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24 real weddings fall / winter 2014 important to them and what they want to do with the wedding plan. "Be respectful and confident in your decisions, keep communication lines open with each other and the involved families, and don't brush things under the rug to be discussed later — as that will only add to the stress down the road." TWO CULTURES, TWO DAYS Pardip Narwal has found that separating the ceremonies of two distinct cultures over two days is a strategy that works well. She should know. e owner of Big Phat Indian Weddings, Narwal is a Vancouver wedding planner specializing in cross- cultural weddings. "Most of our weddings are a combination of cultures. We do one of the ceremonies on day one, and on day two we start with the second ceremony and follow that with an evening wedding reception," she explains. "It's gone off well, as both families are excited to learn about the other culture." By not holding both ceremonies on the same day, the couple and their family and friends have the opportunity to enjoy each other's traditions without feeling rushed, she adds. Often, etiquette classes are needed to educate both sides of the family about one another's traditions and rituals. Narwal, who provides these educational sessions herself, says they allow both sides to feel prepared, informed and comfortable on the day of the wedding. For South Asian weddings, she also offers her clients a temple etiquette sheet that they can email to their friends or co-workers or include in their invitation. is way, all guests can be informed about what to expect and how to dress appropriately for each ceremony. FAMILY MATTERS McNally has found that usually the bride and groom know exactly what types of traditions they want included in the wedding. "Sometimes family will have more of an opinion and play a larger role in bringing that tradition to life. For example, an auntie might be put in charge of overseeing the tea ceremony for a Chinese wedding, ensuring that all Cascades Casino.indd 1 14-03-26 4:40 PM SHAUGHNESSY WEDDINGS & EVENTS