Translator at a wedding - good idea?

[TeddyIsaHe]

Dp and I will be getting married in Poland, with most of his family and quite a few of mine.

I don’t speak much Polish at all, but would obviously learn the vows etc before the big day.

If you were going to a non-English speaking wedding, would you want a translator or the translation written out for you?

I worry that it will detract from the loveliness of it, and my family are v relaxed and wouldn’t care about not understanding completely. As long as they heard the ‘I do’ bit etc!

[ErrolTheDragon]

A translator during the service might be intrusive, but having the order of service printed in both languages side by side would surely be helpful.

[bookmum08]

Would it be legal if you did it in both languages? You do your bit in English?

[AnotherEmma]

DH and I are a bilingual couple. We put translations in the "wedding programme" (not sure what to call it, it wasn't an order of service because it was a civil ceremony not a religious one!)

We also did bilingual speeches (people kept them short so they could give them in both languages with boring everyone to death) which everyone appreciated I think.

If you can, definitely have at least one reading and/or speech in English or read out in English as well as Polish for the sake of your English guests.

[JoJoSM2]

We had a translator at our wedding (civil ceremony). I’m not sure how ‘I do’ counts/is legally binding is one of the people doesn’t understand what is being said and what they’re agreeing to.
In terms of your wedding guests, it’s worth putting something together so they know what’s going on.

[Pipandmum]

You could have the order of service in both languages? Does the officiant speak English? It would be nice if he/she could explain briefly what it happening/ what the blessing mean etc.

[GreenLeafTurnip]

We are the same as you (polish husband I'm british) but we got married in the UK. His parents and family don't speak any English so we had everything translated for them in a separate program. Our reading was in Polish. We had a very small wedding and we both did the speech with me speaking in English and him speaking in Polish. It worked well for us but Polish weddings are huge so it might not be as feasible for you!

[TeddyIsaHe]

Polish weddings are indeed huge! I’m already overwhelmed

I do think an English translation of the order of service would be the best way. I can prep my family with the basics of what’s going to happen so they should be able to happen.

God knows how everyone is going to mingle at the wedding breakfast, I imagine poor dp is going to be lead translator for most of the evening!

[TeddyIsaHe]

*Should be able to understand

[AnotherEmma]

Wish we could edit posts!

without boring everyone to death

[GreenLeafTurnip]

Once the vodka gets opened, there will be no problem!!

[GreenLeafTurnip]

I'm interested though. Are you Catholic?

[SerenityNowwwww]

We went to a polish wedding and it was all in polish. We were sat with relatives who spoke English and someone translated the speeches afterwards into English (so the speech maker would say a couple of lines and someone would translate).

And yes, as the drink flowed all that went out of the window. It was a brilliant wedding and I never ate so much I’m my life.

[SerenityNowwwww]

Won’t there be people there who can speak English anyway?

[TeddyIsaHe]

Some of dp’s younger family can speak English, his cousins and friends etc. But his mum, aunts & uncles can’t. I’m sure it will be fine, as said once the vodka starts flowing it won’t matter too much!

It’s not a church wedding (we’re having a church blessing in the UK afterwards) DP isn’t catholic enough! And I’m CofE.

[SerenityNowwwww]

I have found that most people at weddings are delighted to have people coming over from abroad and always found polish parties a lot of fun and people are very friendly.

If the U.K. contingent learn a few phrases I’m sure that will go down a treat too.

[LilaButterfly]

We had a bilingual wedding and didn't do any translations. We had different people speaking though and some parts were english, some parts werent. We had quite a few people who speak both languages, so we thought it would be boring to say the same thing twice.

[hoistbymyownzombiepetard]

My DD doesn't live in the UK. When she got married, it was a legal requirement that they had someone to translate the ceremony into English. The friend that was going to do this had to drop out at the last minute so a substitute was quickly rustled up from among the other guests. It was absolutely hilarious - instant translating was definitely not their forte. They were very apologetic afterwards but all of the UK contingent reassured them that it was one of the best ceremonies ever.

[happytoday73]

I went to 3 Polish English weddings in one year.. All in the UK though....and in each case the Polish people understood some English, English spoke very little Polish....

What seemed to work best was a service that flicked between Polish and English... Rather than making it twice as long...
So in one case the more religious readings were in Polish, less so for English ones.

Hymns were a mixture.. With choir to help it along...

And very drunken sto lat many times...
Enjoy...

[Ariela]

Years ago I went to a Hindu wedding, luckily I was next to a bilingual girl who gave a running commentary on what was happening and why - it was very interesting learning about the traditions such as the meaning of walking seven times round the fire etc so survived.
I imagine younger Polish in particular will have a fairly good command of English. I'm sure if your family are briefed in advance, and you sit some young Polish nearby there won't be a problem.
If the drink flows, I'm sure everyone will get on regardless of language.