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African American fashion, dating, hair care and more. |
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Did you know? A New York couple enjoys marrying each other so much they have taken their vows 55 times in different locations, including all American states.
TakeawaysAsk your guests to wear traditional African attire.Include a page in the wedding program explaining the meaning of any ethnic customs in your wedding.Some customs have religious significance and should not be arbitrarily added to just any ceremony.Weddings are a perfect time for African-American couples to celebrate their heritage. Although successfully integrating ancient African traditions into a contemporary wedding is not a simple matter to be undertaken lightly, the effort will result in a unique ceremony that combines American values and resources with ethnic culture and pride.
Many African-Americans feel that incorporating some elements of their heritage into the wedding and reception is an important (and essential) facet of the planning process. But how do you go about deciding which customs to include and which to forego? Do you have a traditional Yoruban wedding ceremony in mind, complete with a priest? Or would you prefer to honor your ancestors and your homeland with just a few symbolic touches?
When planning African-inspired nuptials, it’s important to spend adequate time thinking about the “big picture,” i.e., the overall vision you have of your special day. This will greatly facilitate the process of seamlessly blending elements of your heritage into your wedding celebration. Sit down with your fiancé to brainstorm ideas for the wedding. Make a list of what each of you has in mind for the wedding and reception, and what is most important to you.
You might need to seek advice and ideas from your elders, who are your best links to the past. Parents and grandparents will be able to give you information on not only some of the old African traditions you may not even be aware of, but how to best update them or meld them with a Western ceremony. Some customs will be relatively easy to incorporate into a contemporary wedding, while others have specific religious significance that ought not be arbitrarily added to a ceremony of a different faith. Some traditions have been forsaken altogether in modern times, while others have endured even though their underlying significance has changed.
If you are unfamiliar with the elements of an African-inspired wedding, you might want to hire a specialized wedding planner who can guide you through the process. There is also quite a bit of information available on the Internet. A good place to start is the Afrocentric Wedding Guide found on WeddingChannel.com. Next, discuss with religious leaders what they can do and what is not acceptable. If the religious gulf seems impossibly large and difficult to bridge, you may want to consider having two separate ceremonies. The extra research, family outreach and time it takes for this step of the wedding planning process will be immensely valuable in creating a beautiful, personalized ceremony.
Some questions to consider
Do you envision a traditional tribal ceremony or a blending of rituals? Will family and guests participate in the ceremony? What cultural elements would you like to have for the ceremony and reception?
To set the tone for your cultural celebration, you might want to create African-themed invitations, have someone design special ethnic outfits for you and your fiancé to wear, and ask your guests to wear traditional African attire. One of the simplest ways to add African elements to a wedding is with the food. Perhaps the rehearsal dinner could be a traditional African feast, or you can hire a caterer for the wedding reception who can create African cuisine.
Other ways to incorporate African elements into your ceremony are with culturally significant prayers, readings, libations and music. So that all your guests will have a greater appreciation for the ethnic customs, it’s a good idea to include a page in the wedding program explaining their meaning. Depending upon where you live, you might be able to find drummers and dancers who can add cultural rhythms to your festivities.
Regardless of which elements of your heritage you choose to incorporate into your wedding celebration, as long as you understand the traditions and their significance, they will seem genuine and meaningful. Including aspects of your culture on this momentous occasion will add to your enjoyment and excitement, and create a lifetime of beautiful, unique memories.
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