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Wedding Forum - A Language problem......

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  1.  
    • CamilaL
      CommentAuthorCamilaL
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    Hi people...
    So, yeah, most of my guests are Brazilians (my guests, not ours). And the HUGE problem is that, only 5 out of my 17 guests can speak/understand English. So, what to do about my parents, for example? They can't understand any english and this may cause them to miss the whole emotion of the wedding. I thought about having our vows wrote down in Portuguese for those who don't understand any english (this would be responsibility of one of my bridesmaids, since i have two who speak both languages). I'm doing my best to take mum and dad to english classes, they have about two years, and I think it's time enough to make them able to understand the whole ceremony. But what if they can't? How could dad have his speech during the toasts?

    Has anyone being on a situation like this?
  2.  
    • clair
      CommentAuthorclair
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    I haven't been in a situation like this, but what I can suggest a few things. The writing down idea sound like a good idea, but have you thought of having a interpreter? Maby one of your bridesmaids that speak both could interprate the vows for you?
    And for your dads speach, he donsnt have to have a long speach, mabe he could just thank every one fir coming to shaur his daughters day. Then repeat it in portugages?
    Or if you dad knows what he may say you could have him rite it down then you translate it in English? You could pit in on nice paper with farther of the bride soeach on it?
    Hope this helps a bit! Xx

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  3.  
    • Velcro
      CommentAuthorVelcro
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    could you get an interpreter maybe?

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  4.  
    • NaomiC8
      CommentAuthorNaomiC8
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    i've been to a wedding where a translator was present...
    I know sometimes with the older generation they can be quite stubborn about languages and new things...
    the interpreter did not distract too much from the ceremony..

    but i still think the english classes are a good idea...
  5.  
    • AprilS61
      CommentAuthorAprilS61
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    I think your idea of printing vows in Portuguese is ideal! It's a spin off an order of service so would work absolutely fine.

    Not sure what's best for the speech though. You could have an interpreter, but it depends of you want somewhere there you don't know, or again as mentioned have it translated in advance if your dad shows/tells you beforehand.

    I think having your bridesmaids (that speak both languages) would be the best scenario for the speeches translated as its not having a stranger translating or too much paper involved.

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  6.  
    • *KelBel*
      CommentAuthor*KelBel*
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    I think an interpreter would be fantastic! As reading them is different to hearing them read?x

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  7.  
    • InDreamland
      CommentAuthorInDreamland
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    An interpreter for them would be great. If one of your bridesmaids could do it that would be good.

    My grandmother was the same, doesn't understand any English so couldn't follow anything at all until my dad did part of his speech in cantonese just for her benefit (she's my mum's mum not his), he addressed her personally and thanked her for coming all the way over from Malaysia and what an honour it was. All the guests loved it even those who didn't understand cantonese which were most of them. Only about 15% of them are Chinese so could understand.

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  8.  
    • TotallyLovedUp
      CommentAuthorTotallyLovedUp
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    I think you need a chat with your parents about the English classes and how they feel about it, but also that you are still going to need to think about the other non English speaking guests. I love the idea of a copy of the service and speeches in either English or Portuguese (accordingly) as it is something for the guests to keep and also for you to have in your memory box :) Also an interpreter is lovely as it would be more personal for all guests. Maybe have a mixture of both?
  9.  
    • CamilaL
      CommentAuthorCamilaL
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    Ok, first of all, thank you so much for trying to help!
    I've thought about the interpreter, but I'm always thinking that it can ruin the magic of the moment (during the vows), don't you thing? Imagine it, like while you talk, someone else talks right after... ?
    So I think if I wrote mine in portuguese too and one of my bridesmaids could translate h2bs one, we could put everything on the service thing, but keep it secret until the right moment (ask them to only open it on the right moment of the ceremony). I want to keep the emotion of the moment and make them cry lol But I'm afraid they open it before the right time! That would ruin everything :(
    About the speech, Dad knows a little bit of english... like LITTLE BIT! But whenever he try to talk to h2b, I need to be around to help h2b to understand lol So, he needs to improve this english enough to make people understand him during the speech.
    Mum told me this morning that we are going tomorrow to enroll her on the english classes \o/ So, I hope she will be perfect in two years! :D
  10.  
    • NaomiC8
      CommentAuthorNaomiC8
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    Lets hope..

    Good luck to them xx
  11.  
    • InDreamland
      CommentAuthorInDreamland
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    Aww I think that is so lovely that they're learning a new language for you x

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  12.  
    • Elinor Claire
      CommentAuthorElinor Claire
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    I went to a wedding in France where they had printed a bilingual order of service for the sake of the English speaking guests. They didn't print the translations of the vows though which was a shame. I speak some French but not enough to understand everything. With the speeches the father of the bride, who was French but spoke good English, and the groom who was English but spoke good French, translated themselves as they went along. The best man didn't speak much French, so the bride's brother translated.

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  13.  
    • InDreamland
      CommentAuthorInDreamland
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    When my cousin got married he delivered his grooms speech in Cantonese, Mandarin, Malay and English so that all guests understood him.

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    Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
    Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!

  14.  
    • CamilaL
      CommentAuthorCamilaL
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    They have been soooo sweet and awesome about the whole wedding thing =)
 

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