Asian-Fusion Theme Weddings
But is your wedding Chinese or Japanese, or something else altogether (maybe Zen)? It's hard to confine Asian-fusion weddings to one mold, since they draw from so many inspirations. But we'll try to cover some popular interpretations here.
Pre-Wedding Pleasures
You can walk down that lovely Asian-inspired road before you even tie the knot. Start things out with Springtime engagement photos that take place under cherry blossoms. Consult an elder to determine the most auspicious dates and times to marry according to the Chinese calendar. And for stationery, treat your guests to custom invitations that make use of Japan's fine (and famous) artisan papers.Decor with Far-East Flair
Chinese nuptuals are one thing; Japanese, quite another. But Asian fusion weddings tend to borrow the best from both worlds.
So here, you might see these favorite motifs: colorful paper parasols, shoji style paper lanterns, lucky bamboo plants in small, brightly-colored vases, or orchids in gorgeous sprays or loose blooms (pink, green or creamy white).
Then, there's hanging lanterns that invite your guests to kick up their heels far into the night, and silk fans to keep a cool breeze flowing (or programs printed onto paper fans).
Plus, let's not forget loose river stones in black or white to serve as paperweights for linen napkins, or accents to scatter around centerpieces.
And when it comes to that mother-of-all eye candy, the cake, you might find an artful celebration of dragonflies, lotus blossoms, cherry blossoms, orchids or even koi fish.
Other beloved accents you're likely to find:
Origami cranes. A thousand paper cranes (traditionally folded by the bride and groom before the wedding, patiently and methodically) are said to bring a marriage good luck. You can hand these out as favors, or thread them onto cord and hang them from a focal point, like the branches of a tabletop tree.
Water features. Nothing gets across the feel of a zen wedding like the sound and sight of gently moving water. Try floating orchid blooms in a small battery-operated fountain for focal spots like your cake or guestbook table.
River stones. For a simple, striking centerpiece, fill low, square bowls with black and white stones and a single white pillar candle, tossing loose orchids, spider mums or asian lilies below. Place these on bamboo or tatami mats, or large banana or palm leaf fronds for maximum visual appeal.
Then, use flat, black riverstones to mark each guest's plate: personalize with a metallic marker (extra credit: write guests' names in Katakana underneath!)
Paper parasols. Use oversized ones to line the ceremonial aisle, and fill the space between with rose petals. Then, at the reception, hang parasols upside down from the ceiling and light from above using a low-heat source.
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Delightful Delicacies, Fetching Feasts
Need to jazz up cocktail hour? Place bowls of edamame at the bar, and serve up ice-cold Kirins, Sapporos, Wasabe Brew or signature green tea martinis. For non-drinkers, serve bottled lychee or mango sodas. Have the wait staff pass out stylish appetizers served in Asian spoons.
Want to really wow the crowd? A sushi chef will thrill a hefty portion of your guests. Or, bring out a raw bar and treat your guests to heaven on a half shell.
Then, there's always an Asian station, bound to be jammed as guests (gently) jostle for favorites like dim sum, tempura, freshly made spring rolls or noodle dishes.
Finally, when the main dish is done, treat your guests to a soothing round of mango or green tea to accompany their slice of cake.
The Beautiful Bride
It doesn't take much to bring a zen-like elegance to your big day. Choose a gown with streamlined design, and set off your hair with a sculptural bloom or two. An extremely chic touch is a wedding gown with an obi-inspired bow at the back.As for your bridesmaids, kicky tea-length gowns in bright colors with ribbon details at the hem will fit the bill nicely. Give the girls even more romance with bright paper parasols.
Fresh Ideas for Asian Favors
A popular choice: fortune cookie (pre-printed fortunes, or customize your own) nestled in a Chinese take-out box. You can personalize your boxes with customized double happiness seals, or tie on a sleek set of chopsticks ("the perfect pair").Other tantalizing favor ideas to give your guests a little thrill of delight: moon cakes (traditionally eaten in Autumn, but so beautiful they deserve a look any time of year), tea in decorative containers, small sets of incense, polished stones engraved with inspirational messages, individual porcelain tea cups or sake cups, or bamboo style placecard frames (perfect to hold a guest's favorite photo when the event's done!).
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I’m getting married to my best friend of eleven years. and we both want an asian themed wedding but we have no idea where to begin. found this site by mistake but i am grateful because I started to get ideas and my fiance is getting excited with helping me plan the wedding. we are getting married june 26 2009 and i have so much to do . but i want to post the results so be on the look out next years
yahzee,
do you ahve your venue? if so can i see pics? it will help you with a color scheme if you havent gotten one yet. youcan sign up free at theknot.com then click on wedding photos and it will take you tocolor galleries. you canalso look at cultural real weddings. if you could post back with what you envison and how big your weddingwill be we can quickly get you started. you said your getting married june 2009? i just wanted to make sure.
I am looking for a wedding planner for my wedding this summer who has an office near or in Virginia Beach, Virginia. I preferred an asian themed wedding and a wedding planner who is a female familiar with chinese wedding planning. My financee is chinese and I am chinese american. I like this wedding planner to help me with the planning for video/photograhpy, DJ, reception decor, and the works.
Please help me find a site or refer me to anyone you know who would be able to help me plannning this event.
Thanks so much,
Alan
I am having an asian inspired wedding…my fiance is chinese and I am american. We are doing an american-chinese fusion theme. I am looking for lucky cats as favors. Does anyone know where to look?
lisa, google search lucky cat weddig favors and it will bring up several places!!
mrslinskitchen.com has tons of selection of maneki neko!!!! (=
Hi. I have spent a lot of time in Japan and my fiance is currently living and working there. We have both fallen in love with Japan and would like to have a Japanese style wedding. I searched for it and I found your gorgeous website. Anyway, I saw the picture of the women in the pink kimonos with the pink parasols and would very much like to do the same thing for my wedding. Could you possibly tell me where to get those kimonos. I would really appreciate it.
Thank you and I love your site
-Jordan
jordan, unfortunately that is a stock photo and the credits aren’t listed. you might like these..
*Geisha Kimono
*SKU: KIMONO this one is so similar, you may have to contact them, its out of stock)
also try ebay traditional japanese kimono ( i found several there)
* authentic japanese kimonos ( this one is on clearance for $49.00 not sure about shipping.
*Traditional Yukata > Women’s Yukata (Standard) ( they sell the 5 in one sets for little over 100.00 ( amazing and beautiful, also its one standard size so no need for measuring or sizes!! how great is that!)
*Kimono ( all in 1 japan shop)
i really hope these help, there are the similar styles, maybe you will like one and can put the hot pink obi sash with it, to get a “almost identical” kimono!! if you need xtra help let me know!! also go to google japan. you should find more with that main search engine!!
jordan, th eauthentic japanese kimono link didnt show the link right here it is agains…
*Yukata kimono market sakura
look at all the kimonos herenot just the clearance, the dragon fly and floral kimono is perfect if your looking for hot pink!! its really beautiful!!
Hi, I’m engaged to a wonderful man that is half Asian! His mother is from Thailand but their roots come from China. He wants to incorporate some Asian theme into the wedding. I found a picture of someone using mini paper lanterns in a floral centerpiece. My computer had a virus and I lost the picture and site I got it from! Would anyone know if they know what I am talking about and is able to help. Thanks, I really appreciate it!
VA
virginia, could you tell me what it looked like? colors etc? i dont know if either of these are it. do you have some more details?
*Miniature Chinese Lanterns, Pack of 16
*DIY Wedding Centerpieces for the Un-Crafty Bride
Hi Stacy, Thank you so much for your help, its close to what you have found. but the centerpiece was floral with what looks like wires with mini lanterns attached in the end bent outward. the lanterns where multi-colored. This is as close I got with finding small lanterns, but not the picture I had lost
http://www.japaneseweddingfavors.com/product.php?id=164
Virginia
Hi,
Thanks.
Assisting my daughter with her asian fusion wedding–the reception venue, George Washington Masonic Temple has 2 story ceilings so unable to hang lanterns–what suggestions around the room.
Marilyn
marilyn,
wth 2 story ceilings you will need something to bring balance like tall arrangements. otherwise it will look empty. i am thinking branches in vases will give height. you can keep it plain but check out the pic with the large with paper lanterns! that is magnificent! you could do something on tables with small paper lanterns or candles ( like in pic). i actually think i would go with this idea. it will fill the space up so much better!! i went to the site and i saw the reception venue your talking about, wow! that is so beautiful. yes use branches. you wont want alot of different colors added to your centerpieces because of the beauty of the room it doesnt need alot and to much will take away from the architecture. so i hope this gives you great ideas. if budget allows place branches in asian themed urns/vases. just make sure your guests can comfortably talk to each other. another idea is place branch vases around the room and add lower centerpieces on table, like submerged orchids in water all nestled in a cylinder vase.
I’m planning an Asian Theme wedding and this site has helped a lot! I was born in Thailand so we have a lot of Thai decorations at my house that I can use for the wedding, though I didn’t want to pinpoint an exact country for the wedding. The colors I picked are Green, White with touches of gold. I’m going to use many different types of Orchids and white lillies. What I have been able to put together so far looks wonderful!
But then just last night my fiance calls and asks why Asian, which he’s been cool with the whole time. He then starts asking these questions like, “You don’t have any Asian family members right?” And “Will the dress work okay? It isn’t Asian looking.” He then told me his mom was asking the questions and that he really doesn’t care. As long as it’s not bright pink and Hello Kitty he’s fine. So I’m hoping his mother won’t cause to many other prolems. Maybe once I talk to her myself and tell her all my ideas and the advice I found on this site she will stop. If I’m lucky.
I too am planning an asian themed wedding and Everyone who has found out has said rude comments about it. I am living in New Mexico so I guess no one really does that sort of thing out there. But thanks to this site Im sure everyone will have their foot in their mouths at the wedding because Im sure its going to be spectacular!
hey ladies,
im newly engaged and i found out that rather getting married at the court house my fiance wants a big wedding…not to mention he wants an asian themed wedding with the bridesmades in kimonos and the guys in traditditional robes.Im adopted korean and have lived here most pf my life so I dont know where to start and would appreciate any pics,ideas or,comments that you guys may have….since i have no idea what im doing.
thanks guys…..im goign crazy here,lol.
susie,
* Kimono inspired wedding in mint green, red and orange
* Planning Your Japanese Theme Wedding
* the great wedding post (only a month or so late.)
* Japan Style ( beautiful!!)
* Wilshire restaurant: have a wedding that’s red-hot, Zen cool and “green” all over
( i love this simple table setting!!)
* Punch Up Your Outdoor Party: Shades of lavender and Asian accents set the scene with style to spare.
i am gonna take a cue from the last samauri movie. i think that the reception area needs to be “traditonalyy simple” like the link i quoted above. wear the attire. have cherry blossoms everywhere preferably in a draping manner. you can use these for other than spring buying silks. the vision in my head is more like an outdoor japanese garden. i think this would be gorgeous!! something a bit softer like first link i posted. it will be simple, you can find this stuff very inexpensively. i have seen $ stores carry bamboo mats and clear glass containers( i prefer the wood or bamboo ones fill with simple greenery or use candle like above(reusable). most of this stuff can be used at home, so your $ will be an investment. i think since it was gonna be a courthouse wedding 1st, to a bigger one. it doesn’t have to stress you out. i would set my date for a japanese garden when the cherry blossoms bloom, no decor needed. then use the venue closeby(on grounds possibly?) and decorate accordingly. it may not need much either, if its asian. that will be the key to having a big wedding without the fuss. good luck!!
susie, the favor ideas article has alot of inspiration. alot of florals wont be necessary, since most of the florals were on fabrics, containers. add paper lanterns and rice paper invites or programs to pull that in from the sliding doors. google image rice paper wedding invitations
stacey,
thanks for the info..but since he has set the date for july the fourth and we live in alabama,and because we have a lot of elderly family members were going for and inside wedding and reception.but i like the ideas about the cherry blossoms and bamboo maybe theres a way for us to decorate in such away that you get the effect of the japanese garden.thanks for the links i do appreciate them.
wish me luck….
brides, i am posting a gorgeous wedding!! it has just the right touches of asian theme in ceremony and then wow! the reception hits the high note with the theme! just beautiful!!
* Southern Weddinngs, Real Wedding: Maliena + Michael, Part I and Part II
brides, here are the pics!
I need ideas on everything for a asian decorated reception to colors that go with flowers and dresses….. where do i start? colors then dresses and then flowers
celeste, first you need to find your venue so you can look at what colors are needed and then go from there. choose colors first, some find their color inspiration from the bridesmaid dress first. do you have your venue? if so, what are the colors. that is the great thing about asian weddings they are so vividly beautiful and array of colors. i hope these help!! there are alot of ideas here, dont 4get the paper lanterns and umbrellas!!
* Southern Wedding of the Week: Jessica + Jason, Part I and Part II
* Asian Inspired Wedding Gowns
celeste, forgot to mention google image asian inspired wedding, for lots of stuff!!
I am planning my Asian Theme wedding for this coming Feb. This site and peoples advice, ideas and pictures have been very helpful. I will post lots of picts after, but some are some of my B4 picts.
http://my.perfectweddingguide.com/isiskral
Some of the ideas I am using in my Asian Wedding this Feb. :)
BRIDES, here is a great asian theme wedding check it out!!
* Asian Inspired Wedding Gowns
omg i love it soo much i hope you have anymore idea i want a asian fusion wedding but i dont know where to start or where to go do you think you can help and also i dont want a wedding thats goona leave me poor …… can you help?
hi catherine,
i am gonna put a theme together for you. hope you like it. red is the color of luck in asian weddings, i didn’t know what colors you were leaning toward so the pics below will give what i found. i went with a neutral combo and i thought the girls could be in a burgundy plum red, or even a asian dress itself!! i promise this will not look holidayish but very elegant and hopefully easy on the budget. to cut down on flowers lots of natural greens could be used in asian inspired vases or asian lanterns could be mixed with these pics. keep it simple that is key. have bridesmaids carry asian fans or asian parasols. paper lanterns are the BEST way to get decor covered and at a INEXPENSIVE way too. so definitely go with the paper lanterns and fans, (make sure the fans have the tassels they look more expensive and with a design it will stand out against the solid dresses) you can put the bm in black dresses if you like which would be amazing or even asian pink. (color of cherry blossoms) use orchids in a sparingly way like in your bouquet and maybe in centerpieces like in the pic also consider one orchid look in a container in center of table (if its a smaller table, longer will need more or fill it in with zen containers filled with decor natural rocks(they have at walmart in the craft sections and fill with water with a single floating orchid or candles), Google image zen wedding centerpieces, you will see a version of vases with rocks etc.) most asian weddings are famous for orchids, if this is out of your budget then ask your florist what is the “next best thing with that orchid exotic look” also asian weddings use takeout boxes as favors filled with fortune cookies or chopsticks tied with ribbon. also google image asian wedding centerpieces for more ideas. “free” branches in vases are a big winner as natural elements in the zen wedding are. isnt the pics below easy and beautiful, i thought it looked like the perfect place to start!! i think a have a couple more pics just 4 u to browse at in case you didnt like thee pics. b right back.
catherine here they are! i hope you find something you can use, if not write back and i will research more. let me know what colors your leaning too. i do love the neutral setting so serene and asian inspired, its just gorgeous!! if you like the bolder colors just add in the cake, bm dresses in red, and a bolder paper lantern with tassels, arent the ones in the pic beautiful, that whole table setting!! looking forward to your comments!!
Two more pics catherine — Asian Elegance from StyleMePretty and Pink & Brown Cherry Blossoms from Flaire Weddings.
Can you make this picture larger or let me know what website you got the second picture from because I love all the colors in this picture. Thank you!
what clor is that….looks like cranberry…where did you find the dress….love color and style…help, please….
marie, its burgundy and gorgeous!! check it out at jim hjelm occasions: Burgundy chiffon A-line gown, V-neckline, natural waist, style # JH5778
I have enjoyed your ideas of decr. My niece is getting married will blend the ideas. You are really God sent
I found this.
Bonsai has been an honored tradition in all parts of asia for thousands of years. A little known fact is that they almost always had the presence of Bonsai Trees at their weddings, the reason being that bonsai represent immortality. Everlasting Life.
The average cost for floral arrangements at a wedding is between $1500-$5000. Insane, considering that those flowers will whither away and die in a matter of days. Also, bonsai has been traditionally a very expensive art. But bonsai trees will last a lifetime. From us, you can lease or buy for much less than traditional wedding flowers. (See link above and a few photos of what this might look like at your ceremony). Thanks, John S., Bonsai Republic
(bonsairepublic@gmail.com)
GOOD NEWS!!! I found my hot pink chop sticks!!!
They have alot of different colors there. The place: Hong Kong Market; 11205 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX; open 7 days a week 8-11pm [281-575-7886]. $2.39 for 20. Sorry no website. Hope this helps someone out!
Wow … 2sweetnsugarland …. that is a find!
I need major help guys. I live in Asheville, NC. Every florist that I go to here does not understand what I mean by an asian them zen flower centerpiece for my wedding reception. All I get is “big country” ideas. I am using red, espresso, white and black as my colors for my wedding. I want the centerpieces to be simple, yet elegant. I love zen/asian theme but like I said I get the most question marked faces here when I ask for this. Can someone help me or give me some links to look on? I would be ever so grateful
Check out Brides. I saw on there yesterday that they had some really nice table settings with a zen like feel. Also check out TheKnot. I hope this helps!!
Hi Stephanie, I have lots of ideas for you and will try to post some throughout the day! IMHO zen CPs should be very easy for your florist to visualize. You tend see two basic forms, the low type with lots of natural materials (river stones, trays & sand, orchids, candles, even fish)…. and the high type, which might be bare branches or tall orchids or both in a slender cylinder. Here are some great examples.
I’ll go thru the credits so you can check out more if you want and maybe print out bigger pics for your florist.
Row 1, pic 1: Simple Zen centerpiece from Rainbow Flower Shop. Pic 2: Modern Asian table decor from foodie.jenius. Pic 3: citrus green table decor from Knottie Plumeriapal.
Row 2, pic 1: Gorgeous square vase, rock and candle CP from Bardin Palomo Events. Pic 2: source unknown. Pic 3: Really cute photo frame / zen tray / goldfish CP from StarletOHara.
I’ve got more so hang on tight!
I found my lucky bamboo at Hong Kong Market; 11205 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX; open 7 days a week 8-11pm [281-575-7886]. I wanted the kind that curled around each other. They are about 3″-4″ tall. They were $4.00 apiece. I put them in really cute square glass containers that I bought from the 99 cents store and then I put white/clear/pink glass stones in them along with one hot pink orchid. These are going to be my table settings. I also got clear square plastic plates from Garden Ridge Pottery as my dinner plates and clear square plastic plates for my dessert plates. They also have silverware there that looks like the real thing but they are also plastic. I have 12 weeks to go and the closer it gets the more nervous I get!! 8O YIKES!!
I would love to see a pict of this. Do you have any samples put together? Thanks, Jenn
Like 2sweetnsugarland said, Brides is a great resource for these kinds of centerpieces! The modern Asian/zen thing is really close to the heart of their aesthetic. They have tons and tons of inspirational pics and some great "real weddings," so here are a few to start you with.
Also, just some random ideas: Brides suggests using a bamboo steamer basket, the kind with a lid and a handle, as a flower girl basket … fill with orchid petals … so cute! Then, one of the things my local floral store is doing a lot is taking square glass cylinders and arranging bamboo stems around the outside in vertical rows. You can glue them on or tie them on with raffia. Very modern, very zen. No matter what you fill it with it looks great … even just a few peonies.
Anyway, here are the credits to learn more about these arrangements:
Row 1, pic 1: Canary oncidium ochids in tubular vases. Pic 2: "Eastern Touch" reception design. Pic 3: River stones, teapots and orchids. All from Brides.
Row 2, pic 1: naturalistic CP on plant stand. Pic 2: Orchid and banana leaf bouquets. Pic 3: Spider mums, orchids and pussywillow CPs. All from Brides.
Okay, a few more! In addition to these pics there are a few galleries/Real Weddings from Brides and at least one Knottie you should probably check out. Try these:
*"An Eastern Touch" Asian photo essay
* Tamami & John
* Ann & Scott
* Knottie PlumeriaPal’s wedding pics & planning bio
In the pics, notice that almost all of these use chivari chairs in various colors. Looks nice!
Row 1: Pic 1, Asian arrangements in square glass containers + black stones + goldfish in bowls. Pic 2, Peonies, mock orange and branch arrangements. Pic 3, tropical/Asian arrangement with citrus votives. All from Brides.
Row 2, Pic 1: dendrobium orchid CPs, Brides. Pic 2: Red petals, goldfish and black stone CPs, Brides. Pic 3: Reflection Centerpiece from Crate & Barrel.
Oh my goodness thank you so much. Now I can take these to my florist here and show her what I am looking for. This is truly what I have been looking for. Thank you so much for your help. Now thank goodness I won’t have to go with a “big country” theme ha ha ha lol.
So im getting married next summer and were getting married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I’ve always liked the asian culture very much and I was just thinking if people would think it was wierd to get married in Mexico and have an asian themed wedding?
For Nichole: It’s your wedding, if you want to have a destination wedding with a multi cultural theme do it! It’s not wierd it’s unique and fun!
Nichole … I agree with Jinjin.
Take a look at one of the most talented wedding planners out there today, Mishka Designs. She does VERY creative destination events in Puerto Vallarta.
Mishka Designs events
Look at that overview, and look at how many wild and wonderful themes they do. Sure, there’s “Mexico Chic” and beach themes, but there’s also WW II, Day of the Dead, South Africa Elegance, and on and on … all of them GORGEOUS! It’s not really about following your setting by the letter, it’s about drama and imagination and creating something big that fits your dreams. So go for it!
Thank you Blake:
Here’s a link to an Asian-themed wedding in Mexico - we did incorporate a few morrocan elements like the lanterns, but utilized the graphic the bride had on her invitations (the bride was half-Chinese and wanted some of those elements in her wedding in an elegant way). The instant I saw her invites, I knew that the graphic was important to her and she was super, super surprised and happy when we incorporated it into both her lanterns and hankerchief favors for her guests.
> Asian Mexican Wedding
Most of the brides we get in PV don’t list PV as their #1 favorite destination spot - many chose PV because it’s beautiful AND affordable but, if they could have their “dream” wedding anywhere places such as Napa Valley, Tuscany, etc. get listed. So, I don’t find it unusual AT ALL to incorporate the things that you love into your destination wedding, no matter where it is or what it is you love!
What will make your wedding so very special and uniquely “you” are all the elements that have you and your fiance in them!:D
I’m having an Asian theme wedding in June 2009 and I’m having trouble finding helpful literature… would anyone have any suggestions besides “Wild Geese and Tea: An Asian-American Wedding Planner”? I’m looking for ideas for incorporating the “San-san-kudo” into the ceremony. Thank You in advance!
Hi Jinjin,
I was trying to find a forum that would be able to give you really good, informed advice. I remembered NYCity brides has a really active Asian segment, but I checked it out and realized it was Chinese. I’ll post this here anyway for Chinese-American brides … a great place to get nuts & bolts info.
“Official Chinese Brides Thread at NYCity Weddings Forum“
For Sansankudo info, Jinjin, try here:
Japinoy forums / Shinto weddings
That forum seems like a good bet for finding some knowledgeable advice on what you’re looking for.
Hope that helps!