Black American Wedding Traditions To Incorporate Into Your Special Day
February, 21 2023
Wedding days are amazing, aren’t they? A celebration of love, an elaborate party, and the smiles of so many people, the bride, the groom, their friends, and their families, the day is filled with amazing memories. As picturesque as a wedding seems to be, elaborate wedding planning along with sourcing different materials to make a wedding perfect goes into it, and that too, over a course of months. None of it happens overnight, to be honest. If you’re thinking of getting married, you know the amount of hard work you’ll have to put in, and you will have some resources gathered to start off your wedding planning. That said, there’s much to talk about when it comes to the wedding décor, the wedding food menu, the wedding cocktails, and more. However, what we usually do not talk about is the traditions. There are many unity wedding ceremonies that are popular and can be used for your wedding. However, if you’re an African-American couple, then you’ll most likely want to incorporate something from your culture too. And before we go any further, honoring your culture, tradition, and roots should come easy to you. You should not partake in or include any of the traditions without actually meaning to or without truly wanting them to be a part of your wedding. So, when we say, " you’ll most likely want to incorporate something from your culture too” we don’t mean to force you into it. Furthermore, even if you’re not thinking of including any traditions and want to have a simple wedding, then probably learning about these traditions could help you gain some insight. Right? Well, that aside, if you’re somebody who wants to learn about some African-American traditions, or you want to learn some of these so that you can include them in your wedding, then you’re in the right place! Let’s dive in, shall we?
Jumping the broom is probably one of the most known African-American wedding traditions. Since we’re just starting off our list, we thought we’d start with something common. Jumping the broom tradition is as it says, the bride and the groom jumping over a broom. The roots of the tradition are a little shaky and difficult to track down because some believe it was established by the Welsh-Romani gypsy communities, while others believe it was developed in Ghana. However, despite the unclarity of its roots, we feel that this tradition is pretty cool and a good one to incorporate into your wedding. Regardless of the roots, the tradition came from the fact that the brooms were believed to sweep away past wrongs and evil spirits. During a wedding, jumping over the broom can be done after the wedding ceremony is over. Right after the wedding officiant announces that the couple is married, the broom is brought out, and the couple jumps over it. During the wedding ceremony, the broom can be hidden away under chairs or in another room. A great idea, in our opinion, is to keep the broom in a separate room, and you can have one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen bring it out for you. This can be an addition to groomsmen duty or for a bridesmaid, it will be absolutely fun!
The Libation Ceremony is a ceremony that takes place right after your wedding ceremony and is known for celebrating those who have passed on. This ceremony is usually performed to honor and celebrate the couple’s ancestors and heritage. The history of this wedding ritual finds its roots in ancient times and can be traced back to Israel, Greece, Asia, South America, Egypt, and Rome. It also has great significance in African communities, especially in Yoruba and Igbo cultures. In African culture, honoring your ancestors is very important. These ceremonies, the Libation Ceremony, is a way to invite all those who have passed, and the Gods to attend the events. At a wedding, this ceremony is held after the wedding ceremony. In this ceremony, alcohol or holy water is poured into a vessel in four directions, north, south, east, and west. And this is done in the attendance of the elders at the wedding. Sometimes, the family and friends of the couple can also be called to attend this ceremony. The elders pray during the ceremony and extend their blessings, as well as those of the ones who have passed on to the couple. In modern times, in America, this ceremony has come to be known as “pouring one out for the homies,” especially when the drink is alcoholic. During the ceremony, you can go the traditional way and recite prayers. Or you can also include some amazing script in your wedding and choose a lovely poem, spoken word, or even a tear-jerking toast for the ceremony.
This is one of the lesser-known African wedding traditions and is usually done when the wedding ceremony is complete. For the ceremony, two long or tall wooden sticks are used, and the couple crosses them. This wedding ceremony ritual is a way for couples to show their commitment to each other. The emotion behind this wedding ritual is that in African culture trees are known to possess a life force and power. And crossing the sticks is a way to represent that. When a couple crosses sticks during their wedding ceremony, it is known to express a wish for a strong and grounded beginning to their journey together. You can use this idea for your wedding ceremony in a few different ways. You can add a personal touch to the sticks by choosing them from a house tree if you have one. Or maybe use two sticks from a tree in a park that you two visit often. Another way to add change to the same idea is to use sparklers during the ceremony. And then you can keep the sparklers aside, and use them when you’re doing your wedding exit. For the wedding send-off, your wedding guests can hold up other sparklers to escort you out.
4. Tying the Knot
This is one of the most common wedding traditions. Tying the knot sounds colloquial and poetic. African-American couples do it literally. This tradition includes using a corded cloth, a string of cowrie shells, braided grass, or even a beautifully decorated rope to literally tie a knot as the wedding ceremony progresses. During the wedding ceremony, the couple ties the ends of the rope, string, or cloth to their wrists. After the wedding ceremony is over, the wedding officiant will tie the knot as the couple takes their vows. This represents their vows and commitment to each other. However, knots could look different depending on the culture of the couple. Typically, a three-knot tie is used to represent three people, God and the couple. The knot can also be used to represent a symbol of fertility and/ or prosperity. This string or the patterned cloth can be repurposed later, as a keepsake, perhaps as a wall hanging or a beautiful tapestry
5. Tasting Ceremony (Four Elements)
This unique wedding tradition comes from West Africa, specifically from the Yoruba people. Although it is not as common or popular, it is quickly becoming a popular tradition among African-American wedding celebrations. This tradition is known to present the couple with four different flavors of married life, which are sour, bitter, spicy, and sweet. The four elements, which we just mentioned, will be edible, and something that the couple can have. The couple can choose chocolates, spices, fruits, or anything else that represents the same flavors to them. These elements can be placed in different vessels, or bowls, whichever you prefer to fit the aesthetic of your wedding. The tasting of these flavors comes toward the end of the wedding ceremony. The wedding officiant announces the significance of each element to the guests as the couple takes their vows, only after that, does the couple taste the elements. This is a way to show that the couple promises to be with each other through thick and thin, through happiness and sorrows. If you want, you can add a modern twist to it by choosing flavored chocolates. To make it an amazing idea, you can also have them made for your wedding guests, in similar flavors, of course, and give them away as your wedding favors.
6. Kola Nuts
Kola nuts in Africa are often the symbol of healing and are also used for medicinal purposes. This is a simple wedding tradition and has deep significance. During the wedding ceremony, both families will exchange these nuts. The significance of doing so is easy to tell, since the kola nuts are a symbol of healing, what the families seem to be telling each other is that they will always heal the differences amongst themselves. Additionally, it tends to mean that the love both families share is greater than any difficult times. To help the newly married couple remember, the nuts are then collected and given to the bride and the groom to keep in their home. The nuts in their homes are a reminder of this tradition and help them stay true to their promise.
7. Money Dance
Also called money spray, this tradition is fun and exciting. Very simple, the bride and groom dance to the song of their choice, and the wedding guests toss some money at them. The money is then gathered or collected, and used to assist the wedding events or is utilized towards the couple’s honeymoon plans. And for the wedding guests, tossing some money is a way to send their blessings, share happiness and give something to the newly married couple. In African-American weddings, African music is a big thing, so you could use that as your first dance song. Additionally, you can also incorporate some traditional dance steps into your first dance, to make it more authentic.
8. Knocking on the Door
Earlier, knocking on the door was followed in a strict sense. However, in today’s time, it may not be practiced that way, but some remnants of the tradition are still practiced. So, earlier, the groom would visit the bride’s home, knock at the door and ask the parents for the bride’s hand in marriage. However, in modern times, this tradition is usually just a part of the wedding day celebrations, and mostly has a fun twist to it just to get the day’s events started. Most couples usually use this tradition to fulfill their wedding traditions only. You can make this a fun event for your day, and have your bridesmaids and groomsmen included as well. You can also take some photos of the tradition; this will look amazing in your wedding photo book along with the other lovely wedding photos.
Bonus: Communion
In African-American communities and even in African culture, the Church and religion have played an important role in their lives and communities. Hence, it only makes sense to add this as a bonus point. If you’re throwing your wedding ceremony in a church or have a church altar to seal your wedding, then you can use this tradition! Similarly, communion is a big part of the community and is a great way to honor your heritage at your wedding!
That said, these are only a few traditions that we mentioned. There are many others as well. However, we thought of mentioning some of the most interesting ones. You can read about these, and probably add one of these to your wedding celebrations. As it is with many other traditions and cultural backgrounds, African-American traditions honor and symbolize a variety of different aspects of life, which makes these traditions exceptionally deep. The aim of most of these traditions is to bring different people, and families together. Before deciding which tradition to follow for your wedding ceremony, be sure to discuss it with your partner. You and your partner should sit down and have a chat about the traditions you’d like to incorporate into your wedding and choose one together. After all, the wedding is not just yours, but theirs too. Decisions, especially such as these, should come after weighing what resonates with you and what resonates with them, and then figuring out which one works for both of you.
