Multicultural Wedding in Brooklyn: Samantha & Gideon

Besides having one positively stunning bride, today’s wedding marries two cultures perfectly, reflecting both the bride’s Sri Lankan and the groom’s Jewish traditions. It also showcases the artistic talents of both the bride and groom (think songwriting and hand-drawn and letterpressed details!). Basically, this wedding is the perfect example of “making your wedding YOU.” 

Our wedding party walked in to an instrumental song that my husband Gideon wrote, recorded, and produced (“I Carry Your Heart”) . Then I walked in to a song that Gideon wrote and produced, and we recorded together with me singing the vocals (“The Gathering Storm”).

The structure that we were married on was designed by my father and constructed by Gideon’s father — it was a combination of the structure that is used in traditional Sri Lankan weddings and the Jewish Chuppah. Sadly, when it was being set up on the day of the wedding, it broke and had to be put together at the very last-minute with some black electrical tape! But it just reminds me that it was all handmade by both of our fathers and while it wasn’t perfect, it was so meaningful that they created it together.  And, the material at the top was the sari that my mom wore in her wedding.

I drew and designed the save the dates (which was a line drawing of the Rocky Mountains and the Brooklyn Bridge merging together, since I grew up in Boulder, CO, and Gideon grew up in Brooklyn, NY).  I also drew the picture of the Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for our invitations, and designed our invitation suite, which I then letterpressed myself.  I had never letterpressed before, but wanted to try to DIY it, so I just bought a small letterpress machine and figured out how to do it by looking for advice online! And then I designed and assembled the programs, menu cards, and did the hand calligraphy on the escort cards, which I stuck into little succulent plants to give to our guests as favors. The table signs were drawings that I did of places that were meaningful to Gideon and me with the names of the places in calligraphy as well.  What made your wedding YOU? We incorporated traditions from each of our cultures (Jewish and Sri Lankan) into the details and the ceremony to make our wedding a true blend of both of us — we even picked the Brooklyn Botanic Garden because Gideon took his first steps there!  We wanted our wedding to be personal and unique, and also just a fun party where our favorite people could eat, dance, and have a great night together, and that’s exactly how it turned out!

I love how creative and artistic the couple were in their wedding: composing songs, drawing and letterpressing their paper goods – that’s some super-talented DIY! And don’t you love how the couple incorporated personal things and traditional elements from each of their cultures?  That’s what ‘making your wedding YOU’ is all about!  Check out the gallery for even more.

Vendors: Photography: Daniel Usenko Photography / Location:  Brooklyn Botanic Garden / Caterer:  Charles Sally Charles at The Palm House / DJ: Rob Kelley of 74 Events / Florist: Opalia Flowers / Videography: Well Spun Weddings / Hair and Makeup:  Jackie Schneider Beauty