The Influence of Intercultural Communication Processes on Traditional Wedding Ceremony as a Phenomenon of Acculturation

The aim of this research was to analyze the phenomenon of acculturation as a process and result of cultural change and reciprocal adjustments on the example of a traditional wedding ceremony focusing on non-verbal communication such as rituals and wedding clothes as well as making inferences related to the context of intercultural communication. The method in this research was interpretative and qualitative descriptive analysis. The subject of research was the influence of intercultural communication processes on the traditional wedding ceremony conducted by the Indonesian-Russian couples within the perspective of acculturation phenomenology. The informants in this research were 2 couples (Indonesian-Russian couples). Data collecting techniques were interview and literature study related to intercultural communication with a focus on the phenomenon of acculturation. The result of this research showed that tolerance to cultural differences, sympathy, and openness to other cultures are the factors that influence the occurrence of acculturation on a wedding ceremony with communicating parties trying to preserve their cultural identity and to adopt their partner culture at the same time. Furthermore, globalization contributes to the standardization and homogenization in practically every aspect of life, including wedding ceremonies. Meanwhile, the research showed that the communicating cultures combine adopting elements of mainstream culture and maintaining elements of their traditional heritage culture. Keywords: intercultural communication, acculturation, wedding ceremony, non-verbal communication, Javanese culture, Minangkabau culture, Indonesian culture.