When two families from different cultural backgrounds come together for a wedding, your reception needs to honor both traditions. We’ve hosted multicultural wedding receptions for more than 30 years at The Gran Centurions in Clark, New Jersey, and we’ve learned that the menu, music, and celebration flow matter just as much as the venue itself.

How to Plan a Multicultural Wedding Reception in New Jersey

Planning a multicultural wedding reception means honoring two families, two traditions, and two cultures in one celebration. From custom menus to cultural entertainment, here’s how to bring both backgrounds together at your Union County venue.

Build a Menu That Honors Both Cultures

Your wedding menu tells a story. We make everything from scratch daily, including hand-rolled gnocchi and classic Sunday gravy, but our kitchen team has also prepared Pernil for Puerto Rican families and Paella for Spanish celebrations. You choose three entrées for your sit-down dinner. Many multicultural couples serve Chicken Rollatine with marsala cream sauce alongside Salmon with dill cream reduction and Chateau Briand. Your guests select their entrée when they RSVP.

We offer gluten-free meals and vegetarian options like Eggplant Rollatine. That matters when you’re hosting guests with different dietary traditions tied to religion or culture.

Design Your Cocktail Hour

The cocktail hour is where your families meet. We set up butler-style passed hors d’oeuvres so people can move freely. You pick eight passed items from options that include Black Angus Beef Teriyaki Skewers, Coconut Shrimp, Asian Spiced Chicken Satay, and Petite Crab Cakes.

Optional stations give you more range. Our Seafood Station brings Garlic Shrimp Scampi, Fresh Clams & Chorizo, and Mussels Fra Diavolo. The Asian Station includes Beef & Chicken Stir Fry with White Rice and Vegetable Egg Rolls. Our Italian Antipasto Display features aged provolone, Genoa salami, and prosciutto. The Homemade Pizza Station with cheese, pepperoni, and sausage has become a favorite at multicultural receptions.

Choose the Right Ballroom

We have four event spaces: two ballrooms and two rooms. The Crystal Ballroom holds 125 to 380 guests and works well for larger celebrations with extended family. The Diamond Ballroom seats 65 to 150 and includes outdoor deck access, which some couples use for a tea ceremony before the reception. The Platinum Room seats 60 to 100 guests with scenic balcony views. The Tiffany Room fits 60 to 100 and has an outdoor deck.

Your dedicated coordinator helps you plan the layout. You get one coordinator from your first tour to the last song. They handle lighting, linens, timelines, and vendor communication.

Plan Music and Entertainment

You can bring in your own DJ or live band who understands your cultural background. Our preferred vendor list includes All Star Entertainment, SuperSounds, and Limitless Entertainment. We provide microphones, speakers, and TVs in the ballrooms.

Bar Service and Beverage Options

Our 5-hour Standard Open Bar includes Absolute, Tito’s, and Svedka vodka; Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Pinot Noir, and Sangria; plus beer, rum, whiskey, gin, and tequila. The Premium Bar upgrades to Grey Goose and Ketel One vodka and adds Portillo wines. You can add Mimosas, Sangria, or Peach Bellinis. Your Champagne Toast is included.

Understand the Timeline

Your 5-hour celebration starts when guests arrive for cocktail hour. Final guest count is due 14 days before your wedding. Your four-course meal includes a Champagne Toast, homemade pasta like Penne Vodka or Rigatoni & Broccoli, salad, your entrées, and a tiered wedding cake with premium coffee and tea.

Your wedding reception includes table linens, napkin choice, LED lighting, seating cards, and a bridal suite. You can bring in additional decor that reflects your cultures, but nothing can be attached to walls or doors, and we don’t allow confetti.

Know the Location

We’re located at 440 Madison Hill Road in Clark, New Jersey, just off Garden State Parkway Exit 135. That puts us under 20 minutes from Middlesex County and Somerset County. We offer plentiful free parking. The Holiday Inn Clark Newark Area is nearby for overnight guests.

Your multicultural wedding reception should feel like both families came together to celebrate. We’re a family-run team, and we’ve spent more than 30 years hosting celebrations where two cultures meet.

Call us at (732) 382-1664 or visit www.thegrancenturions.com to tour our ballrooms.

FAQs

Can we bring in a caterer for specific cultural dishes?
We prepare all food on site. Our chefs make everything from scratch and can work with you to add custom entrées like Pernil and Paella to your menu.

Do you allow outside vendors for cultural entertainment?
Yes. You can bring your own DJ or live band. We provide microphones, speakers, and TVs, and our preferred vendor list includes local entertainment companies.

How do we handle different dietary restrictions?
We offer gluten-free meals and vegetarian options. Discuss specific dietary needs tied to religious or cultural practices with your coordinator when you finalize your menu.

Can we use the outdoor spaces for a cultural ceremony?
The Diamond Ballroom and Tiffany Room both include outdoor deck access. Many couples use these spaces for tea ceremonies or blessings before the reception starts.