How we planned a bilingual Afro-French Fusion wedding in Kent

The vision: creating an enjoyable, bilingual wedding

1. A ceremony in two languages

We began with the heart of the day, the ceremony. A deeply personal Christian service was created that seamlessly wove together Bible scripture in English with readings and vows in French. They had 2 readers, one who spoke in English and the other in French. They also had bilingual programmes made, which ensured every guest felt included and engaged from the first moment. The whole ceremony was conducted in English and French, with a French interpreter available throughout the day. Their ceremony took place outdoors under the trees.

2. The 'Trou Normand' a fusion highlight

The most memorable fusion element was the ‘trou normand’—a Norman tradition of serving a Calvados sorbet between courses. We elevated this into an interactive experience.

Maxime’s groomsmen personally served the apple sorbet, to each guest, with the option to add Calvados an apple brandy, after the fish course. It is said that drinking this in the middle of a meal helps digestion, which is especially needed when you are having a 5-course meal!

This pause became a joyful, ice-breaking ritual that perfectly symbolised the union of two families.

Struggling to blend your cultures into your ceremony? Download my free fusion wedding checklist

3. A culinary fusion - crafting the perfect Afro-French wedding menu

From our initial conversations, it was clear that an exceptional culinary experience was a top priority for Ruth and Maxime. They dreamed of a menu that would be a true conversation between their heritages, leading to a perfectly executed Ghanaian and French fusion wedding menu and Delicious catering delivered.

The result was a five-course feast that took guests on a delicious journey:

• A refined French fish starter set the tone.
• Followed by their 'Tru Normand' appetiser
• Hearty and flavourful mains featured cultural dishes like jerk chicken, rice and peas, and a rich Ghanaian beef stew (which tasted so good).
• A  cheese course offering a selection of both French classics and local Kent ones.
• Dessert was their beautiful wedding

Each course was expertly paired with a French wine. A thoughtful touch that encapsulated the entire day was the bilingual menus, available in both French and English. This ensured every single guest, from both sides of the family, felt included and could fully appreciate the culinary story being told. It’s these details that make a multicultural celebration truly seamless.

4. Elegant & sustainable design for a Kent countryside wedding

To honour the serene beauty of their Kent venue, Ruth and Maxime chose a timeless colour palette of crisp white and lush greenery. This classic choice created a sense of elegant calm that perfectly complemented the natural landscape.

A key to our design (and a favourite sustainable practice of mine) was repurposing the ceremony florals. I used the beautiful arrangements that framed their vows to adorn the ends of their long reception tables. This not only created a cohesive look throughout the day but also ensured nothing went to waste. A few were also added to the DJ booth to tie everything in.

To add interest to the tables and a touch of warmth and ambience, they hired pillar candles and glass vases from my Pearline Events styling collection. As the evening drew in, the soft, flickering candlelight transformed the marquee space, making it feel incredibly intimate and romantic.

5. Managing a flawless dry-hire wedding day

As a specialist in blank-canvas venues, for Maxime and Ruth’s wedding, a marquee was set up on the grounds a day before, with me on site to manage the complexities. Having a marquee allowed for the space and personalisation that they wanted to bring their fusion wedding to life. On the wedding day itself, I managed the intricate logistics, overseeing their suppliers to ensure what was delivered was as agreed in line with a detailed timeline I created for all suppliers. My role was to be the single point of contact, solving problems before they arose, whilst working with my assistant to get everything set up and support guests.

The result? As the couple reflected, they were able to be "happy and present," truly relaxing into their celebration. The evening ended with a vibrant DJ and fun wedding games, getting all the guests involved. A fantastic day for all!

 A heartfelt review

"Having Natasha from Pearline Events for our dry hire, multicultural and bilingual wedding was THE best decision we made. It’s hard to sum it all up in one review!  We contacted Natasha about 8 months before our wedding, and from the first meeting, we knew we’d made the right choice. Throughout our wedding planning journey, we stayed in regular contact and she was always responsive and made us feel like a priority every step of the way.

She coordinated with all our confirmed suppliers, shared a detailed timeline for the day with everyone involved, and handled logistics so we didn’t have to worry. People knew who to go to, which gave us the capacity to enjoy our day.

The day before the wedding, we had a stressful incident and—no exaggeration—Natasha appeared like magic to save the day.

We are now over 2 weeks after our wedding and our friends and family continue telling us how much they enjoyed our wedding and how happy and present we were. That wouldn’t have been possible without Natasha. We were able to relax and enjoy our day knowing she had everything in hand.

One of my many memorable moments was just before walking down the aisle, when Natasha straightened my dress and veil. That simple gesture showed how much she genuinely cares about every aspect of the day.

Planning one of the biggest events of your life is a labour of love. Our wedding was truly the best day and we thank Pearline Events for making it memorable".

Ruth and Maxime

Inspired to create a wedding that tells your unique story? If you're dreaming of a multicultural celebration in London or Kent, I provide the expert planning and logistics to make it a joyful, stress-free reality. Contact me to start the conversation today.