Thirty-five years ago, the average bride was almost a decade younger than she is today. She lived with her parents, she met her groom through friends or her church, and couples tended to marry within their faith and their race. Today, all that has changed…
Same-Sex Unions
In 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world, and the first country outside Europe, to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.
Most legal benefits commonly associated with marriage had been extended to cohabiting same-sex couples since 1999.
There is no difference in the planning of a same-sex wedding except it is wise to have an invitation that celebrates the gender.
Invitations by Dawn has introduced special invitations (the At Last Collection) and these are gender-specific (“Mr. and Mr.” … “Mrs. and Mrs.” … or include a picture of the couple.)
Mixed-Race Unions
Four decades after an interracial kiss in the movie Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner shocked audiences, Canada’s multicultural society is acknowledging that love is colour blind.
The wedding is an opportunity to celebrate the ethnicity of both.
It starts with the invitation; if two languages are involved, the invitation could be issued in both languages. Then, integrate the customs of both into the ceremony and the reception.
To illustrate this trend: More than 340,000 children in Canada are growing up in mixed-race families, with Toronto called the mixed-marriage capital of Canada.
Interfaith Unions
Some religions are loosening the ties that bind.
Roman Catholics are typically asked to have their interfaith wedding in their own church but couples can be married at another site with the bishop’s permission. At a Catholic church, another faith can say a few words so both faiths can be accommodated.
Orthodox and Conservative Judaism do not accept interfaith marriages, but Reform, Progressive and Liberal Judaism will officiate at interfaith weddings.
Islamic law prohibits women from marrying outside of Islam.
The ideal in interfaith unions is to have both faiths represented.
