Category: Wedding

Introduction

The job under analysis is a wedding planning project that lasted for 10 months. The concerned couple chose not to hire a wedding planner, so they shared all the planning responsibilities with the bridal team. The following people were involved in the project: the bride, groom, groomsmen (the best man led his group), bridesmaids (the maid of honour led her group), four close friends, the bride’s parents and groom’s parents.

Project scope, roles and responsibilities and scheduling

The project scope is summarised in the work breakdown structure (refer to the appendix). It covered five major aspects: Initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closing. The initiation phase entailed coming up with a budget, setting the date, choosing the wedding venue and estimating the number of guests in the event.

The planning phase covered securing the wedding venue, working on the theme and overall look of the location, selection of the caterers, decor, clothing, presiding minister, and entertainment. The third phase involved the monitoring phase where the team would look at the ongoing project activities and compare it with the projected costs and scope.

Some corrective actions were identified and other factors altered in order to meet the control aspects of the team. The fourth phase was execution which involved collecting the dress, transporting the team, catering, and overall implementation of the ceremony. The closing phase involved the honeymoon where the flight to the set destination was determined and payment of cheques.

The roles and responsibilities are specified in the responsibility matrix (refer to the appendix). The bride and groom were in charge of venue selection, cake design, the guest list, invitation design, entertainment, hair and make up, wedding speech, vows, ring choice, honeymoon selection, decor, composition and order of the wedding party, marriage licence, and seating chart.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen handled photography, bachelor and bachelorette party, travel plans and accommodation for the guests, floral arrangements, and their dresses. The four friends in the team looked into table and lighting arrangements, gift registry as well as ushering services in the wedding. The mother and father of the groom and bride handled the financing of the wedding. They also contributed to the creation of the guest list, and the rehearsal dinner.

The project schedule is summarised in the Gantt chart as found in the appendix section. In the first week, the team came up with the date of the venue. It also identified the venue of the church ceremony as well as the reception within that same month (in the fourth week). The team established their budget in the second week of planning. Estimating the number of guests was done concurrently with the budget in the second week. In the subsequent month, the bride and groom reserved the wedding venue.

They worked on the guest list and stuck to their pre-established head count, which was 150. In the ninth month to the wedding, the team booked the minister who would come from the bride’s church. In the second to fourth week of that month, they started getting contact information for a range of event service vendors such as florists, caterers, photographers and live bands.

In the third month of the project, the group hired a videographer and many other photographers in the first week. In the next two weeks, the team booked entertainers by examining a number of live bands and DJs and choosing the most impressive ones. The last week involved meeting caterers and booking them. Window shopping for possible wedding dresses began concurrently.

In the fourth month, the team reserved a hotel room for guests that was close to the wedding venue. The group also registered at three retailers who had a heavy presence near the location of the wedding. In that same month, the group selected a calligrapher who made the invitations.

The bride and groom also prepared for the honeymoon by booking the location, updating their passports as well as streamlining other items that were needed in order to leave the country.

The group started working on the bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s tuxedos by shopping for potential vendors. In the last week of the fourth month of planning, the team sent out cards that identified the date of the wedding. They also met with the church minister who informed them about all the documents and processes they had to go through prior to the wedding (Barry 2011).

The fifth month of planning involved working on the utilities, transportation and florist deadlines. At the time, the group booked chairs, lighting aspects and portable lavatories for the event. In the second week, it identified and booked the wedding florist; she would decorate the venue in accordance to a selected theme.

Thereafter, transportation arrangements were made for the wedding party as well as the guests. In the last week, the group started on the schedule for the wedding day such as cake cutting, welcoming the couple, doing the first dance etc. In the sixth month, the group looked into the wedding invitations in order to ascertain that everything went according to plan.

They team examined a number of cake vendors before selecting and ordering their cake in the second and third week. At this time, the bride started selecting some wedding shoe vendors. She also started doing her first fittings (Barry 2011).

In the seventh month of planning, some hair and makeup artists were examined and one was one of each was selected. At this time, the team also worked on the music that would be involved in the event; some of it would be played at dinner, during the reception as well as in the evening party.

In the third and fourth weeks of the seventh month, the team finished selection of the flower and menu components. It also compiled a list of the people who would speak during the reception and consulted with them. The bride and her party also ordered for undergarments and did fittings. Project team members completed the order of events in the church ceremony and the reception. They printed menu cards, bought the rings and send the order of events to their vendors.

In the ninth month of planning, the group evaluated its position by meeting with all the vendors and ensuring that they were on course. They determined ways of meeting their set deadlines in a cost efficient and faster way. They met with photographers on some of the shots to be taken, and the band and deejays on song lists. The group then sent out the invitations so as to provide guests with a six-week window to prepare for the wedding. The bridesmaid organised a bachelorette party at the end of this month (Barry 2011).

In the tenth month, the bride and groom followed up on people who did not respond to the invitations. They also worked on the marriage license and mailed invitations for the rehearsal dinner. The bridal party visited dressmakers for their last fitting. Drinks were ordered, confirmations for hair and make up were made and seating assignments were also done. The venue was decorated in accordance to the theme.

One week prior to the wedding, the team confirmed the arrival times for all vendors as well as delegated point mans for each of these vendors. The group picked up the dressed and wrote cheques for the concerned members. Spa treatments were done involving manicures and pedicures a day prior to the wedding.

The caterer received her last guest list 72 hours to the wedding. Welcome baskets were made, and the bride and groom packed for their honeymoon. On the morning of the wedding, makeup and hair were done and the wedding party transported. The project culminated with the wedding day where most of the planned activities went according to plan expect for a few hiccups.

An assessment of the wedding planning project

The project management triangle is a useful tool in examining the level of success within a certain project. It works by looking at the constraints within the project and the team’s ability to cope with them (Harrison & Lock 2004). Shown below is diagrammatic illustration of the project management triangle.

Scope

One of the components of the project management triangle is the project scope. Scope management involves identifying all the work that will be required in order to complete the project successfully (Kousholt 2007). These activities often stem from needs of the stakeholders, who in this case were the members of the team. The bride and groom wanted a standard wedding with approximately 150 guests. They opted to have a church ceremony and reception at the same venue.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen were 12 in number. They also had a ring bearer and someone who accompanied him; these two were ten years old. The wedding was to take place inside the city. For accomplishment of all activities, the group needed to outline the responsibilities for carrying the out the tasks before hand. The bride and groom had a rough idea about the activities as seen through the budget that they made at the beginning of the project.

However, the budget was a big generalisation that merely covered general sections. The project team leaders should have clarified all the project activities in order to minimise confusion and time wastage. In other words, they should have had a project scope statement. Furthermore, every member of the group should have been responsible for particular activities. The team preferred assigning these tasks as they went along. They would have been more organised if they had laid this out from the beginning.

The group had not accommodated certain aspects of the planning process. For instance, it did not think about the soil conditions inside the chosen venue. Two days prior to the wedding, the couple realised that the entrance to their venue was partly flooded. They had to ask a number of colleagues to assist them by adding gravel and dry soil on that same day. If they had planned for this condition, then they would not have to request for favours from their friends.

The wedding couple did not plan for vendors’ meals. The food was supposed to accommodate only 150 guests, inclusive of the bridal team. However, on the day of the wedding, the bride and groom realised that there were approximately 15 additional mouths to feed, and they were all vendors.

The project team had not accounted for this group when making the food arrangements. Consequently, the project leaders had to convince the caterers to feed the group and pay for them later. It was a situation that caused a lot of confusion in the course of wedding, yet it could have been avoided if the project scope was well done.

Time

With regard to the time needed to complete the project; the team had ample time to prepare for the wedding. The ideal time is usually 12 months, but the 10 months that the project team had to do their job was sufficient (The Knot 2009). The wedding planners in the group had very strict restrictions about time because once the wedding date was chosen, it could not be altered.

The group did not have a comprehensive project scope, so this also undermined its scheduling. Wedding planners always work from the project scope activities in order to specify the time needed for each one. Furthermore, the team mostly worked in terms of months or weeks; it should have narrowed down these tasks to daily responsibilities in order to make the most of their time.

A good time schedule ought to be one that accommodates emergencies (Stevens 2002). The project team made a wedding program and order of events without considering possible time delays. The bride was one hour late owing to traffic. The team did not check on competing activities near the venue that could affect the traffic situation.

It turned out that there was a charity event near the chosen location thus explaining why there were so many people heading to the same area. Risk management is an important part of a wedding planner’s duties, so the group should have anticipated this risk and accommodated it in their plans.

In order to save time, the project team should have used its vendors to lead them to other vendors. For instance, if they visited a photographer, they should have asked for references on reputable florists. Instead, the couple and their team preferred to deal with vendors separately. They spent too much time comparing the vendor services available and this added to the pressure that they had to deal with towards the wedding date.

Costs

Costs refer to the budgetary constraints of the project. A standard 150 person wedding will require a £37,000 budget (The Knot 2009). However, the bride and groom only had about £20,000 for the same number of people.

Therefore, the team needed to use creative ways in order to accommodate the dreams and wishes of the bride and groom. One way in which they achieved this was by selecting the same venue for the church ceremony and the reception. The group also did a good job of comparing prices in order to make sure that they settled for the most cost effective vendors.

Since the wedding entailed a budget that was almost less than half of the ideal amount, then the project team should have thought about other ways of saving money. Wedding purchases were done separately; none of these were consolidated into one specific payment system such as a credit card.

Furthermore, the group did not maximise on some of the opportunities that existed prior to committing to a vendor. It was possible for the team to negotiate the duration of their meal courses. For instance, dessert might last for more than one hour if the project members asked the vendors for it.

Vendors are often willing to give bonuses and other incentives before clients commit to them. When clients make requests about additional features later on in the contract, then vendors may have less motivation to meet those needs (Dinsmore 2005). It was difficult for the bride and groom to get certain additions that had not been specified in the contract because it was already too late. Consequently, they had to pay extra to have these needs met.

On the other hand, the team was favoured by the number of guests who confirmed their interventions. The final guest list reduced by 27 after a number of people cancelled. The simplest way to cut wedding costs is to reduce one’s guest list as this has a direct effect on expenses. Luckily, the project team did not have to make this decision; it was already made for them. Furthermore, the project leaders were strict about the people who could accompany the invitees. All members were only allowed to bring one additional person.

A lot of extra expenses arose at the last meeting, such as covering the muddy part of the venue, paying for extra meals for the vendors among others. The project team anticipated last minute problems, and thus allocated some extra financing for the same. The major problem was that it was not enough.

As a rule of thumb, a wedding team ought to leave 5-10% of their budget for these emergencies (Systemation 2012). The group chose the lower end of the recommendation (5%) for their wedding. If they had designated a larger sum for emergencies, then they wouldn’t have to ask for favours from friends as the case was with the issue of mud.

Quality

All aspects of the outer project triangle (cost, scope and schedule) have a direct effect on the quality of the project. If the scope is large, then the team would need to increase on time and cost. Failure to adjust these last two parameters could compromise on the quality of the project. Furthermore, if a project has a small budget, then it needs to increase the amount of time allocated to project activities as well as reduce the project scope.

A small time frame necessitated increased costs and minimisation of the scope. In the case of the wedding, the team had a smaller budget than expected; it needed to have a large amount of time and a smaller scope. The wedding party could not increase the time available for the project so it should have thought of this aspect earlier. However, it had the opportunity to minimise the scope, which it did not do successfully (Kerzner 2003).

The turn out in the wedding was quite on point; however, it seemed a little crowded. Waiters, guests, and entertainers occupied every bit of space in the venue. The team ought to have thought about manoeuvring space when selecting the location. Some guests had to struggle in order to use the rest rooms or make their way to the podium.

The seating arrangement also exacerbated the situation by requiring most of the guests to pass through a series of other individuals in order to get to their places in the middle of the row. Circular arrangements might have helped. Furthermore, members appeared to wait too long for the cocktails during the evening party, yet this could have been improved.

It is a rule of thumb that one bartender can comfortably handle 50 guests; therefore, the party needed three bartenders in order to offer superior services. However, the evening party only had two thus causing many guests to wait in line before getting their cocktails.

Besides the project triangle, the project management cycle (with five phases) can also assist one in understanding what could have been improved in the wedding. In this cycle, project members must start with the initiation phase, and then proceed to the planning phase. Afterwards, they should monitor, implement and finally finish the project. Although the project team tried to follow these phases, as described in the scope, there were a number of things that could have been done differently to alter results.

Project Initiation

The project initiation phase was arguably the most crucial aspect of the project plan because without it the rest of the project would not have had direction. This phase ought to have a project charter in which the members identify the tasks, deliverables, schedules and costs of the project (Ireland 2006).

The bride and groom did not do a comprehensive project initiation because they merely had a rough idea of what was to come. Most of the members did not know about the tasks involved until later on in the project. Project initiation also encompasses carrying out a stakeholder analysis, which could have been done in a better way. The team underestimated vendors’ food requirements, which could have been avoided if they had identified them as stakeholders in the project.

A financial analysis ought to be done in initiation through the budget. Although the team had a budget, it would have been more effective if they made it more specific and if they had set aside more money for emergencies. Perhaps the most important aspect of the initiation phase is setting measurable goals.

The group did not have explicit goals, which could have been their greatest undoing. The party should have stated what they wanted concerning all the wedding deliverables and possibly quantified each of the goals. They should also have provided timelines for all the concerned aspects.

Project planning

As with the initiation phase, the planning phase also determines how successful a group can be in achievement of its objectives. This aspect involved project team selection, creation of a work breakdown structure, estimation of costs, scheduling and risk planning. In the project team, some deficiencies could be seen in risk planning as the group had not anticipated challenges that arose on the very day of the wedding.

There were also deficiencies in the work breakdown structure since the bride and groom seemed to be doing almost everything. They should have designated at least one team member to help them out with their tasks or give an opinion on their choices.

When doing project planning, members need to determine the activities that are needed in order to achieve certain deliverables and then arrange them in a logical sequence. The bridal team did not follow this aspect thus explaining why they were rather haphazard in the completion of their tasks.

Project execution

The phase entails completion of project scheme. Some of the deliverables needed to be revisited in order to ascertain that they were in order during the wedding (Lewis 2000). For instance, although the bride’s and bridesmaid’s dresses had been completed, the parties needed to go back for a last fitting, so this took up a lot of time.

Additionally, execution of other deliverables could only be done on the wedding day, such as floral arrangements, food and photography. Therefore, the team had to keep confirming that everything was in order. Although different members were in charge of the project tasks on the actual day of the wedding, it would have been more effective, if these individuals took on leadership of the deliverables prior to the wedding day.

Project monitoring

Monitoring encompasses observation of project execution in order to identify problems and take corrective action. It should occur in three phases that include measurement of project activities, assessing project variables and taking of corrective action. In this plan, the group only met once to assess the entire project. Other meetings mostly focused on specific deliverables. The team appeared to lack a holistic approach, yet this is indispensable. There was need for a more systematic approach to problem solving and corrective actions in the report.

Project closing

It was difficult to finalise or close a wedding planning project because some activities coincided with actual occurrence of the wedding. However, once the deliverables were received, then the group knew that it had accomplished its goals. Contract settlement can also by another way of indicating that the project is complete. Most of the vendors were paid on the wedding day via cheques.

Recommendations

Planning and initiation phases of the project were the most sensitive aspect of the project. If the wedding was redone, the group ought to have a clear scope statement and measurable goals for all the deliverables (Carayannis 2005). They can achieve this by specifying what they require on the wedding day and then work backwards.

An example of an overall project goal for them would be “To prepare for a resort-themed wedding that caters to 150 guests for £20,000 in ten months time”. In addition to having a scope statement and clear measurable goals, team members need to create a time schedule for all the major and minor tasks in the project. This should allow them to effectively monitor the project by comparing where they are with where they need to be.

A number of strategies are available to cut down on costs if the team has the same amount of money to work with in a similar project. First, all wedding-related purchases can be placed in one card so as to accumulate bonuses. The bride and groom can then use the bonuses to pay for their honeymoon and thus save costs. Additionally, they need to request for incentives prior to signing contracts with their vendors.

This will prevent them from having to pay extra for them during the project. With regard to meals, the team should have a less expensive meal plan for support staff in order to minimise feeding costs. The group should leave 10% of the budget for emergencies; otherwise, the project leaders may get into debt.

The group could also save on time by checking on potential activities that may be taking place near the wedding venue. If there are other activities, then transportation should begin early. Sticking to the time schedule laid out in the project planning phase could also help (Hamilton 2004). The party should also examine the location of the wedding to ensure that even the external area is in good condition. Visitors from out of town should be accommodated near the venue of the wedding in order to minimise delays.

There are number of things that could be done in order to improve the quality of the event. First, the party should consider making circular arrangements so as to facilitate ease of movements. It should also look for a bigger venue in order to provide guests with 25-30 square feet of space. The entities should also use one vendor to gain access to other vendors as this will give them access to reputable providers. More bartenders are needed for the same number of guests.

The project team could have been more coordinated and organised. If the project had been done differently, then the team ought to compile images of things they like from magazines in one binder. The same file should also contain observations and communications made with vendors. Instead of relying on memory, the project leaders should always write important things down and put them in one location that they can access easily. Even the cell phone numbers of the vendors should be stored in the same document.

Conclusion

The wedding planning project was a success even though no professional project leader was hired. Perhaps it was this lack of a professional that caused the team to adopt a haphazard approach to project management techniques.

An improvement in project initiation and planning phases would have led to better outcomes. The team needed to have a specific time schedule as well as a comprehensive scope statement and measurable goals. It is likely that those changes would have prevented some of the hiccups that occurred on the wedding day.

References

Barry, C 2011, The Bride and the Gantt Chart. Web.

Carayannis, E 2005, The story of managing projects, Greenwood Publishing, London.

Dinsmore, P 2005, The right projects done right!, John Wiley and Sons, Massachusetts.

Hamilton, A 2004, Handbook of project management, TTL Publishing, London.

Harrison, F & Lock, D 2004, Advanced project management: A structured approach, Gower Publishing, New York.

Ireland, L 2006, Project management, McGrawhill, London.

Kerzner, H 2003, Project management: A systems approach to panning, scheduling, and controlling, Wiley, Massachusetts.

Kousholt, B 2007, Project management: Theory and practice, Teknisk Forlag, Berlin.

Lewis, J 2000, The project manager’s desk reference: a comprehensive guide to project planning, scheduling, evaluation, and systems, Prentice, New York.

Stevens, M 2002, Project management pathways, APM Publishing, Los Angeles.

Systemation 2012, Weddings are a project. Web.

The Knot 2009, Wedding planning. Web.

Introduction

This report is designed to provide a detailed description of an event plan. In particular, the even chosen for the analysis is a wedding that will be held in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. Apart from the location, the wedding has several different peculiarities (it is vegetarian, spiritual, environmentally conscious, and relatively small). The present report will cover such aspects of the event as its objective, vision, location, transportation, staging, menu, staffing, entertainment, and media. The report will concern the work breakdown for the event, task responsibility, budget, accommodations and invitations, and the overall implementation and management.

Event Objective

The objective of this event is to deliver a pleasant and effortless celebration in a light and nurturing atmosphere taking into consideration the special preferences of the target audience. The desired location is a hotel in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, at the end of spring. The major issues are the transportation of the guests, their placement in the hotel, the selection of the hotel, and its readiness to host a wedding matching the unique requirements of the planned event.

Event Vision

The wedding is expected to be held in a relaxing, peaceful, spiritual, and nurturing atmosphere, with the corresponding types of music (meditative, singing bowls, spiritual, and calming). The expected entertainments would include a collective meditation, group singing, and versatile rituals and blessings.

Design Objectives of the Event Experience

In order to create the required calming and relaxing atmosphere, the planners should avoid using balloons and artificial flowers. Instead, light and flowing fabrics and ribbons of versatile colors can be used to decorate the space along with colorful lights; the guests could sit on the floor pillows and enjoy their meals served on the low tables. The menu should include only organic ingredients, no animal products, and no alcohol. The wedding ceremony would be held at the beach (this is why only beach hotels should be reviewed as suitable locations), and the celebration can take place either inside or outside in a banquet area.

Work Breakdown

Work breakdown structure of an event is created to “decompose” the flow of tasks and categorize them into measureable goals; this approach allows creating a precise schedule and predicting the resources required at every stage of the event planning (“Plan and schedule development,” 2008).

Below is the graph presenting different segments of work that need to be taken care of as the event is planned. Each of the categories includes several tasks that are also listed in the graph.

Task Responsibility

Wedding Coordinator

The wedding coordinator is in charge of the vast majority of preparations consulting the bride and groom as to their tastes, preferences, and budget limitations.

Bride and Groom

The bride and groom are responsible for such important aspects of a wedding as dates, guest list and invitations, wedding rings, location, budget, design and theme, entertainment, and menu.

Maid of Honor and Best Man

The maid of honor and best man take care of the personal aspects of the wedding such as gathering for gown and suit fitting, the events related to the wedding; and they also participate in rehearsals and the official parts.

Critical Path

The critical path is a necessary part of any event because it outlines the exact sequence of actions required to put the plan into practice. Below is the graph demonstrating the general critical path for the wedding.

Site Selection

The site selection procedure involves a series of criteria helping to narrow down the available locations and choose the most suitable one. The main and most important criteria are the following:

• The number of guests
• Access and reach
• Available premises
• Cost
• Catering options
• Weather (indoors or outdoors area)
• Venue layout
• Resources provided (heating or air-conditioning, electricity, stage and furniture, lighting, music, restrooms, suitability for the guests with special needs) (“Event management planning guide,” n.d.).

Necessary considerations:

• Is the location easy to find?
• What will the weather be like?
• Does the location fit the objectives and vision of the event?

Location Requirements

The criteria from the list above are to be matched to the requirements and preferences of the wedding party. In particular, the locations will be sorted by their cost within the range of the wedding budget, their geographical locations will be measured by the proximity to the beach in Ayia Napa Cyprus, and their catering options would have to include the capacity to serve vegetarian and alcohol-free banquet.

Hotels

Types of hotels:

• Business and corporate
• Boutique
• Luxury
• All-suites
• Airport
• Budget
• Convention
• Suburban

Once a location is chosen, it is critical for the representatives of the wedding party and the planners to visit and review the site beforehand (“Selecting venues and facilities,” n.d.). The visit is a necessity because even though most hotels offer online brochures and pictures of their premises, the planners may find an unwanted surprise that would not be visible in the photographs.

Restaurants, Private Venues, Catering

Local restaurants and independent caterers with vegetarian menus should be reviewed alongside the catering services of the hotel.

Transportation Q&A

• Are the vehicles available for the guests to reach the hotel independently?
• Is there a need for pickups for separate guests? How many pickups are needed?
• When should the airplane tickets be booked?
• What is the schedule of flights to the chosen location?
• How long is the flight?

Guest Arrival Q&A

• Does the venue have a convenient arrival space?
• Are there doormen and porters?
• Do the guests need maps?
• Do the flights arrive at a convenient time for a check-in?

Fanfare

If any special activities are planned at any point of the stay, it is important to consider the space and resources for them, plan the time they will take, provide all the necessary equipment, calculate the budget of these activities (electricity costs, performers involved, materials), and think through the safety concerns (Allen, 2009).

Room Requirements

The exact number of rooms needs to be finalized in order to book the rooms. The types of people attending (elderlies, children, people with disabilities) the event should be taken into consideration when covering the transportation issues as well.

Staging, Audiovisual, Lighting

The staging, lighting, and audiovisual capacities of the locations hosting the event will be checked during the first visit. Also, the administration of the venue could answer these questions over an email or a phone call.

The Guest List

For a wedding, the invitations are not transferrable, and people on the guest list are usually not replaced (Allen, 2009). The important considerations in this regard involve the relationships between different groups of people, the kind of atmosphere that will occur once they are all placed together, the sitting arrangements, and the hierarchy of the guests’ importance.

Invitations

Invitations and RSVPs are critical to the stages of accommodations and catering planning. The invitations need to be sent out as early as possible. Also, it is better to call the recipients and confirm or clarify their RSVP status (Allen, 2009).

Media

Nowadays, weddings have blogs that document the preparation and implementation stages. Also, it is possible to cover the event using social networks such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. This could be done by the wedding party or arranged by the coordinator.

Food and Beverage Considerations

Sustainability and eco-consciousness are the priorities in this event when it comes to food. The Green Guide to Catering and Event Planning (n.d.) emphasizes that at an event like this finger food is to be preferred as appetizers and snacks; as for beverages and water, bottled drinks are to be replaced with dispensers, biodegradable cups could be used. The food should be delivered in one bulk to prevent extra transportation impacts.

Menu Planning

Diversity is an issue when it comes to a vegetarian menu. It may be problematic to plan a large banquet. Also, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free preferences need to be considered in menu planning. In fact, this could be one of the points to check in the wedding invitations.

Staffing

The event staffing depends on the number of people invited and different parts of the event (Event management, n.d.). Aspects to consider:

• Catering (preparation of food and serving)
• Bar
• Entertainment (music, dancing, performances)
• Fanfare
• Coverage (photographers, videographers, bloggers)
• Ceremony itself (a priest or another authority of the kind)

Entertainment

If any entertainment activities are planned, they need to be broken down into categories and organized in a schedule.

Entertainment Q&A

• What are the planned activities?
• How long will each activity last?
• Will there be people in charge (a host)?
• How many performers are needed?
• What is the sequence of the activities?

Photographers and Videographers

Photographers and videographers are important in the events. The planners are to discuss with them what parts of the event they would prefer to be recorded and in what manner. Also, time should be scheduled for the photographers and videographers to work and capture all the required moments.

Final Wrap and Implementation

The final wrap needs to be planned as well. The list of things that should be checked or done before the departure is to be created.

Summary and Conclusion

Thomas, Hermes, and Loos (2008) offer event-reference model for the event planning and managements. The framework in the form of a graph is presented below in Figure 1. This model involves different aspects and objectives of an event and also breaks it down into main phases such as pre-, post-, and main-event; in addition, the planning stages are grouped into general (or rough), subtle, and detailed planning. This approach allows creating precise WBS frameworks for each part and aspect of an event, formulating a clear schedule, and assigning measurable goals. The present event involves many aspects and requires schemes and plans of general and detailed nature in order to organize everything in time.

References

Allen, J. (2009). Event planning: The ultimate guide to successful meetings, corporate events, fundraising galas, conferences, conventions, incentives and other special events. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

Event management. (n.d.). Staffing. Web.

Green guide to catering and event planning. (n.d.). Web.

Plan and schedule development. (2008). Web.

Selecting venues and facilities. (n.d.). Web.

Thomas, O., Hermes, B., & Loos, P. (2008). Reference model-based event management. International Journal of Event Management Research, 4(1), 38-57.

Wedding is one of the most significant events in the life of every young girl. Every country has its own wedding traditions which include definite customs and principles of the right preparation for the wedding. Young women in the UAE also consider wedding as the most important and pleasant event in their lives. The preparation for the wedding in the UAE is a long process, and the wedding ceremony is the great beautiful act which consists of several stages.

The first stage is the bride’s preparation for her wedding. It is interesting that it usually begins when the wedding date is set, and it can last during forty days. Thus, he bride’s preparations require a lot of time and energy. However, it is the happiest period in a woman’s life.

It is forbidden to see the bride during these forty days. Only the family members can see her and help to prepare for her wedding day. Traditionally, it is paid much attention to her look. Different sorts of special oils and perfumes are used to cover her body from head to toe. It is also significant to decorate the bride’s skin with various henna patterns. Moreover, her hair should be washed with traditional extracts of amber and jasmine in order to make it beautiful.

The members of the bride’s family also concentrate on the quality of the dishes which she eats because it is important to keep her purity and even perfectness. The groom’s presents as pieces of jewelry and silk materials also contribute to such intentions. These presents will be used for her trousseau which is traditionally known as Alzehba.

The next stage of the wedding is the celebrations which can be held during one week or more before the wedding night. Nevertheless, modern pairs are inclined to celebrate their weddings less than one week. They listen to the traditional music, sing traditional wedding sings and dance in order to celebrate the happiest moment in their lives.

Moreover, these festivities are followed with the henna night or Laylat Al Henna during which the bride’s sisters, girlfriends and female guests prepare her for her first wedding night and decorate her hands and feet with henna which leaves dark red stains on her skin.

Furthermore, it is impossible to imagine the bride in UAE who does not use the Arabian Kohl or eyeliners. The usage of black eyeliners is also can be considered as a definite tradition which is popular for many years. This substance is usually taken from a black stone known as Al Athmad and is used to accentuate the beauty of women’s eyes. The henna night is the last period before the bride’s wedding night.

It is also important that men and women who are the guests at the wedding usually celebrate separately according to the Muslim traditions. In spite of the fact all the wedding traditions depend on general Islamic religious principles, the approaches to the ceremony can be different in various Muslim countries. For instance, weddings in Egypt can differ from weddings in Africa or India because of following definite customs.

We can conclude that wedding can be considered as one of the most important events in the women’s life in UAE. It is necessary to remember that all the peculiarities of the wedding in UAE depend on strict following definite Islamic traditions and customs.

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies are some of the most beautiful events in the country. The purpose of this research is to learn what a traditional Japanese Wedding ceremony entails and to explore its influences and roots in the perspective of the historical, cultural and social peculiarities of the Japanese society.

This involves the scale of culture, role of tradition, natural resources, traditions and dress code, and the religion and rituals. In addition, the research aims at explaining the origin of the wedding attires and their attributes for both the bride and groom. Other factors that will be discussed include the detailed description of courtship in Japan, and both the wedding and engagement customs. The paper is also focused at finding out the influence of Japanese traditional dress on other cultures.

Japanese Society

In the Japanese society, traditions and norms are strictly followed. The Japanese dressing code and traditions make this country differ from all other countries of the world (Heapy 37). The Japanese cultural and religious traditions play a key role during the wedding ceremonies. In Japan, the course of the wedding ceremony starting with the engagement is based on a fixed set of rules and customs. Each ritual has its importance and meaning to the society. The festivities are greatly influenced by social statuses of the brined and groom. Even in the modern days the power of old customs is very big. This is why the contemporary Japanese young people traditionally seek for the help of the third party to introduce them to each other.

It is interesting to observe how in one of the most highly developed and futuristic countries of the world the rules of the old times are respected and carefully followed. This happens because the meaning of reputation and honor is crucial for the Japanese men and women. This way sticking to the traditions is not viewed as an old-fashioned behavior, but as a noble and respectable practice. Some of the patterns of the traditional Japanese wedding are very symbolic, they are designed to demonstrate the strong connection with the past as in the Japanese society remembering the rules of the forefathers is very important.

Scale of Culture

For a long time Japanese culture had been based on patriarchal relationships between men and women. This is currently reflected in the rules and rituals of the Japanese weddings in a variety of ways. The ancient symbol of childbirth and fertility fill the engagement ceremony, the colors and patterns of the bridal attires demonstrate the woman’s transformation from a daughter, to a young lady, and then to a wife and a future mother. Cultural pressure also makes many women of Japan seek marriage in their early twenties. This is the influence of the past when being single for too long was considered as a bad luck. Even though this cultural pressure is strong, many contemporary Japanese women living in urban areas reject this tradition and prefer to stay single though their twenties up to thirties.

Role of Tradition

According to the tradition, of the Japanese society, when a man catches attention of a beautiful lady, he does not immediately approach her for a conversation. Instead, he must seek the help of a trusted friend to arrange a meeting (Gallagher 50). The ladys father is then visited for a permission for a hand in marriage. Using a third party to organize a wedding is a popular practice in Japan. If the father accepts the request, the two young people in love are introduced to each other at a mutual allys home. If the man and woman are interested in each other, they exchange gifts. The interchange creates a form of betrothal. The presents include money and clothing together with some symbolic gifts that are inexpensive, yet contain some deep meaning.

Natural Resources

Ever since the ancient times, Japan has been known for a number of natural resources that shaped the country’s traditions, lifestyle and influenced its rules and rituals. One of the best examples of such natural recourse is silk. Kimonos fashioned of silk and decorated with handmade embroidery have always been the symbol of social status in Japan, since this fabric is very fine and expensive. Since Japan is an island state, it has always been rich in all kinds of seafood. The most classic Japanese foods contain different types of fish. Dried cuttlefish is also a part of an engagement ritual in Japan, because of its phallic shape.

This fish symbolizes childbirth. One more well know natural resource popular in Japan is rice. It is present in a number of Japanese meals from soups to desserts. Besides, rice straw is one of the main composites of the rice paper, a traditional wrapping paper for the gifts given during the ceremonies of engagement and wedding in Japan. Finally, gemstones and treasures such as jade, coral, pearls, sapphire, opal are mined in Japan, this is why they may be traditionally present as parts of the wedding attires, jewelry and gifts during the ceremony.

Religion and Rituals

Religious beliefs are often incorporated in traditional ceremonies. Japanese wedding norms are categorized into two types (Norbury 77). They include traditional Shinto ceremonies and modern western weddings. The ceremony begins when the couple enters the banquet hall together. Shino wedding ceremonies are traditionally held in shrines. They involve the closest family members of the groom. Matrimony is believed to affect the entire clan. As a result, nakoudos are called upon to arrange a wedding between the spouses. Once the wedding is permitted, gifts are exchanged. In recent times, many Japanese people view the beliefs as outdated (Heapy 41). The match-making practice has become rare.

In the past, certain foods were believed to bring good luck. They included prawns and sea breams. The dishes were served in large quantities during the ceremony. In some instances, the guests went home with surplus food (Heapy 41).

Drinking sake is a religious practice that represents the ritual of purification; its aim is to establish ties with the gods (Dunn 360). According to the rules of the Shinto ceremony, a sake barrel needs to be broken open, this action is followed by the cutting of kagami-mochi. The practice is seen as a way of asking the gods to grant the couple good health and luck. The sharing is believed to indicate the bond between the bride and the groom. Due to such beliefs, kigami-biraki is growing more popular. It is no longer limited to wedding ceremonies only. Today, the Japanese people use it in house-warming parties and even company launching occasions. The bride is given some accessories to carry home after the wedding ceremony is over. The aim is to bring her good fortune in the new stage of life. They include a hakoseko and a kaiken.

History of the dress

Attire is a very important element during a traditional Japanese wedding. The official wedding dress for both the bride and groom is the kimono. The first kimonos originated from the traditional Han Chinese wear (Foster 31). However, the Chinese fashion was originally adopted in Japan in the 8^th century. The Japanese started styling up their Kimonos during the Heian era. That was between 794 and 1192 AD. In Kamakura and the Muromachi era, both men and women dressed brightly colored kimonos.

Bridal Attire

The Japanese wedding dresses are unique. The bride’s preparations start with the painting of her face or sometimes her whole body white. The color indicates innocence, the lady demonstrates her purity to the gods this way. Her hair can be arranged in two styles, which are bunkin-takashmida and wataboshi. They were invented in the 14^th century during the Muromachi era (Goldstein-Gidoni 41). It was the period in which women with high social status used to cover their hair whenever they were outdoors. The brides hair is made fancy using kanzashi, the traditional Japanese hair decorations made of flowers. Her head is wrapped in a white hood (Gallagher 52).

Her official wear comprises of a set of kimonos. The traditional white one is referred to as shiro-maku. The other is brocade kimono (Munsterberg 71). The latter is made of silk. The wedding garb originated in the Edo era between 1700 and 1900 century. A classic kimono called uchikake is worn during the reception (Munsterberg 71). Various ornaments and natural themes are used to decorate the bride’s garb. The official uchikake has a very specific shade. It is usually red because the color is linked to good fortune. The kimono has very long sleeves and is mostly worn as a coat on top of the shiro-maku. Due to its length, the bride’s attendants have to ensure it does not touch the ground. The bride does not wear the decorated kimono after her wedding (Tomita and Yazawa 59).

Such bright and colorful kimono is only put on by young and single women. In addition, she wears a moderately opened fan in her obi sash to symbolize joy. Appendix 4 illustrates the bride’s hairstyle, which is plaited in the Japanese traditional way. Appendix 5 shows a Japanese bride in a white kimono. The dress is referred to as Shiro-Maku. It also indicates the white hood used to cover her hair. In appendix 6 a traditional Japanese red uchikake is shown. It is often worn during the reception.

Groom’s Attire

The attire a Japanese groom wears is not as complex as the bridal one. During the wedding ceremony, the groom puts on a Monstsuki kimono. The attire consists of four pieces. They include an underkimono that is also referred to as nagajuban. It has some decorations at the back. The decorations include a solid black background that contains five family crests. In addition, the groom wears a black coat on top referred to as the haori. The linings of the haori are uniquely designed and they match his nagajuban (Musterberg 65).

The coat is not accompanied with a belt. Instead, it is tied alongside with the pom-pom tie. As for the foot wear, the groom puts on white tabi socks. The picture in appendix 1 is an illustration of a Japanese groom’s attire during a wedding ceremony. Appendix 2 shows the zori sandals typical Japanese foot wear for the ceremonies. In appendix 3, a picture of the pom-pom tie and the family’s crest name just below the shoulders is shown.

Courtship in Japan

The relationships between men and women in Japan are very different from those practiced in the Western society. Asian countries such as Japan have no Christian influences strictly limiting sexuality throughout their history, but this does not mean that people of Japan have no morals. The Japanese ladies are traditionally shy and prefer to have their partner or husband as a leader. Men are typically collected, stoic and organized, yet they are to demonstrated their feelings though romantic gestures. Couples wedded without rings and through a big ceremony that is nothing but a popular formality seem to have stronger bond than the lawfully registered couples of the West. Family fights are very rare in the Japanese courtship, unions are last longer and divorce rates are lower than in the West.

Engagement Ritual

The ceremony of engagement in Japan is the day then the families of the bride and groom officially meet for the first time to have a meal together and establish friendly relationships with each other. One of the most important parts of the engagement ceremony is the exchange of gifts that are related to the happiness of marriage. For example, one of the typical gifts is a folded fan, which contains many sections when opened, this object symbolized future wealth. Another typical gift is a long thread, which represents a gray hair meaning that the couple would spend the rest of their lives together.

Wedding Ritual

The style, rules and attributes of the wedding ceremony differ depending on the couple’s religion (Roney 77). The focus of this paper is the traditional Japanese wedding ceremony conducted according to Shinto style. This ceremony originates from the ancient times. According to the old Japanese beliefs, the first wedding ceremony ever happened when the son of the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami married the daughter of another divine creature.

That occasion was celebrated with what is known as the feast of a hundred of dishes. All of the foods were delicacies such as seafood, rice, pounded cakes. Autumn and spring are the seasons most frequently chosen for the weddings in Japan. During these periods there are special days considered lucky for weddings, on these days dozens of couples are likely to assign their wedding ceremonies. Initially, the weddings in Japan were practiced in the night time, but during the Muromachi this rule has changed and now weddings are held during the day.

Even though every modern hotel in Japan has a room designed only for wedding ceremonies, the main ritual of the traditional Japanese wedding has to happen at a Shinto shrine. This is a rather intimate ritual, which has a limited circle of attendants and participants. Only the close family members of the bride and groom are to be present at the ceremony in the Shinto shrine. The other people that take part in the ceremony are the Miko maidens and the go-betweens also known as Nakodo.

Go-between practice comes from the ancient times when women used to have much weaker social roles than men and arranged marriages were practiced. Nakodo were normally selected from the older couples, their responsible functions were to select a man and a woman suitable for each other and bring them together. In earlier times the groom and bride had no right to change the decision of their family members and nakodo. Today, nakodo are more of a formality. The presence of a nakodo signifies that the newlyweds will have an unwavering marriage (Norbury 82).

At the gathering in a Shinto shrine, traditional Japanese music has to play. For that a special band can be invited. The music is rather monotonous and slow, the instruments used are mostly flutes. During the ceremony the bride is dressed in her first kimono, which is called Shiromuku, it is the white kimono. The bride’s head is hidden under the special hood, which serves to cover her “horns of jealousy” demonstrating that she is obliged to be humble as a wife.

The priest that conducts the traditional wedding ceremony is to purify the room and all the people present in it. For this action the priest uses special tools that are made of plain white pieces of paper on the sticks, these attributes are called harai-gushi during the ceremony the priest waves harai-gushi several times.

The ritual called san-san-kudo is a very important part of the traditional Japanese Shinto style wedding. San-san-kudo is literally translated as three-three-nine times. This ritual is called this way because it involves three series of sake drinking by the bride and the groom. Sake is the traditional drink for the Japanese weddings, it is served by the Miko maidens. In Japanese tradition, a Miko is a female priest assistant. Sake has a unique cultural meaning in Japan. Generally, it is a practice carried out to seal a marriage. It began in the 8^th century during the Samurai era. Sake used to be drunk during the Shinto ceremonies.

The locals consider it as an age-old wedding practice. In local language, the practice is referred to as Kagami-Biraki. Kagami is the lid of the Sake barrel. On its part, ‘Biraki’ means to open. The ceremony begins with breaking the lid of the barrel open (Baldizzone and Baldizzone 54). That is done using a wooden mallet. The Kagami is round. As a result, it is considered as an emblem of harmony and good luck. This ritual has several details. First of all, the maidens are to be dressed in red and white kimonos. The colors represent purity, holiness and good luck. The cups used for the sake drinking part are also special.

They are all of different sizes and have to be bright red. The bride and groom traditionally exchange the cups and share the drinks. This ritual has a crucial meaning because sake drinking in Japan represents what in the weddings of Western countries is symbolized by the rings and vows. Basically, sake drinking ritual is what is supposed to bind the young couple and turn them into a family that cannot be divided. This sake drinking tradition may seem strange for a western observer because Western people are used to the belief that more material attributes need to be employed to seal the marriage and make people truly loyal and devoted to each other for years.

After the private wedding ritual held in a Shinto shrine is over, there is a reception ceremony that happens in a bigger room and includes much more guests invited for the celebration of a new wedding.

Japanese wedding ceremonies are very expensive affairs. In most cases, the bride wears different dresses. The cakes, champagne fountains, and dry ice smoke machines are usually six foot high. In addition, dinners for each guest costs around $300. The wedding industry in Japan is worth over $20 billion (Norbury 56). In some cases, the budget for the event may be more than $100,000. Any wedding that costs about $10,000 to $20,000 is regarded as cheap (Norbury 58). A number of families are faced with debts after holding a wedding.

Dresses of Family and Friends

The family members and the guests have their own unique wear too. The couple’s mothers and fathers put on black kimonos referred to as tomesode for the event (Dunn 352). Generally, the Japanese traditional wedding dress has greatly influenced fashion in many parts of the world. Its popularity is so big because the outfit is rather stylish and unique.

Color Preferences

The aspect of color is strictly observed in Japan. Colors have precise and defined meanings. The lady often wears red for the customary wedding events. The color is associated with happiness, joy, and celebration (Norbury 79). It is believed to bring good fortune and long life. The strings used to wrap shugi-bukuro are red and white in color. Orange is also a preferred choice. The reason is because it symbolizes courage and love. The most preferred colors for the groom attire are black and white. Blue and white are also used regularly.

They are normally used in fabrics and culinary. As a result of this, they feature prominently in the traditional weddings. For example, summer kimonos are made using these two colors. Ceremonial kimonos are very expensive. As a result, only geisha practice the custom of changing color each month (Gallagher 92). Every month is represented by a unique natural orientation. For example, January is represented by pine. On its part, February is red-blossom plum, while March is peach. On the other hand, April is cherry.

Influence of Other Cultures

Today, many Japanese weddings are held according to Western style. They may contain such attributes are bride’s maids, less classic Japanese wedding attires. A man may wear a suit instead of a kimono. Some Japanese couples would even add wedding rings as the symbols of their connection, which is never present in the traditional Japanese weddings. Women may refuse to change the dresses during the ceremony, sticking to just one dress, which is either red or white.

Conclusion

A marriage has various perspectives. Japanese traditional wedding ceremonies represent various themes about marriage. Some of the common themes include marriage as a new stage of life. Others are indications of the fact that the new stage is jointly created by the bride and the groom. Another theme indicates the ups and downs associated with marriages (Tomita and Yazawa 60). A successful marriage requires a combined effort to work. It is also a union of harmonizing parts. It is a lasting union supported by love and trust. The major theme is that the wedding signifies a new beginning for the newlyweds.

The wedding symbolizes a transformation of both the man and the woman. Bride dies as a daughter and becomes reborn as a wife and a future mother. The groom gains new responsibilities, becomes in charge of his new family. The Japanese consider the building of a new home as a historical shift. In traditional societies, marriage was viewed as an extension of the lives of the man and his family (Schomp 32). Wedding unions in Japan are respected and considered sacred and are preserved carefully, this feature, is probably, what makes the Japanese marriage and courtship so much more stable and strong that the one of the West.

Works Cited

Baldizzone, Tiziana, and Gianni Baldizzone. Wedding Ceremonies: Ethnic Symbols, Costume, and Rituals, Paris: Flammarion, 2001. Print.

Dunn, Cynthia. “Cultural Models and Metaphors for Marriage: An Analysis of Discourse at Japanese Wedding Receptions.” Ethos 32.3 (2004): 348-373. Print.

Foster, Helen. Wedding Dress across Cultures, Oxford: Berg, 2003. Print.

Gallagher, John. Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance, and Art, London: PRC Publishers, 2003. Print.

Goldstein-Gidoni, Ofra. “The Production Of Tradition And Culture In The Japanese Wedding Enterprise.” Ethnos 65.1 (2000): 33-55. Print.

Heapy, Teresa. Japanese Culture, Chicago, Ill.: Heinemann Library, 2013. Print.

Mente, Boye. Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the Rules That Make the Difference, North Clarendon, Vt.: Tuttle Publishers, 2009. Print.

Munsterberg, Hugo. The Japanese Kimono, Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, 1996. Print.

Norbury, Paul. Japan, London: Kuperard, 2011. Print.

Roney, Carley. The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions: Readings, Rituals, Music, Dances, and Toasts, New York: Clarkson Potter, 2013. Print.

Schomp, Virginia. Japan in the Days of the Samurai, New York: Benchmark, 2002. Print.

Tomita, Sukehiro, and Nao Yazawa. Wedding Peach, San Francisco, CA: VIZ, 2003. Print.

Appendix

Background

A friend of mine (Zainab) had invited me to attend the wedding ceremony of her elder sister who was getting married. Since I had not attended a ceremony of a Malay Muslim person, I was excited at the prospect of attending the wedding. In fact, I had the opportunity of attending all the important functions of my friend’s sister’s wedding and all of them were distinct and unique in their own ways. There were ceremonies like the “mehendi” ceremony in which the bride and her friends all gather together amidst much dancing and singing and apply henna on the hands and feet.

The mehendi ceremony was held 3 days prior to the final wedding day. There were also other important ceremonies and functions, which included rituals and religious traditions, which I found highly interesting to watch and experience, despite being unable to follow many things due to linguistic diversity. Food was an important aspect of each ceremony and none of the invited guests were allowed to leave without having a meal together. Despite the gaiety and merriment, alcohol and alcoholic drinks were not served nor consumed, contrary to Western culture.

The designs are beautiful and the fragrance of the henna is amazing. This led me to wonder about several questions such as the value and significance of these ceremonies prior to marriage among the Muslim community. I was in awe of the manner in which the ceremonies took place and how all the relatives gathered together to enjoy the wedding. Social gatherings included all-important relatives and friends and the elders and senior members of the house were given special importance.

It was interesting to see how the elders are respected and how they have such an important say in all religious and ceremonial matters of the house. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Malay Muslim community placed such importance on their senior members who in turn looked after and cared for the younger members of the family and reminded them of all the important aspects of the ceremony so that nothing is forgotten or left out.

The love, care and respect I received from my hosts, my friend and her family, made me feel extremely special. In spite of the fact that I did not belong to their community and was not aware of their customs and traditions, I was treated with respect and given complete attention and care by each member of the family. I was particularly impressed by the love and care among the family members and was amazed to see how the traditions and rituals were fulfilled with utmost care and attention, with special attention given to the smallest of details.

Every attempt was made to make the wedding and the preliminary preparations as exotic as possible. There was hectic activity in the house which was decorated with colorful drapes of cloth and fresh flowers. There were colorful carpets laid on the floor and the house echoed with traditional soothing music. Needless to say, the food was simply out of the world, with exotic flavors and curries and rice and all the delicacies I had never tasted in my life before. The one thing I enjoyed the most is the manner in which food was served and eaten. There was collectivism in everything they did, food, ceremonies, customs and every aspect of the wedding was a collective effort, in which all the members of the family and community participated with their definite roles.

Food was not laid on the buffet table as is common practice in the United States, rather, we had to sit on beautiful carpets, and cover our heads before eating. To me, this was a serene and calm experience despite the fact that there was hectic activity in the background. The place was bustling with energy, yet, there was a sense of peace and joy which surrounded it, making it warm and welcome. Although all the guests were given separate plates to eat, all the members sat down together and enjoyed their meals on a common platform.

Surprisingly, I truly enjoyed this new experience of eating with folded feet on the floor. More importantly, all of us ate with our hands, rather than spoons and forks, although they were available for people who needed them. But, to my surprise, no one used them! I too decided to try eating with the hand, since I was informed that one is able to enjoy the food better, especially the Muslim dishes like ‘Biryani’, if they are eaten by the hand.

To my pleasant surprise and amazement, I did enjoy eating with my hand and found myself satisfied after the meal. Eating with so many people on the same platform, I truly enjoyed and relished the food as well as the company while eating. There were no distinctions of caste, creed and most importantly rich or poor. Each and every member present at the ceremony were given equal respect and was attended to personally. The food was served systematically and each member was comfortably seated and given personal attention by the close members of the family.

Interview

Pleasantly surprised and amazed at the manner in which Malay Muslims strictly follow traditions and religious customs, I wondered how Zainab’s family continues to maintain their culture and traditions even while staying in an individualistic and completely different host country like America. Several questions struck my minds, such as how they manage to follow the questions and how they remember all these traditions in a society so distinct from theirs, and the significance of these traditions in Malay Muslim families. Taking this as an ideal opportunity, I decided to interview some of the guests who I regularly met at the different ceremonies and to whom I had become quite close and friendly.

One such lady was Zainab’s grandmother, a lady of about seventy-five years of age, but with the strength, vigor and enthusiasm of a sixteen-year-old. I carefully planned and drafted the interview question which I had in mind and did not conduct the interview at one go, since the family was extremely busy, but took the opportunity to ask questions over the several meetings which I had with her. I had become particularly close to the family and also addressed Zainab as Ma, like the other members of the family did.

To my surprise, I found that all the community members, relatives and friends of the family who came for the ceremonies too addressed her informally as “Ma”. One of the primary and most interesting questions I asked Ma was where she got all her energy and strength from. She was eager to respond that the love of her family including her children and grandchildren is what moves her and gives her strength to live and function well. She stated that she was extremely lucky to have a family which loves and cares for her so much, especially her son and daughter-in-law, Zainab’s parents, whom she loved dearly. She said that she is a very strict lady and likes to maintain her culture and traditions, which she considers to be her moral duty.

She believed very firmly that as an elderly and senior member of the house, it was her obligation to teach and impart her cultural values and morals to the coming generations, or else they would be lost and families would tear apart. My next set of questions to Ma focussed on the importance of the traditional ceremony and what makes it such a special event. Ma responded that customs and rituals play an important role in important matters like marriages, birth of a new child and even death. She stated that the current ceremony was held primarily to celebrate the wedding and share the joys with relatives, friends and society.

Ma informed me that their religion emphasizes communal harmony, peace and joy not in isolation but within the community in which they function. She stated that Islam necessitates that important functions and events should be shared with society and friends and although grand events are not necessary, rituals and customs are a compulsion. Ma stated that since a marriage is the beginning of a new life for two individuals, the bride and the groom, it is essential that the initiation occurs with the blessings of senior and older members, relatives and friends.

Ma also asserted that her religion laid great emphasis upon unity during celebrations and hosting meals is an important aspect of any ritual and tradition. I proceeded to ask Ma about her role in the wedding and as expected she responded with joy and enthusiasm. She stated that her knowledge of traditions and customs was put to complete use during the wedding celebrations and in fact all religious ceremonies and events. She stated that as the senior member of the family, it was her duty to ensure that all the religious customs and traditions are fulfilled.

She emphasized that her role was to remind and teach the younger generations about the rituals and traditions so that they would be able to continue the same with their children and pass on the knowledge to the newer generations. She asserted that by practicing each custom and ritual, she was in a way teaching the younger generation how to function, when she departs the world. Ma affirmed that her religion teaches unity and communal harmony and events such as marriage ceremonies play a vital role in uniting families.

She asserted that even if there are differences, such moments and events are of crucial importance and it is expected that all differences are forgotten so that the ceremonies are conducted and accomplished peacefully and happily. She stated that her role in the wedding was to ensure that each and every individual is respected and all the rituals are processed in accordance with the customs. She also informed me that as the senior-most member of the house she has to look after all the younger members and play the role of a responsible mother who looks after the wellbeing of her children.

She informed me that culture and traditions were a part of her life and she could not live without them. She ensured that it was necessary that the same values and morals were imparted to her children and their children, so that the cycle of culture would carry forward, since according to her, culture ensures happiness, love and unity among family members. I inquired how she managed to remember all the ceremonial traditions and she informed me that she has been raised and brought up in a joint family system as a young girl and married in a joint family of more than 35 people living together in a huge house in India.

Ma remembers each and every tradition which occurred during her marriage and asserts that these ceremonies serve to unite, bond and strengthen relationships among members of the family. She cherished those memories and stated that her mother-in-law was a very strong and stern lady and held the family together through her discipline and care. Ma had learned most of her family management and communication skills from her mother-in-law, since she herself was only thirteen years of age when she was married. Like her mother-in-law, Ma places utmost importance on culture, traditions and morals and when I enquired about her views about the recent terror attacks and growing fanaticism among Muslims, she asserted that Islam is a religion of peace and people are misusing and misquoting from the Koran for their political benefits.

I was moved to hear that Islam prohibits violence and unkindness even towards animals, so how could it propagate violence towards humanity. Ma also asserted that there was great importance on community living and helping people. Serving food and water were considered to be the most virtuous deeds and she asserted that the poor are given supreme importance during such important events, and are invited to eat along with the other members. Ma wished that she was back home in her country for the wedding and would have liked to invite all the poor people there to feast during the wedding ceremonies.

Abstract

Malay Muslim culture and traditions are distinct from the Western culture. Muslims follow a culture of collectivism and unification through social and religious events, particularly marriage ceremonies and traditions, which serve as unifications for the entire community consisting of friends and relatives. Marriages in the Muslim community are events of merriment and enjoyment with great attention to detail. Customs and traditions are strictly followed and all relatives and friends are invited to bless the new bride and bridegroom. The elders of the family, particularly grandparents play a vital role in the upkeep of traditions and customs and ensure that these cultural practices are followed so that the younger new generation does not forget them and learns the importance of these important customs.

Introduction

Malay Muslim traditions, particularly those related to marriage ceremonies, are extremely different from American marriages. There is great importance of the getting together of the relatives and society to celebrate and bless the prospective bride and groom and the marriage itself occurs after several days of religious ceremonies and traditions. Attending a marriage ceremony of my friend, Zainab’s sister, I was able to learn several aspects of the culture and traditions of the Malay Muslim family and the role and importance of elders and seniors in their households.

This paper aims to analyze the rituals, customs, and traditions of weddings in the Malay Muslim community and explore the advantages of following these customs and rituals. Additionally, the paper also seeks to investigate the role and importance of elders in Malay Muslim households and their impact on the upkeep of cultural and traditional values.

The paper uses several methods such as inquiry, interview, observation and some academic research to investigate the traditional event in question, the Malay wedding ceremony.

Methods

Observation

In order to seek the answers to the several questions above, I made the most of the opportunity or attending the wedding ceremony of Zainab’s (a friend) sister. The primary method used by me was observation and personal experience which I accomplished by attending all the preliminary ceremonies and the main marriage ceremony as well. More than being educative and informative, the experience was highly entertaining and I enjoyed every function and ceremony I attended. Being present at all the ceremonies and being witness to all the events, was an enlightening experience.

Interpersonal communication

Because the marriage ceremony merriments continued for several days. I took this opportunity to mingle with and communicate with several members of the Malay community who were present there. Through my interactions with them, I was able to gauge the importance of ceremonies and rituals in their community. Additionally, I also learned a great deal about the importance of love, respect and care for their elders and senior members of the house which serves as a unification factor for families.

Informal Interviews

I also interviewed several individuals from the family and distant relatives and friends, informally and casually to gain personal insights. However, the interview with Zainab’s grandmother, who is also the senior-most member of her family, was the most educative and entertaining and provided me with valuable information regarding the customs and traditions of Malay marriages.

Academic Research

An important method, which I undertook to gain information regarding the marriage traditions and rituals of the Malay Muslim community, is academic research and literature studies, which I consider to be the best and most authentic means of research, apart from personal interactions and experiences. The literature review was conducted using academic and scholarly articles from the Expanded Academic, Gale database which has a collection of numerous research articles on several topics and subjects. The article which I found was shortlisted from numerous articles and has been published in the “Journal of Comparative Studies” published in the year 1995.

Observations and Results

Observations and literature review revealed that the Malay Muslim community places great importance on traditions and customs especially during marriages. Ceremonies take place according to Islamic Law also known as ‘Shariah’ which is formally enacted in Malaysia to govern laws related to families (Kling, 1995). Marriage ceremonies and rituals take place according to Islamic codes and it is necessary for the marriage to be conducted by the father of the bride and groom, in addition to two other witnesses who should be senior male members of the community or society (Kling, 1995).

It is interesting to note the importance of elders in the Malay Muslim community who believe in the concept of “caring society” which has been a crucial factor in maintaining strong familial bonds, especially for the elderly and senior members of households (Kling, 1995). My observations were exactly in tune with the academic research I conducted on the Malay Muslim community to seek more information and literature regarding them. I attended a total of four marriage functions and each was distinct from the others.

The ceremony which I enjoyed most was the final wedding which took place on the 10^th of April since it was a Friday, which is considered to be a very auspicious day for Muslims, all the world over. The event was held at a community hall, which had been rented especially for the wedding. The bride was dressed in a beautifully gold-embroidered outfit, called the “sharara”. It was bright pink and had a blend of all bright shades including some pink and silver as well. The groom wore a ‘Sherwani’ which was also embroidered with gold and silver threads.

The final marriage ceremony was a grand wedding and numerous guests were invited to bless the couple. The ritual took place in the presence of the holy and religious men of the community who read verses from the Koran to solemnize the wedding. The bride and groom then had to accept the marriage and had to give their consent, not only verbally but also had to sign a legal contract, the marriage certificate, as proof of their matrimonial alliance. The contract is a formally recorded certificate that is signed by the bride and the groom and is finally legalized by the religious authority with a stamp and signature (Kling, 1995). The father of the bride and groom plays a crucial role in the wedding and the witnesses of the matrimonial alliance were two additional members of the community, senior in age and experience. While the males played a crucial role in the wedding, the female members of the household work hard to ensure that rituals and customs are appropriately followed.

The role of the elderly women in ensuring traditional and religious rituals is exceptional. Not only are the elderly respected greatly, but they are also sincerely loved and cared for by all the younger members of the household and their advice is sought on all important matters. As the elderly and senior members of the house they provide love and care and ensure that the entire family is run in a disciplined manner. Cultural values and traditions are passed on verbally and through regular practice. For instance, during the marriage ceremony, through all the functions, the grandmother was consulted for all important matters and decisions such as the dishes which were to be served to the guests, the gifts which were to be distributed to the bridegroom and his family and the return gifts which were to be given to all the other guests attending the function.

Each and every guest that came to the wedding was personally greeted and received by the family members and care was taken to ensure that no guest left the wedding without relishing the grand feast. The atmosphere was extremely jovial and there was enjoyment and merriment throughout the ceremonies and rituals. As a social event, the marriage ceremony was an excellent reflection of the traditional and cultural rituals of a Malay Muslim wedding and all the formalities associated, legal and customary, with the wedding. Needless to say, the wedding was an extremely informative way to gain a glimpse into the culture and traditions of the Malay Muslim community.

Conclusion

The value and importance attached to rituals, customs and traditions in the wedding ceremony of Malay Muslim community are immense. Each ritual has a special significance, particularly the final wedding which is a blend of religious and legal customs and includes a legally binding contract. Obviously, the unified manner in which weddings take place in the presence and with the blessings of the friends and relatives, most crucially the elder and senior members of the house, is noteworthy. Culture is kept intact through practice and the elders bear the responsibility of transferring these cultural traditions to the younger generations through their guidance and loving support. This aspect proves to be the most substantial factor in keeping the Malay community and their younger generations intact and close to their families and communities.

References

Kling, Zainal. “The Malay family: beliefs and realities.(Special Issue: Families in Asia: Beliefs and Realities).” Journal of Comparative Family Studies 26.n1 (1995): 43(24).

Introduction

The selected event is henna night, which is a common private wedding ceremony originally associated with the Turks and Muslim Indians (Vahapoglu, 2016). Currently, the wedding ritual has been induced in other cultures that practice Islam. Henna night is normally held one day to the wedding and normally celebrates the girl who is about to wed. Ideally, the event is for women only. There are no rules on where the event can be held.

Thus, it can be hosted at both the bride’s and the groom’s homes. Vale (2014) notes that over the years, henna night has become more modern and currently echoes a bachelorette party. Despite this, the programmatic aspect of the event is still present. Additionally, the cultural aspect of the different things that occur during the henna night is still observed. This essay outlines the different operations and logistics of this highly programmatic event.

Internal Factors Associated with the Event

Several internal factors can be associated with henna night. The factors can be grouped into culture, purpose, and budget. As stated, the chosen event is a cultural pre-wedding ceremony that occurs one day before the marriage ceremony. The purpose of the event is to bless and beautify the bride, celebrate the upcoming wedding, and also give marriage advice. Before the event starts, a woman whose parents are alive and not divorced or separated is selected to break the henna in a silver or copper bowl.

There are two main cultural implications for this. The first is that the lady that breaks the henna is seen as unblemished as the marriage of his or her parents is deemed strong. Secondly, the henna is normally bought by the groom’s family. The reason for this is to show respect and the invested time and resources in making the girl a part of the family.

After the breaking of the henna, the bride is covered in a veil and escorted to the middle of a circle. A woman who is described to have a happy marriage and is neither separated nor divorced will then apply the previously prepared henna on one hand of the bride. A younger unmarried girl will then apply the same on the other hand. Vahapoglu (2016) notes that there are discrepancies in the application of the henna depending on the region.

In some regions, the henna is first applied to the bride and then to her guests. In other regions, the opposite is true, where the henna is first applied to the guests and then to the bride. After this, many of the guests can leave at their pleasure, leaving behind close family and relatives. The rest of the group will wait for the henna to dry as they enjoy themselves with music and dance.

The guests are usually female and comprise of the bride’s female family members and her friends and neighbors. Henna nights do not attract heavy budgets. The many cases, the budget might range from 10,000 AED and 30,000 AED. The exact budget will be determined by the number of guests and the type of entertainment hired. It is important to point out that some of the items in the budget are catered for by individual family members as a way of appreciating and congratulating the couple.

External Factors Associated with the Event

The primary external factor associated with the event is social and religious. As explained, the henna night is mainly done within the confines of Islam. Therefore, much of the social and religious elements that can be deduced during the event are from Islamic teachings. For example, women who have never been divorced or separated are used for the breaking and mixing of the henna and the application of the same on the bride. Both the breaking of the dry henna and the application of the wet one on the bride is seen as prestigious elements of the event. Thus, women selected to do them are also viewed as prestigious.

In Islamic teachings, whereas there are situations where divorce and separation are allowed, they are often shunned and seen as disgraceful. Therefore, even to the bride, interaction with anyone who has gone through separation or divorce is highly unlikely as she believes it will taint her marriage. Additionally, the bride might desire that the honors be bestowed on specific people. However, her desires are not considered, especially if the people she wants are divorced or separated.

The argument also brings an ethical aspect to the culture. Divorces and separations in marriages are complicated. This is made worse by the fact that Islamic teachings shun such practices. When a marriage fails, the woman is blamed in a majority of the cases. Vahapoglu (2016) explains that rarely do the involved parties (religious leaders and parents) investigate to find out what made the marriage fail.

Some external economic factors can be associated with the event as well. This is especially the case in a caste system, where even though the couple might be wealthy or underprivileged, they are expected to behave in a certain way based on their caste status. For instance, people from a higher caste are expected to have an expensive henna night celebration, while those from humble backgrounds are expected to have a smaller ceremony. This is regardless of whether the couple in the higher class are poor or those in, the lower class are wealthy. Such pressures have led to couples, and their families, going bankrupt in an attempt to make their wedding prestigious.

Forecasts

The henna night will comprise at least 90 people. Close family, friends, and relatives are allowed to invite other female guests on behalf of the bride (Bikramjit, 2015). Since many of the henna night celebrations are held in an outdoor setting, tents, chairs, and décor are needed. Four large tents will be required to accommodate the 90 guests. Additionally, 80 seats and 15 tables will be hired for the event.

If the celebrations are done in the lady’s home, no transportation costs will be incurred. Guests will have to make their way to the said home. However, if the celebrations are done in the groom’s house, vehicles carrying the bride and her close family and friends will be required. Some amount of the money will also go towards food and drinks for the guests. Over the years, couples have invested in having some of their favorite entertainers grace their event. The table below gives a summary of the anticipated budget of a typical henna night.

Logistics

One has to consider all the logistics involved in the planning of henna night to make it a success. The first logistic to consider is the venue. As stated, the event can be held at either the bride’s or the groom’s home. The decision is usually swayed by the number of guests, ease of access to the venue, and also the couple and family’s preference. Many henna nights are celebrated in an outdoor setting as well, so venues should have a garden. The site should also have ample parking space for the guests. The venue has to be prepared at least one day earlier to allow for a proper presentation. Since the event is done in the home, no reservations are needed.

Accommodation is generally for the bride and her family. The rest of the guests make their accommodation reservations, although the families can recommend hotels nearby for guests that have traveled from far. To ensure privacy, the family can develop a guest list and prepare badges and invites. The invites are to be sent out a few days before the wedding, while the badges are to be distributed on arrival. This will ensure that unwanted and uninvited guests do not come into the event. Communication between the family and the caterers and entertainment crew is also crucial. It has to be timely and precise. The entertainment equipment has to be set up and tested before the event to avoid any mishaps.

Action Plan

To ensure that the event goes as planned, an action plan is required. The table below (the action plan) highlights some of the major things that have to be done and who will be responsible for them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the henna night is a highly structured and programmatic event that is mainly done before Islamic weddings. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the bride and the wedding. However, other objectives, such as advising the soon-to-be wife, are included. Over the years, henna night has been modernized to fit the expectations of the modern Muslim woman. However, the core cultural values of the practice are still observed. Some of the things that affect henna night include religious issues, budget, and the guest list.

References

Bikramjit, R. (2015). Islamic perspectives on marketing and consumer behavior: Planning, implementation and control. Hershey, PA: IGI Publishers.

Vahapoglu, E. (2016). The other. London, UK: Anthem Press.

Vale, M. M. (2014). Siwa: Jewelry, costume, and life in an Egyptian oasis. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Myanmar is a country that has a calculated trijunction spot between South East Asia, China and South Asia. Its people are keen to not let go of its traditions. This paper will mainly focus on marriage and family life in Myanmar. It will also discuss in great length of the Myanmar custom of weddings, life after wedding, average number of children, child discipline, dating and engagement, differences in family life between the rich, middle class and poor, divorce and care for the elderly.

The Myanmar people take the dating and engagement process seriously. In the ancient days, the female would take up to three years to give an answer to a suitor who had approached her but times have changed and it does not necessarily take that long. Most of there relationships are matched according to the day of birth. For instance, someone born on Sunday is believed to be well matched with someone born on Friday. In the present day and there is no exact way in meeting of the young people of differing gender. When the two young people decide to make there union official, a third party comes to the picture that is normally an older aunty or grandparent to the male or female of the dating couple. Next, a delegation comprising of the uncles, aunties and parents is prepared to go and ask for the girls hand in marriage. There is an authorized speaker on both sides whose responsibility is to praise qualities of the intending couple. The other main role of the authorized speaker from the man’s side is to make the proposal for marriage, which is accepted. When the spokesperson is handing in his proposal, it is expected of the groom to be to present gold or diamonds for his wife to be. This action will ultimately lead them to setting a date for the wedding. Members of the family and not the dating couple do the process of engagement in Myanmar (Tu 1).

Weddings in Myanmar are not necessarily religious occasion hence the bridal team does not exchange vows in the eyes of an all-powerful God but rather they bless their union by exchanging vows courtesy of their relations in addition to parents. The wedding day is a big event in the life of a Myanmar girl thus; they take every step with a lot of caution. The accepted bridal colors to be used in the wedding are yellow, cream, pink and white. Small flower girls who carry customary gilded cups normally lead the procession team. The parents of the groom follow closely after the groom with the grooms’ men following by. On the left side of the podium, the family of the groom encircles him while he is seated on a round pillow. Only after this is done is when the parents of the bride get in. The bride then comes in with her bridesmaids following closely then she sits on the right hand region. The wedding is ready to commence at any time when all this is put in place. The wedding ends when an elder gives a verbal communication on the expected actions of marriage. On the way out, the newly weds proceed out the door and they are met with friends who stand at either side of the door holding gold necklaces so that the groom can pay his way out (Tut 1).

After the wedding, life begins for the newly weds and there are three vital things that is expected of them. The first thing is faithfulness. At all, times they are advised to stick to the partner that the particular person got married to because they believe if you really love each other then you should not cheat around. Respect in the marriage is also expected of them as the second important thing. Tolerance is a pillar they are told to maintain so that the respect lasts in the marriage. The last thing they are told to maintain is leaving within there income. It is advised of them not to exceed in their expenses what their income cannot afford (Wedding Talk 1-3).

The average number of children in Myanmar is two per household. From a tender age, children were allocated different types of responsibilities. In the past, children were disciplined with all the relevant authorities and it would not cause any problems. In Myanmar, there are lots of signboards that keep on reminding people to stay disciplined. This is ironic because nowadays, discipline looks like a far-fetched reality because it has been alternated with human rights. Even the small children are not disciplined at home or in school because they say they have rights that protect them from any form of discipline (Thunderbolts 1).

In the previous two decades, the middle class have become a significant factor of the rich. The middle class families have been able to compete hand in hand with the rich families thus making no huge difference in the two. This on the other hand has caused the poor families to look like they are sinking deep in poverty. The main difference now comes between the middle class families and the poor families because they have not been able to match there standards. When it comes to education, the rich and the middle class get almost the same type of quality education but the poor get the lowest quality (King 1).

Divorce rate in Myanmar is low because they are responsible citizens. The teachings they go through before marriage and during marriage is also a key factor to the low rates. The Myanmar woman is the foundation of the family and they ensure that the family stays intact. Divorce brings huge shame to a woman she is considered weak if she does not make the efforts to make her marriage work. A wedding is one of the big occasions in a woman’s’ life thus it is a duty to guard marriages with zeal (Rizvi 1).

Caring for the elderly is done mostly by the government, which is funded by public contributions. They are considered eligible for the care if the elderly give proof they are not capable to care for themselves or if they have a medical repot that shows they have poor health. Care given to the elderly is in harmony with the United Nations main five ethics. This ethics include self-fulfillment, care, dignity, participation and independence (Zaw 1).

On a final note, Myanmar is a group of people who value marriages and families. They take their time in making a family hence they hardly go wrong on the choices they make. The responsibility virtue is instilled in them from a tender age ensuring that it does not fade in old age and that is why people in governments can take care of the old without being biased.

Works Cited

King T. Victor. The middle class in south East Asia. 2008. Web.

Rizvi Haider. Divorce in Myanmar. 2008. Web.

Thunderbolts. Discipline or not to discipline. n.d. Web.

Tu Sein. The Myanmar family: Courtship..n.d. Web.

Tut Tin Wyn. “Enchanting Myanmar : A Guide to Tourism Destinations and Beyond.” A Myanmar Wedding (1),2 N.pag. 2010. Web.

Zaw, Minh. Government cares for the needy. 2005. Web.

Wedding Talk.15. 2000. Web.

Introduction

Marriage can be defined differently by different people and from different perspectives. While others say marriage is a contract, some say it is a ceremony while to others it is a union. Generally, marriage is supposed to be bound to people to each other forever. It usually involves the union of two separate individuals who come together to become the same goes for their families. Marriage also involves bringing together two different cultures of the individuals getting married. Culture is very sensitive and human beings should be open and curious to experience and learn from it. The world is changing and so is the behavior and culture of people. People from different worlds and cultures can now co-exist together and even marry each other. Cross-cultural experiences are also increasing and it implies a comparison of some phenomena across cultures for example in marriages (Gudykunst and Kim 18). Cross-cultural marriages acceptance is growing especially for Asian-Americans. Statistics show that cross-cultural marriages between Asians and whites have increased rapidly in the recent decades for both men and women but dealing with the cultural differences has been the main problem and cause for breakups and arguments.

Thesis

The influence of the individualism-collectivism cultural dimension and elements of non-verbal communications are important in both American and Thai wedding ceremonies. Many cultural differences usually don’t show until after a couple starts planning their wedding and later encounters a significant crisis because one does not take time to understand each other’s customs. This paper will examine two different countries that have different lifestyles, cultures and conduct their wedding ceremonies differently. The two countries are America and Thai. To understand why people do things differently in these countries, we have to familiarize ourselves with cultural differences and examine the future cross-cultural relationship between America and Thai. This paper will highlight pre-ceremony, during the wedding, and post-wedding activities for both cultures. By comparing these cultures we will be able to understand and see the differences between the customs, values and traditions of the two countries. The paper will also examine how individualism and collectivism affects the communication process during weddings in these countries

American weddings

American weddings have few wedding traditions that are totally unique to America even though individual weddings might be a little different from each other. First, marriages in America are not arranged. American weddings are mostly carried out under the individualism principle. This principle states that people do things according to what they personally believe is right and not according to a collective view. The elements of individualism state that a typical American wedding takes place between two people who have sought out a partner and have found someone with whom they believe they can share their life. The same elements state further that many brides usually prefer a professional wedding planner to take care of the wedding instead of their parents. An American wedding takes place in three major stages which are the stage before, during and after the wedding. In American weddings, a man is expected to get down on his bended knees in front of the woman and propose to her. Individualism expects that once the couples are engaged then the host sends invitations to the wedding guests through postal service, usually one or two months before the wedding (Mullins 241). Receiving an invitation however does not put any obligation on the invitee other than acceptance or decline of the invitation and offering congratulations to the couple. In American weddings, almost all guests usually give out wedding gifts even though it is optional and the gifts are usually sent to the bride’s home before the wedding day. An objective view about American weddings is that a wedding ceremony may take place anywhere but often in a church. American brides usually wear a white or light-colored dress to symbolize purity. The bride may also choose the type of flowers in the wedding usually the ones that signify her emotions towards the marriage (Mullins 241). The flower girls usually lead the way followed by the bride and her father. It is customary that the bride’s father or guardian or fatherly figure walk her down the aisle. This shows the role of fathers in their daughter’s weddings in America. A vocalic view shows that the ceremony may include wedding vows where both must say it clear, slowly and not too loud but with subtle and loving tone so that everyone can hear the love that the two individuals getting married have for each other.

After the wedding, the wedding rings are exchanged to communicate the endless love and commitment for each other. Objectively, the couple is expected to stand close holding each other hands and look into each other’s eyes before a kiss to seal their union. In America, most of the newlyweds prefer a place that is medium in size so that they can greet everyone at the reception. At this point, drinks and snacks are served and often the best men and bridesmaids toast newlyweds with personal thoughts and wishes. Champagne is served during this time because it communicates an expression of honor or goodwill (Mullins 278). Cutting of the wedding place also takes place at the reception and this symbolizes their first joint task as a married couple followed by the gesture of feeding cake to one another which symbolizes their commitment (Mullins 279). At the end of the ceremony, the bride may toss her bouquet over her shoulder to the unmarried woman and whoever catches it will be the next to marry (Mullins 280). Another individualistic view is that couples usually go on a honeymoon after the wedding to prepare for their life together and that after the honeymoon they usually move from their parents’ homes to establish their own home.

Thai weddings

Unlike American weddings, Thai weddings are more complex. They are however based more on collectivism rather than individualism. Engagement ceremonies in Thai usually take place before wedding even though some couples usually hold it on the wedding day (Koerojna 5). A collective view in Thai is that once a couple has decided to spend their life together then the couple’s parents would have to consult with an astrologer in order to see if the stars between the couple are compatible and when is the best day and time to get engaged. Thai wedding customs expects the couple to go out and distribute invitations to each guest after the date and time of wedding are set. Their parents usually help them in distributing the invitations. The groom and bride place the ring onto each other’s fingers followed by a waii to show respect to each other (Koerojna 3). Next is usually the religious ceremonies and monks are usually invited to wish the couple good luck followed water-pouring ceremony. It is important that in Thai culture the groom and the bride invite everyone that they know to show that they are not forgotten during this special occasion. In Thai weddings, after the wedding, the newlyweds usually stay at the groom’s house until the parents are convinced that they can take care of themselves

Influence of individualism and collectivism and non-verbal communication

Generally, the way Americans behave or celebrate their weddings is influenced by the concept of individualism. Individualism is defined as one’s moral right to pursue one’s own happiness. Le Claire explains further that individualism is mostly seen in the cultures of Western Europe and North America. The opinions of elders may be respected but as youth enters adulthood, he or she is expected to think about him or herself first. Individualism means that an individual thinks about himself first before thinking about another person. Weddings under this concept are considered special and the most important time of the couple’s life and they therefore take a lot of time to plan for it (Catherine Tamis Le-Monde et al 11). Individualism also expects Americans to move out and start a new life together in a new house after the wedding (Poelmans 235). In Thai countries, collectivism is more practiced. A Thai culture is a form of collectivism where focus is put on what people have in common and on engaging in cooperative tasks (Basu 2). Collectivistic societies value family cohesion, solidarity and conformity and therefore people in these societies tend to make references to others and follow the expectations and regulations of the group. (Rod Gunn 380). As explained in how Thai wedding ceremonies, parents usually are part of their children’s wedding ceremonies from the beginning to the end for example distribution of wedding invitation cards. Unlike individualistic cultures where people do not have time to distribute the cards hence they send them through mail, collectivist cultures must find time to hand out invitations in person especially to elders. This is because in a collectivist culture, people are encouraged to maintain group unity and solidarity and to conform to their elders (Catherine Tamis Le-monde et al 185)

Thailand is not only a form of collectivist culture but non-verbal communication is also considered. Thai weddings consist of non-verbal communications such as volcanic, kinesics, haptics and proxemics. These concepts play important roles in Thai weddings because non-verbal communication may communicate certain meanings that can either be appropriate or inappropriate in the host culture. Non-verbal communication in American weddings consists of objectics, volcanic and haptics.

Role of in-groups

In-groups are generally found in Thai weddings. The concept generally means that people work in groups and they show loyalty and solidarity to the group. The people of Thai usually work in groups when preparing for the wedding and also during the wedding and therefore they get the work done easily and quickly. The importance of in-groups is that work is divided and shared between the members of the group and hence done easily and quickly as shown in Thai weddings. All in all, we would be able to see the differences between American and Thai wedding ceremonies through the influence of the individualism-collectivism cultural dimension and elements of non-verbal communications. American culture is a form of individualistic society in which individuals are taught to make his or her own decisions thus be independent. Non-verbal communication also supports the idea that Americans tend to focus their wedding between the newlyweds rather than society. Thai weddings on the other hand are a form of collectivist society where individuals follow the desires of the group or society and they listen and respect their elders. All aspects are embedded behind the notion of collectivistic.

Works Cited

“American Wedding.” World Wedding Traditions. Web. 2011.

“Arranged Marriages|Love.” The Interactive Media Lab at the University of Florida. Web. 2011.

Basu, Iulia O. “Effects of Collectivistic and Individualistic Cultures on Imagination Inflation in Eastern and Western Cultures – Student Pulse.” Academic Articles. Online Academic Journal – Student Pulse. Web. 2011.

“Berkeley Parents Network: Gifts for Weddings and Wedding Showers.” Berkeley Parents Network: Web. 2011.

Catherine Tamis-LeMonda, et al. “Parents’ Goals for Children: The Dynamic Coexistence of Individualism and Collectivism in Cultures and Individuals.” New York University, 2007. Web.

“Cross-cultural Marriage Acceptance Growing for Asian-Americans.” Medill Reports. 2011. Web.

Earley, Christopher P. “Taking Stock in Our Progress on Individualism-collectivism: 100 Years of Solidarity and Community.” Journal of Management 24.3 (1998): 265-304. 1998. Web.

“Family and Friends: Preparation for a Lifetime.” La Vista Church of Christ. Web. 2011.

Gibson, Darcy. “A View from the Veil.” University of Nevada, Reno, 2008. Web.

Gudykunst, William B., and Young Yun. Kim. Communicating with Strangers: an Approach to Intercultural Communication. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2003. Print.

Hinduism is among the oldest religions which adhere to wedding traditions in the world. Marriage is considered sacred, and its texts date back to 300B.C (The Knot, 2008). Many Hindu traditions have lasted for an extended period, and marriage institutes them all. The Hindu customs, practices, and rituals are crucial to couples and their family members (The Knot, 2008). Therefore, it is essential to understand different ceremonies that incorporate a Hindu union.

The core value of Hinduism is the Vedas which are the spiritual rituals in the culture of Indians. Life is divided into four different stages: studentship, householder, retirement, and self-realization (The Knot, 2008). Marriage is considered a sacrament or a samskara where an individual transitions from studentship to a householder. This ceremony is the primary foundation of the remaining stages. Therefore, three-quarters of an individual’s life is dependent on marriage success.

A traditional Hindu wedding occurs in three days, although some people shorten the events involved. The Knot (2008) explains that Ganesh pooja is the first occasion, and it involves the coming together of family members. The sangeet happens on the second day, similar to the mehndi ceremony, and is attended by many guests. The third day forms the occasion’s climax because it incorporates the primary wedding ceremony and the reception (The Knot, 2008). The groom’s and bride’s families are actively involved in the traditional Hindu marriage. This ceremony celebrates the two households’ unity and the sacred love shared by the two individuals.

The traditions and rituals conducted in a Hindu wedding have significant meaning. Smaller ceremonies such as the mendhi occasion kick off the festivities (The Knot, 2008). The hands and feet of the bride are decorated in unique henna designs before the ceremony begins. The occasion is held in a mandap, with a fire acting as a witness, and is placed at the center. The first official occasion is the Roka ceremony and is the initial marriage step. The groom’s and bride’s parents unite and bless the couple by accepting the union (The Knot, 2008). Both households spend adequate time together and exchange different gifts and sweets as a sign of consent towards the marriage. The Haldi occasion, also referred to as pithi, happens on the wedding day morning. The family members of the bride and groom paint them with a rich yellow haldi paste. The Knot (2008) explains that this color signifies fertility, purity, and beauty and drives off evil eyes; therefore, the couple is blessed with good luck. The bride and groom stay home after this ceremony and are restricted from seeing each other until the wedding happens.

Some Hindu occasions start with invocating Ganesha or Lord Ganesh, the salvation and wisdom god who is believed to have an elephant’s head. This invocation propels Ganesha to eliminate any potential wedding challenges during the Ganesh poojan event (The Knot, 2008). The groom’s party also referred to as the Vara Yatra party, arrives, and they are welcomed by significant dancing and singing from the bride’s guardians, friends, and family members. They are greeted with rice called Akshat, a forehead dot (tilak), a garland, and a lighted lamp plate (arati) (The Knot, 2008). The next occasion is Graha Shanti, where the nine planets are invoked to bless the couple’s life. The bride’s uncles or brothers lead her to the mandap. The bride’s guardians wash the couple’s feet with water and milk to purify them.

The hastamilap occasion involves joining the couple’s hands with a cotton thread to illustrate that their bond is unbreakable (The Knot, 2008). The bride and groom exchange floral garlands after the Ganesha prayer as a sign of welcoming each other to a new family. The couple sits in front of Agni, or the holy fire, as the priest recites various Holy scriptures’ mantras. The bride and groom perform Mangifera, where they walk four times around the fire as they pray and exchange vows of love, duty, respect, and fidelity (The Knot, 2008). Family members are also requested to make offerings into the fire. The saptapadi ritual is performed at the end of the ceremony, and the couple takes the seven vows, which seal their union forever. These vows symbolize their commitment to one another and their children in the future (The Knot, 2008). The newlyweds are requested to look at the pole star by the priest to make their union steadfast even though other people change. The woman’s hair is painted with red-orange powder to signify she is a wife.

In conclusion, all Hindu traditions and rituals are incorporated during a wedding ceremony. This occasion transitions a person from studentship to being a householder, which is contained in the Vedas Additionally, the ceremony unites two different families as they celebrate the love shared by the bride and groom. The traditional wedding is set for three days although some people shorten the events. The roka and haldi ceremonies, Ganesh poojan, grahashanti, kanyadan, hastamilap, dhruvadarshan, and sindoor, are among the significant events in a Hindu wedding ceremony.

Reference

The Knot. (2008). 11 Hindu wedding traditions. Web.

Introduction

The internet offers a wide range of communication tools that ride on the social dimension of the online experience. The communicative power of the internet has essentially replaced many of the traditional tools, particularly in the world of traditional advertising in print and broadcast media. Marketing a product via a website requires different strategies that will ensure that clients get the products within a reasonable satisfaction level. Properly designed online marketing and product distribution management facilitated the success and sustainability in online marketing since it operated within stipulated business laws. This analytical treatise attempts to explicitly review the online sales and marketing activities at the Celia Grace Wedding Dresses Company (CSW). Besides, the treatise explores the effectiveness and ineffectiveness in the online sales and marketing platforms used by the company.

The CGW website

To increase credibility and maintain professionalism, the current sales and marketing activities at the Celia Grace Wedding Dresses Company are carried out via the company’s online website channel. The website encompasses processes and features that flawlessly facilitate a healthy and lifetime relationship between the business and its clients (Cheverton 29). Among the marketing and sales development elements that are incorporated in the company’s website include trust, reliability, distribution, fair retribution process, and passing accurate information to target customers about different types of eco-friendly wedding dresses. The website is user-friendly and allows customers to choose the dress they may want and make orders. Besides, the company has been able to establish a Patagonia system within its website to easily assist the customers to view the process of making the eco-friendly dresses to cement their loyalty and trust of the CSW brand.

Effective platforms

Digital technology in the form of the company’s website has been successful in allowing customers to place orders, makes purchases, and let users add content to align to different orientations on the design of their eco-friendly wedding dresses. Digital technology in the form of the CSW’s website has helped the company to expand its network and reach their customers by skipping or bypassing the traditional gatekeepers, such as written magazine publishers (Cheverton 38). Through placing the different designs, qualities, and sizes of the eco-friendly wedding dresses online, the customers of the CSW have increased their preference for this brand since they may request for specific dresses that are customized to meet their demands.

Properly designed online marketing and product distribution management facilitate the success and sustainability in online marketing. To increase credibility and maintain professionalism, the current website platform used by the CSW in marketing and sales activities have been tailored to encompass processes and features that flawlessly facilitate a healthy and a lifetime relationship between the business and its clients. Among the marketing elements that the website has incorporated include passing accurate information to the target audience (Stokes 21).

Platforms that have not been effective

Creation of content is essential when dealing with internet marketing communication within the online business industry. Since the company is relatively new, its website is not comprehensive, and the company has to deal with the possibility of changing preference among customers who want to purchase dresses they can see and touch.

Conclusion

From the above reflection, the CSW’s website functions on a consumer centricity strategy that tailors its products to the online preference of consumers. The company should carry out content development and intense advertisement on the website to create product awareness.

Works Cited

Cheverton, Philip. Key marketing skills: strategies, tools, and techniques for marketing success, London, UK: Kogan Page, 2004. Print.

Stokes, Raymond. eMarketing: The essential guide to digital marketing, London, UK: Quirk eMarketing (Pty) Ltd, 2011. Print.