Hapa Haole will Marry an Irish Man

Pelesina

Greetings to all!

As the product of an interracial marriage (my mother is Japanese and my father is a whole mix of Caucasion origins), and as I am going to be involved in an interracial marriage myself, I thought I would introduce myself to this group.

I was excited to see this group exists because my marriage will definitely not be traditional (not fully Irish & Christian nor Japanese & Buddhist)  The more I read of all your posts the more I relate.  My mom's family is Japanese in Hawaii for 4 & 5 generations --until me.  And some of the customs I would like to incorporate into my wedding are both Japanese as well as Hawaiian.   

I am lucky to have a very accepting FMIL & in-law family, so I think the alterations I'm going to make to the "traditional" scheme of things will go over well with them, but I do worry about extended friends and family.  

As an end note, I'll just reiterate that I'm really excited to have found this group!!  And ask a question: day-to-day do people consider their situation (interracial/intercultural) unusual or has it just become so normal that you don't even think about it unless someone else brings it up??  (I'm in the latter camp)

melntaitt

Awww; it's so great to see a new face!

What traditions will you incorporate?

Pelesina

melntaitt: Thanks for welcoming me.

We are actually planning two ceremonies, one in Rochester, NY at my FI's church where we will be married by his Pastor (whom I have met and am comfortable with).  But we are also going to be married on the Big Island in Hawaii where my family has been for 5 generations (except for me of course--haha).  There we will have a traditional Buddhist ceremony and be married by the Reverend in my family's Daijingu.  That way we can honor both sides of our heritage, Christian and Buddhist.

mizutamababy

Welcome to the board!

I think it's cool your Japanese side is interested in incorporating Buddhist aspects into the ceremony as well.  In Japan, besides Western-style marriages, there doesn't seem to be much deviation from the Shinto wedding, Buddhist funeral pattern.