Congrats! You’ve found the man or woman of your dreams and you’ve decided to get married. As the first major test of your relationship, you need to plan your wedding day. As two unique individuals from different backgrounds, it’s no wonder couples often bicker about how they want to spend their big day. Add into the equation the expectations of family and friends and you’ve got yourself an interesting show. Now if you happen to be marrying someone of a different race, culture or ethnicity, get ready for one crazy ride.

An interracial marriage often takes extra work. But the interracial couples I know who have overcome cultural differences have rock-solid relationships. Here is how I survived my big fat Chinese-Italian wedding.