Wedding Blog
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While many people of African descent may not incorporate African/African-American elements into every aspect of their weddings, there are many small things that brides can do to add a little cultural flair. I hope to highlight some in the next few days.
Since Mr. Swan and I are an interracial couple, I am not sure whether we’ll incorporate many of these traditions into our wedding. While I doubt we’ll be having many of these elements, don’t get it twisted. I will be incorporating my Afro-Caribbean culture in some way. I’m still doing some fine-tuning. Also, while many of these traditions come from African/African-American culture, I think there is a beautiful universal meaning that anyone from any culture can take away from these celebrations.
The first and most common cultural element that I have seen at weddings is the act of jumping the broom. Here is some information that I uncovered:
This tradition most likely originated with an African ritual in which a broom is used to demonstrate that all past problems have been swept away. During slave days, African-Americans were forbidden to marry and live together, so jumping over a broom was a formal and public declaration of the couple’s commitment. Today, it has become very popular for African-American couples to follow suit at the conclusion of their wedding ceremony. The broom, often handmade and beautifully decorated, can be displayed in the couple’s home after the wedding.
Apparently, some authors claim that jumping the room is not specifically African/African-American in origin, but it has been most connected to Black slaves in the United States.
I have to admit that I like the idea behind broom jumping. I love the notion of crossing a line into a new life together in both a metaphorical and physical way during the ceremony. Ultimately, this is what our weddings are about: A new beginning.
Are you incorporating a specific cultural element into your weddings? Does it have a specific significance to you and your future partner?
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We will be using the lasso from my mom and dad’s wedding. In the Mexican culture the Lasso is draped around the couple and a blessing is said. It is a symbol of unity and the love that binds them
The only thing right now that we are incorporating is the playing of Latin Music at the reception. It is something that both my FI and I absolutely love and so does my family.
My F and I are African America and we will be jumping the broom at our wedding. Like you, we both liked the significance of jumping the broom. No one on both sides of our families has done this tradition. So we will be the first.
My FH and I are both from Catholic families and, while we aren’t having a catholic ceremony, we are doing the Sign of Peace that is done at mass. We like the idea of our guests greeting eachother in this way and it is a nod to our cultures (not racial, but still culture!)
We are jumping the broom right after our first kiss. We’re both Black and like monni24 above, we will be the first in our family to do this tradition.
See, this is what I mean by wishing I had strong traditions that I could follow. I have some African American blood, but we just don’t do anything traditionally AA. Or anything traditional in any of my backgrounds! 
I practiced jumpin on the steps of the church this weekend 
I’m really excited about it, just nervous we won’t be able to pull it off on the steps because the Cathedral wants us to exit RIGHT away. I really want to get the picture you posted above.
We will jump the broom, all of my family has done it and I want to continue with the tradition.
I wish I had something traditional to do at our wedding. This probably sounds funny but I get jealous when I see Tea Ceremonies or Mendi Ceremonies b/c I wish so badly that I had a stronger connection to my heritage.
Thanks also for explaining the Broom Jump, I always wondered what the significance was.
I don’t know if we’re doing anything traditional to my culture but we are having the groom and groomsmen are wearing barongs (Filipino version of a tux) and doing the money dance. We’re also doing popular Filipino treats as favors. It will show/teach our guests parts of my culture, and add a personal touch. I’m excited!
We are planning on doing the apron dance and also the salted bread ceremony since I’m very Polish. I want to incorporate as many traditions as I feasibly can. Although most people have no idea where the apron dance came from, it is a Polish tradition and I can’t wait to do it!
My FH’s fam is from the Dominican Republic and I am trying to look for wedding traditions from their culture besides Catholic ones to incorporate, but it has been really difficult! I don’t know of any and his family says there are none.
We decided against jumping the broom. For some reason, I didn’t like the way it sounded or where it originated in terms of slaves being prohibited to marry and then jumping the broom in “secret” (this is always what I had heard in terms of origin).
It’s definitely all up to the individual and the meaning they take from it, though.
@darilinda - Isn’t merengue an dominican creation? Maybe you can dance to a nice merengue for your first dance?
My fiance and I are jumping the broom, even though we’re an interracial couple (he’s white, I’m African American). I have the same issue as yogigal - I don’t think we’ll be able to do it at the church - we’re getting married in a very traditional Catholic church and I think we have to get out of there right away. I was thinking of incorporating it into the reception - kind of like a second wedding! Has anyone done something like this?
I have to say again Miss Swan that I an SO happy that you’re here!
Yes, it is. We definitely are going to be dancing merengue, salsa, and bachata, but I guess I was thinking of stuff during the ceremony. I think the best we’ll do is doing are vowels in Spanish to one another. We definitely have a bilingual household and Spanish has become our language of passion (during arguments and sweet talk), so it seems only appropriate for us. Thanks Yogigal!
@Miss Lab - You know I might not be incorporating very much of anything into my wedding. We won’t be serving downhome Caribbean food because to be honest many of my guests would wonder what they were eating. I started doing this research into some of these traditions more to educate myself than anything. Sometimes it’s just nice to know what’s out there.
@MrsSl82be- your Polish traditions sound really interesting.
@Yogi & Princetonbride - you both have inspired me to ask Mr. Swan if he wants to jump the broom..hmm…
We’re interracial, but we’ll be jumping the broom. Despite its various origins, I love the symbolism and can’t imagine our wedding without it! My fiancé hadn’t really heard of that before and is excited.
I’m glad you mentioned this! I had always thought about doing it, but we’re IR as well, and I can’t really figure out how I feel about it. That, and I’m afraid of tripping!
That would be so neat if you did this for your culture and he did something from his. What a beautiful thing it is to lift up your culture.
My wedding theme is Lost Traditions…we’re doing a Hawaiian ti leaf ceremony, a hawaiian blessing, the polish salted bread ceremony, handfasting, and then (in honor of his Welsh and Celtic ties) we’re jumping the broom! (The Celts actually brought the tradition to America, but the tradition was embraced and perpetuated mostly by slaves, gypsies, and the poverty stricken.) We have passages in our program to explain each tradition (since one half of our guests won’t understand each one, LOL!)
I am going to “Jump the Broom”. I am actually making my own broom. They really cheap at Micheal’s . I was surprise to find sooooo many different broom companies online. But, because I’m trying to save money.. Micheal’s is the best option. It’s going to cost about $10!
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Mrs. Swan, New York City
Age and Occupation: 31, Legislative Representative
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Finance Guy
Engagement Date: August 9, 2008
Wedding Date: August 2009
Venue: Battery Gardens
About Me: I am an un-crafty but resourceful, Caribbean-born but New York-raised woman who's been known to analyze "Dancing with the Stars" and “So You Think You Can Dance”, buy stinky cheese, and use way too many parentheses. I keep lists for fun, am constantly daydreaming of my next international travel adventure (four continents down, three to go), debating sports (let’s Got Mets/Giants!) and dancing around my apartment to stay sane. I am excited to share our wedding planning journey as I hope to plan a streamlined, personal, and fun wedding with the greatest life partner I could ever imagine, Mr. Swan.
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