This Multicultural Vancouver Wedding Combined the Grooms' Chinese and Jewish Backgrounds

Shortly before Vancouver shut down all social gatherings due to COVID-19, Vance Ng and Ben Klempner were able to celebrate their love and marriage with a multicultural wedding day at the Seaside Hotel in Lonsdale Quay. The couple's vision for the wedding day was that it be a, "catalyst for connection, love, and opportunities. We are blessed to have found each other, and are grateful for our family for giving us this life of opportunities. Both our parents are immigrants to Canada and have sacrificed their comfort and desires to create a better life for their kids. This is the first gay wedding for everyone. Many are embracing it with beaming hearts, and while some may be cautious, they love us unconditionally. This event is not a party. It’s the beginning for stronger relationships, deeper love, and new opportunities for generations ahead," they share. Their celebration began with a ceremony that honored their diverse backgrounds. A Chinese tea ceremony took place under their chuppah before the couple partook in the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass to celebrate their union. "The ceremony was perhaps THE most important element of the day. We saw this moment as the start to a new beginning for all our friends and family. This is the first gay wedding for both sides of the family, and likely the first time many family members met. We wanted to honour traditions as much as possible, while being very intentional and personalizing it so that it was meaningful to us," the couple shares. 

The multicultural elements continued into the reception with both traditional Chinese lion dancers and the horah taking place later in the evening. The couple also had a friend sing Chinese pop songs while they signed the Ketubah. The elements they added into their reception were influenced by the overall feeling the couple wanted to create with their celebration. Vance and Ben wanted the wedding to feel, "easy, meaningful, and memorable.   We want guests to be at ease. Dress up and sparkle if you like or dress down if that makes you feel comfortable. When you walk in, we want you to feel at home. Every detail is made with intention. We honour traditions, and embrace them in our way so that it’s authentic. Most importantly, we want everyone to have fun and remember how they felt." The celebration's fashion choices were also informed by the intended vibe of the day. "The words we used overall to guide our design choices was 'understated elegance.' We wanted things to feel special and approachable. We were also not afraid to add sparks of delight to showcase our personality! From Ben's glittery Jimmy Choo shoes during his evening wear to Vance's gold sparkling jacket he wore during Jewish horah dance. We both wanted to wear timeless pieces, while showcasing our personalities." 

At the end of the day, the couple wants to impart this advice to current to-be-weds: "Be clear on what's important and 'why' you want to have a wedding. Being clear on this helped us navigate through each challenge and helped us remember what we cared about the most."