(In part 1 of this series, we explored the wedding of Reagan Flowers, who racially and ethnically identifies as a Black North American. Her husband, Laolu Davies-Yemitan, is Yoruba and originally from Lagos, Nigeria. In Part 2, we look at the wedding of Karissa and Homero Rendon.)
Karissa and Homero Rendon embarked on their multicultural wedding journey with enthusiasm and a few challenges.
Karissa, an African American woman from Ohio and Homero, a second-generation Mexican American, were determined to honor both cultures in their celebration. Their wedding planning was a delicate balance of integrating traditions and ensuring that both families felt included and respected.
One of the significant challenges they faced was reconciling their differing religious backgrounds.
Karissa, who was raised Baptist and is now nondenominational, was regularly active in her faith, while Homero, who was raised Catholic, was less involved in religious practices. Despite Homero’s relaxed religious stance, his parents had strong ties to Catholicism. These beliefs led to a heated discussion about their wedding venue. Homero’s family was upset that the ceremony wouldn’t occur in a Catholic church or follow traditional Catholic procedures.
Karissa recalls a particularly intense conversation with her mother-in-law, who insisted that a non-church wedding wouldn’t be valid. However, Karissa and Homero stood firm, choosing a beautiful flower garden for their ceremony in Houston, Tex., USA’s Hermann Park.
To honor Homero’s family’s wishes, they incorporated communion into the ceremony, which helped ease some of the tensions.
Music was another essential element in their celebration. The couple selected a disc jockey familiar with both cultures, seamlessly blending traditional mariachi music with popular rhythm-and-blues and hip-hop tracks. This fusion of sounds created a vibrant atmosphere that was a hit with all their guests.
Karissa fondly recalls the joy of dancing to the electric slide and traditional cumbia, highlighting how music helped bridge their cultural divide and set a celebratory tone for the wedding.
Food also played a crucial role in their multicultural celebration. The couple chose a menu that featured a mix of both cultures. The main meal included fajitas and tortillas, catering to Homero’s Hispanic heritage. At the same time, the dessert table boasted peach cobbler and pound cake, which were homemade by Karissa’s aunts and reflected her African American roots. This culinary blend delighted their guests and added a distinctive touch to the festivities.
The couple also included traditional handmade maracas as party favors, sourced from an artist in Mexico. This small detail added a festive and culturally rich element to their wedding, symbolizing the blending of their heritages.
An amusing yet telling anecdote from their planning process involved Karissa’s mother-in-law buying her a hair relaxer, not realizing that Karissa preferred her natural hair texture. This incident underscored the cultural learning curve both families navigated, with Karissa gently educating her mother-in-law about Black hair care practices.
The couple’s wedding was a testament to their commitment to honoring both cultures. Despite initial resistance from Homero’s family, particularly regarding the nontraditional venue and ceremony, the couple’s careful planning and thoughtful incorporation of cultural elements resulted in a memorable and joyous celebration.
Looking back, Karissa reflects on the day with fondness, noting how their wedding symbolized the seamless blending of their cultures. One of her most cherished memories is walking back down the aisle with a teary-eyed Homero, who expressed that marrying her was the best decision he had ever made.
Another highlight was her best friend singing “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson as she walked down the aisle, creating a magical moment that Karissa will never forget.
Karissa’s Advice
- Communication is Key: Karissa emphasizes the importance of staying open and communicating effectively with each other about cultural differences. Communicating helps address potential misunderstandings and find common ground.
- Center on What Matters to You: Focus on what was most important to the couple, despite external pressures from family and society, to help them make decisions that were true to their values and relationships.
- Trust Each Other: Trusting each other above external influences or pressures helps navigate challenges and make joint decisions.
- Adapt and Educate: When faced with cultural misunderstandings, like the hair relaxer incident, gently educate about the importance of the individual’s cultural practices. This approach can foster understanding and respect between families.
- Create a Balance: They balanced the elements from both cultures, ensuring both families felt included and respected. This equilibrium appeared in their choice of music, food and ceremonial practices.
- Enjoy the Process: Despite the challenges, focus on the celebratory aspects and enjoy the wedding planning process. This positive approach can help manage stress and create a joyful wedding experience.
