7 Ways to Add Local Flavour to Your Wedding
Show pride of place by weaving traditional details throughout your ceremony and reception.
You’ve put careful thought into choosing your wedding destination; the fun part now is to show your guests how much that location means to you. When you incorporate local touches, such as:
1. traditional music by area performers for your reception, or
2. fresh native flowers to adorn your bouquet and centerpieces, you help evoke an authentic sense of place. Here are five more ways find inspiration in your destination:
3. Use a Local Officiant
In keeping with Thai tradition, when you book the Traditional Thai Lanna wedding package at Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand, the local village eldest will lead the ceremony. For the Polynesian ceremony at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, the master of ceremonies grants the newlyweds a Polynesian name and presents the tapa, a traditional wedding certificate believed to be a symbol of wealth.
4. Serve the Taste of the Town
Sample menus from Four Seasons catering staff at your destination can help you select your favourite local dishes. Suggestions on the menu at Four Seasons Hotel México, D.F., in Mexico City, for instance, include mini picadillo tacos and Veracruz-style red snapper with a sauce traditionally made of olives, jalapeños and capers. The Hotel’s wedding package also includes traditional Mexican chilaquiles—fried tortillas topped with salsa, eggs, pulled chicken and cheese—served at midnight for 50 people.
5. Get Creative With Table Tags
Instead of table numbers, ask your Four Seasons wedding specialist to assign tables the names of local landmarks or other identifiers. For a wedding at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, for example, each table might bear the name of a local monument or government building, such as Lincoln Memorial, the Pentagon or Capitol Hill. For a Hawaiian wedding at Four Seasons Resort Lana’i at Manele Bay, each table might be named for one of the eight major islands. Guests would simply match the names on their escort cards to the signs on the tables.
6. Stir Up Local Libations
Just like the edibles, cocktails are a fun way to give guests a taste of local flavour. Cocktails from the drink menu at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok can make festive signature drinks for a wedding reception. The Mango Sticky Rice is named after the typical Thai dessert. The cocktail is made with with rice vodka, coconut rum, fresh mango, lemon juice and vanilla syrup, can become an unforgettable detail for your wedding reception.
7. Make the Food Part of the Hometown Fun
Bring in the most playful desserts or snacks you can find. For example, a wedding after-party at the The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, a Four Seasons Hotel, might include hot dogs served right from the cart and cheese-and-caramel popcorn. For a wedding at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, consider a soft pretzel bar.
