Language

I guess it depends--we're having our "destination" wedding in the US, but a majority of guests speak English. For my FH's family we are trying to get a translator or worse case a translation written up prettily for them. If you could have a common language for all guests, I'd think that's best, but people will probably be fine as long as there's a bilingual booklet as you said. I'd say elderly guests may struggle more. Good luck with your hochzeit 😊

The booklet should be good. As long as the wedding ceremony isn't overwhelmingly different from most weddings, people will get the idea.

Also, German and English have a *lot* of true cognates, which could help. (The grammar is a different story, it kicked my rear in college.)

View Quoted Comment Thank you for your inputs! Yeaah tobi’s grandparents don’t really speak english and most of the guests are german speakers. I’ll try my best to make the bilingual booklet😅 thank you again and good luck with yours!! (Our weddings are only a few days apart😱)

Our clan has done a bunch with the best success with a program to follow along. And the only part said in all 2-4 languages is the few core words that are part of the vows, not long ones, but the do you , ___ take ___, .... for each, and
I now pronounce you husband and wife. And most languages have a colloquial phrase for each rather than exactly translating the words.But this is the point where everyone focuses. It depends on your families and guests. With a general outline in the program in each language, people get by as well as people who are all of the same language but some Catholic, or Lutheran, Baptist or Jewish or secular freestyle. They just want a general, first a greeting, then sermon on the meaning of marriage, or prayer or whatever. They do not want to learn it. I have been to translated ones, very time consuming and most barely paying attention. But when a program summarizes, now this for a while , you can see people move fingers from section to section and give a sort of, I recognize this, smile as you move on. 20 - 30 minutes not counting the processional is long enough. translating the whole thing in 2 or 3 lang. would be miserable, and to those of different religions than the basic ceremony, would not make sense. What people care more about in a multilingual program, is a brief summary of what comes after the ceremony, and also an easy to refer to names of couple, parents, grandparents, nuclear family, that they can refer to, ask someone how to pronounce . Many cultures other than US place a premium on the first meeting with someone, or greeting people they see infrequently but should know because of their relationship to the couple. Make sure to do introductions in a formal way. So people get each other's names and relationship clearly. Many Americans blow that off, or get too casual too fast, and it helps if others model full introductions so other feel comfortable with them.

I think the booklets would help and could be enough. Could you add monitors maybe with the translation posted to read if some needed it?

I have been to a few weddings where they did everything essentially twice in two different languages, and it took about an hour or so, depending on what elements of the ceremony you include. For example, if you do two or three readings in two languages, that takes up some time. Doing vows in two languages will also take some time. I think if you're worried on timing, have the program be printed in the different languages but have them on the pages side by side so people can read along.

I've been to several weddings that were spoken in a languauge I didn't understand or only partially understood (eg, Hindi, Arabic, Yiddish, Spanish). The process of getting married is relatively the same, so a bilingual booklet should be plenty enough to follow along. You can also have the officiant say a few key phrases/blessings in multiple languages instead of the entire ceremony.

View Quoted Comment 😂😂😂german grammar is truly pain in the ass😅 the ceremony shouldn’t be different than most so i hope the bilingual booklet will be enough 🤞🏾

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much for the thoughtful answer😊 we were also kind of worried about the ‘getting too casual too fast’-thing, but we have a pretty short guestlist so it shouldn’t be hard to to introduction in a formal way

View Quoted Comment That is a good idea!! Didnt think about that before 🙈 thanks margaret!

View Quoted Comment I will try to fit them side by side! Actually i’ll make sure of this since this is also great idea thx adrienne

View Quoted Comment I was thinking the same 🤔 i will bring this up on our next meeting with the officiant

View Quoted Comment When I was in school in Denmark and Finland, and travelled, I found the German people more likely to want things in any program or guide, even an opening, or exhibition, as well as a wedding or other reception. Who are the hosts, the grandparents, the people whose box we are seated in, to pay respects. On an American wedding, people often put bridesmaids and groomsmen in the program. Unless they are rpyal or notable, in places like Germany and Denmark, people looked to the program to find the right names of their hosts, not Julie's Dad and her Stepmother Anne. Becauuse, whether the couple hosted their own, or Grandma did, they greet hosts, check out with them, and write thank you notes to the reception hosts when not the couple. My mom was raised 90%US, but spent teens and grad school years in a couple countries, now works in several. She drilled me, and warned me, and I laughed it off. Till I got places where it was clear that a lot of guests, particularly travelers, deep down offended hosts they did not bother with at weddings or graduations, or house parties. And kept thinking, thanks, Mom, every time it came through, manners to manner of dress, a little bit of graciousness went a long ways. Have Fun!

View Quoted Comment Omg we are the same weekend!! 😍 I'm sure the booklets will work out well. My fiancé and I live in Munich for work actually, so 👋