learned phrases for my family and it was so cute. I'd recommend you picking up a few phrases.

@MrsW, I just stopped reading after that comment...

You may want to revise your comment about skin color, not sure how that is relevant. I ordered invites in both languages and the welcome sign is semi translated. There will definitely be lots of Latin music. The DJ is bilingual. Also we are doing the lasso y arras ritual during our ceremony which is common in Catholic Hispanic families. We are both American born but consider both cultures in our everyday lives and felt it was necessary to include. Translating everything may be a bit much so I agree key parts will do. Your comment about those who can't read, I think it's still a nice gesture since they will get someone to read it for them. I wouldn't even consider programs.

I have to finish reading the nice and helpful comments in a moment. Thank you so much everyone I am so thankful for all of the advice. I am sorry if anyone was offended by my comment about skin color, but please understand my intentions were not rude. It is hard to say what you mean when you are limited by characters. Online you are only reading words and are interpreting my intentions in your own way. It is relevant because I was trying to get across how much of his family's culture he honors or lives by in his day to day life. I was simply trying to explain how as far as culturally, you would not know he was Guatemalan if you could not see him or read his name. We listen to country music, never Latin music, not even English songs in Spanish, he has no accent as he was born and raised here, we live in the south and live on sweet tea and fried food (currently dieting so not now ha). We don't go to a Catholic church, we don't eat the way his mother cooks (although it is wonderful). When we first started dating I had no reason to believe his family had not lived here for many generations. My point is you would not think he was from a different culture than mine if you could not see he looks different than me. So if my comment offends you I am sorry. But his family, mine, and most importantly he understands what that sentence means. If we are talking about color, his family makes jokes about my "whiteness" often. It doesn't offend me as I know they love me, and I love them. I am white. He is brown. That isn't offensive to us and we don't care if anyone doesn't agree with it. So thank you for your concern. I will try and keep in mind who I am speaking too in the future. As anyone around me would know my intentions, but you don't know me. So I can understand how it may offend you. I would edit the original post, but I am unable to figure out how.

AdiósCollins yes I didn't think about the dollar dance! I have been to several of their family's weddings and that is something they always do! I will have to write that one down. Thank you so much!

LibbyLane Yes I am certainly willing to do that! I have been learning Spanish. (They actually speak a Guatemalan dialect, but it is very hard to learn) Spanish is their second language and they know it well. I will certainly keep that in mind as well. I too thought that would be a nice time to include them.

HitchedbyMV That is very helpful thank you!

grnnslvr08 haha Thank you! I will keep that in mind. I certainly want everyone to be able to dance and enjoy themselves. Yet still stay true to what my FH and I want.

Nessa Thank you that very helpful. My only concern is that even if I print it out in Spanish. There are a large portion who are not able to read in any language. I want them to feel included.

Swin. I am certainly working on my Spanish! =) I can communicate most of the basic phrases, but hope to learn even more in a year's time.

Jackie Thank so much! I just worry that they won't feel included (those that can't read). But I hope having some translation of the key parts will at least help them follow! I worry I am not doing enough, but I don't want my entire ceremony translated.

One more thing. My FH wants a live band. In my area, it is near impossible to find someone that can sing your basic party songs and Spanish as well. So he is fine with all english/American music. I do want to include them and someone mentioned having some songs just played? For example, when the band takes breaks, mother son dance, etc. Is that still respectful to them? Keep in mind my FH and his immediate family are familiar with what your typical English singing band would play. So my concern for other music is for the guests of his family. I am sure his mother and father would enjoy it as well. Almost all of the siblings, cousins, etc are American born and don't listen to Latin music. I just want everyone to feel included.

I'm not having this argument. I'm sorry you think I'm ignorant. I edited my post. I understand how it sounded to people who don't know me. I apologize for that. I had a point and even those around me of Latin culture understand. They even joke with my fiance and call him "white" when he does and says certain things and everyone laughs. I know they don't mean that disrespectful to me even though they are stereotyping my culture by what we do and don't do and the color of our skin. I understand what they mean. There are certain things that my culture does that they don't. Same way by what I meant. I adore the culture and family I am marrying into. And they adore me. That's all that matters. I don't have to justify it to you. I edited my comment and I apologized. For Pete's sake I'm more worried about including people I haven't even meet in this wedding than their own family is...

This is what we do. I have a fabulous bi lingual officiant. We do a reading at the beginning that is delivered in Spanish and in English. The ceremony is done in the language of the majority of the group. The vows are done in both languages. Sometimes the couple will have programs printed with the ceremony in both languages.

Having the entire ceremony done in two languages makes it too long and the continuity gets messed up.

Hope that helps.

My FH is Colombian and unfortunately none of his family, other than his mom who lives in the US, will be able to fly up for the wedding. Regardless, it is important for us to have nods to his culture. A large percentage of our food is Colombian and we will have some latin music during the reception. Also, we had both a Spanish version and English version of our invites which meant a lot to his family.

Celia Milton Thank you! My only problem is there is no majority. My family only speaks English. And his speak a dialect and Spanish. Although there is a large number that also speak English at least well enough to understand even if they aren't able to answer back. So I guess technically the majority is English. But I don't feel that it is an overwhelming majority. I do agree that it would be too long translated entirely. At this point I am think about translating key parts, vows, etc. Thanks again!!!

Zulander Aw I am so sorry about that. I am sure he would love for them to be able to attend. Thank you for the advice! I will definitely include nods with food and the invites in two languages.

@Swin i sent invites in English to Portugal too.

Im not doing much in Portuguese my bouquet coming from there and my matron honor speech will be in Portuguese (shes coming from Azores) my other BM will translate.

OliviaP haha What do you mean?