Shana & Seans Jewish Meets Trinidad Wedding With Carnival Headdresses And A Huge Reception Surprise
In a beautiful union, Offbeat Bride Shana, the owner of a lingerie store, tied the knot with her contractor love, Sean. This lovely couple, who are also members of the Offbeat Bride Tribe, shared their special day on October 26, 2014 at the Rosewater Room in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Our offbeat wedding at a glance:
Incorporating elements from Sean’s Trinidadian background added a unique touch to the celebration. The wedding cake, for instance, featured layers of Trinidadian black fruit cake, carrot cake, and sponge cake – a nod to Sean’s heritage. To complete the look, we incorporated Hulk and She-Hulk figurines on top, as they’re among Sean’s favorite superheroes. Guests also enjoyed traditional Sorrel drinks, expertly prepared by my mother-in-law.
The Toronto Soca DJ kept the party lively, while Carnival headpieces from my previous costumes added a playful touch for guests to wear. Before dinner, we surprised our guests with an Aikido demonstration featuring Sean as the star. His impressive skills left everyone in awe – until he realized he had forgotten his brown belt! Luckily, someone kindly lent him an orange belt, effectively ‘demoting’ him for the day. The humor and camaraderie created a memorable moment.
To engage our younger guests, we commissioned a cartoon artist to draw us wearing Carnival costumes, then provided colored pencils for them to bring the artwork to life during the reception. After our honeymoon, we proudly displayed these mementos on our kitchen wall for several months, serving as a delightful reminder of our special day. My own dress was a beautiful lace knee-length number, purchased online for under $200.
The challenge lay in keeping my pregnancy a secret until the reception – but it was worth it for the surprise and joy we shared with our loved ones.
Tell us about the ceremony:
Our Jewish Humanistic Egalitarian ceremony was a beautiful blend of tradition and personal touches. Instead of pairing off guests to walk down the aisle, we opted for an inclusive approach where everyone walked separately, unless they were already a couple. This allowed us to break with the traditional norm and make our celebration feel more like a communal experience. One of the most memorable moments was when our wedding party carried lanterns adorned with lit candles down the aisle.
These lanterns served as a symbol of unity and love, and once placed along both sides of the aisle, they created a breathtakingly beautiful path for us to walk upon. Just like the diverse attire worn by our wedding party, each lantern was unique yet harmonious. Our ring bearer, Sean’s childhood E. T. doll, added an extra layer of whimsy as it carried the two rings down the aisle.
For my bouquet, I chose to create a brooch bouquet using pieces passed down from my great aunt and grandmother, both of whom had left us too soon. This personal touch allowed me to feel like they were still with us on our special day. The atmosphere was electric when our wedding party walked up the aisle to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s soulful tune ‘You’re All I Need To Get By.’ Meanwhile, Sean and I made a reggae-inspired entrance to Tarrus Riley’s ‘She’s Royal.
‘As we reached the chuppah, the Rabbi invited everyone to get comfortable. Feeling relieved and relaxed, I took off my shoes – a necessary indulgence given my pregnancy, stress levels, and aching back! Another hilarious moment occurred during Sean’s vows when he recalled a memorable moment in our relationship, saying ‘I knew at that point we’d be together, but I didn’t say anything then because that would’ve been creepy!’
Tell us about your reception:
To bring whimsy to our wedding tables, we repurposed the same elegant lanterns that adorned my grandmother’s antique doilies, a thoughtful nod to her legacy. In an effort to maintain some romantic restraint during dinner, we concocted a playful quiz game. When someone desired us to share a romantic moment, they would need to approach the front of the gathering with a partner and answer a multiple-choice question.
If their response was incorrect, they would be rewarded with a tender kiss; however, if they answered correctly, we would seal it with a sweet smooch.
The inaugural query posed this intriguing scenario: ‘What does Sean and Shana wish to announce?’ The options presented were: Sean and Shana are relocating to Nairobi, Sean is enrolling in clown school, Sean and Shana are adopting a pet goat, or Sean and Shana are expecting a new addition in April.
And so, we proudly revealed our pregnancy to our loved ones.
For our first dance, my husband Sean took the time to master the lively Cuban Casino dance that I adore. We began with just the two of us, but soon other couples joined in, transforming it into an impromptu flash mob. Eventually, we had a total of five couples dancing together in perfect harmony, performing the Rueda de Casino style.
Following this joyous celebration, we transitioned to the traditional Jewish chair dance and then the lively Hora.
As a special token of appreciation for our guests, we gifted each attendee with a personalized jar of our homemade hot sauce.
What was your most important lesson learned?
As we navigated the complexities of planning our wedding, one of the most significant hurdles we faced was managing the expectations and reactions of others. From family and friends, some were concerned by our unconventional choices, such as incorporating a Jewish ceremony into an otherwise traditional celebration.
Thankfully, Sean’s Christian family proved to be more open-minded than we anticipated, and our Rabbi deserves special credit for crafting a beautiful and inclusive ceremony that brought everyone together.
Another challenge we faced was the financial burden of self-paying for our wedding. As the guest list grew due to well-meaning family additions, we had to draw a firm line to ensure our special day remained within budget.
For couples looking to enjoy some quiet time after the ceremony, I’d recommend taking proactive steps to secure your bridal suite. Simply ask your venue to reserve that space for you until you arrive, thereby preventing any unwanted visitors from spoiling your alone time – a lesson we learned the hard way when our own plans were foiled by an early arrival.
Vendors
The photography expertise of David Morris Photography brings the beauty of this outfit to life, with the stunning Gilded Grace dress from Modcloth serving as the centerpiece. The elegant design and vibrant colors of the dress are perfectly captured in the photographs, showcasing its unique charm.
