How many of you are having an african style wedding?

I am! Fh and I will both be in traditional African Attire as well as our bridesmaids, mothers and aunts and anyone esle who wants to wear it! We are also jumping the broom after we get married.

That's cool! jumping the broom may be added to our wedding as well. upload pics tifferoo!

I don't have any pics that I can upload but when I do get them, I will do that!

We are having an african themed wedding too! We are getting natural color cake boxes from on this site imprinted and then hot glueing cowrie shells onto the top of the boxes. It will be so cute! We are filling the boxes with chocolate covered nuts. It's an African tradition to give nuts.
This is the pic of the boxes. I hope it shows up alright!

I like that idea Lala! What type of chocolate covered nuts are you using? Chocolate covered peanuts, almonds or pecans? Are you going to also place the nuts in a plastic bagie? What is giving nuts symbolic of in Africa?

We are doing chocolate covered almonds. Almonds symbolize fertility. I wanna get me some babies! We are lining the boxes with cupcake papers cut to fit. So when you open the box it looks pretty. No melted choclate. If it is in plastic we may not be as careful and let them get hot! lol

the nut giving tradition. you said almonds for fertility where did you get your information? thanks

Hi Michele:

A traditional almond favor consists of 5 sugared almonds placed in laces or tulles and tied and decorated with ribbons and flowers to match the colour theme of the special occasion. The 5 almonds represent health, wealth, happiness, longevity and fertility and are traditionally given to female guests at weddings as a thank you for sharing the Bride and Groom's special day and to provide guests with a lasting memento. It is now very popular to give gentlemen and children boxed favors - no one is left out these days!

I am having an African themed wedding as well. My fiance is from Nigeria.

Are you having a full african ceremony with drums too?

I'll incorporate many African themes within the ceremony- jumping of the broom, drum processional, "12 symbols of life." My fiance is Cuban so we'll also incorporate Spanish influences as well.

-Lala:

I really like your idea for favors. Didn't know of the fertility benefits of almonds! Maybe I'll put it in the cake...hmmm. I want some babies, too!

Being of African parentage (my fiance is English) we are both keen that our big day reflects the diverse cultures we come from. The wedding will be African themed in an English setting (castle in England). To add to that we are having a live African band play at the reception well for the family coming over from Zimbabwe. Prior to that we are having a traditional marriage ceremony in Zimbabwe whereby my fiance gives a bride price to thank my family for the beautiful wife they are giving him. (This is a practice that's been in place for centuries). I am so looking forward to it!

I am preparing for two african ceremonies one here in Tennessee and one in Ghana where my fiance is from.I want to include as many of his traditions in our state side wedding as I can.His mother is handling the arrangements in Ghana.If there is anyone out there that can help with Ghanian traditions I would be ever so greatfull.

I am having an African Themed wedding. For the ceremony I will have drummers. We will do the libation, jumping of the broom, and the tasting of the 5 elements of life. For our keepsakes we will give the broom refridgerator magnets to represent the jumping of the broom and five containers filled the the five elements of life.

I was just wonder what are the 5 elements, and what are the signs for it. I want a african american wedding But my husband-to-be is from honderus got any ideas

Adapted from a Yoruba tradition, the bride and groom taste flavors that represent the different emotions within a relationship: sour (lemon), bitter (vinegar), hot (cayenne), and sweet (honey), for example. This symbolizes the couple's ability to get through the hard times in life to enjoy the sweetness of marriage.

I will be having an Afican themed wedding. I'm thinking traditional bridal attire with the african accents. Like for instances, the bouquets will be wrapped with kente cloth instead of bows and ribbons. The same will be done with the aisle of the church (only were the mother of the bride and groom will be seated). If you have any ideas that can help me plz write back thanks.

Tyffany What a tasteful and elegant way to go! I like the very subtle touches like that. You should add a wedding broom as well. But keep the same soft light touches of color. Consider kente ribbon on your favors as well for a lovely touch or hot glue cowrie shells to glasses, matchbooks, cake boxes or boutonnieres!

Rosetta thank you! I was thing of giving my bridesmaids the cowie necklace and bracelets that I came across at an African store. That would be their accessories. Now I'm havin a problem with my own necklace I have a beautiful bracelet that my fiance bought for me, and it is ingraved with his, his son's, my dad,my mom, and my baby sister's (who passed away just a few months ago) name. The stones in the bracelet match with my dress perfectly. Now I need a necklace. Not yellow gold, nor white gold, but possible gold beading (like the type of beading that you would use on a wedding dress). Oh and earrings if you have any ideas can you give me a halla? thanks again.

I love the cowrie necklace and bracelet for the bridesmaids. I have to think a bit about the necklace for you. Anyway you can post a pic of the bracelet so that I can get a better idea? Or email it to Rosetta. Consider Jendayi Collection

I recently got engaged and my fiance is Nigerian. I was wondering if anyone has ideas for the two type of ceremonies that we will be having. One is in New Orleans,Louisiana and the other is in Nigeria. I was thinking of having a dinner with my family(around 80 people) that is from LA. Within the dinner I was thinking of having a ring and verse-saying ceremony. In Nigeria we will have the real type of wedding, but I do not know if I should wear an American wedding gown or the Nigerian attire for weddings.

blkbutrfly this is jus my idea but why don't you change it up. Wear the Negerian attire for the american ceremony and were the american attire in the Negerian ceremony. This gives each family to get to get a taste of both worlds.

Does anyone know if there's any significant meaning to using peanuts as favors? I wanted to use almonds for fertility also so I inquired about using dark purple (my wedding color) M&M's with almonds but they only offer plain and peanut in that color. Any suggestions???

I have a confession. I am a chocoholic. There is a website that will give you custom colors for M&M's if you like. Plus you can put greetings or even messages on them. Here it is.... http://shop.mms.com/start/index.asp?p=gp

I hope it helps.

The M&M's website is where I got the info that they don't offer the almond kind... I asked customer service if they could do dark purple almond M&M's and they said they only come in plain and peanut Thanks so much for your input though!!

Well i know its possible to get that color. I was on a website that had chocolate covered almonds with a green dye to look like olives. They only do that, but maybe if you contact them, they will give u more info on what u are looking for. http://usa.oliviersandco.com/browse.cfm/4,67.html

Does anyone know what the ceremony order is for an african themed wedding? Also, do you have to include all of the ceremoy aspects (like Feeding the Immediate Family, or Exchange of Kola Nuts)?



TIA

Thanks Sea Grape!

I hope they can do mine in purple! Thanks for the tips

blaqueplanner wrote:

Does anyone know what the ceremony order is for an african themed wedding? Also, do you have to include all of the ceremoy aspects (like Feeding the Immediate Family, or Exchange of Kola Nuts)?



TIA

I just entered an article that may help,
African Order of Service.

AFRICIAN WEDDINGS ARE SO MUCH FUN AND THE COLORS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF DOING ONE. THE GIRLS DID NOT WEAR SHOES(THEY WORE DANCE STRAPS INSTEAD) AND THEY HAD ON BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY FROM HEAD TO TOE!WE ALSO INSTEAD OF HAVIND A SHOW BOARD OF PICTURES FROM THE PAST OF THE BRIDE/GROOM, WE HAD A AFRICIAN CULTURE DISPLAY.A GREAT TOUCH IS IF YOU HAVE VISITED THE COUNTRY AND TOOK PICTURES.

Would it be too much, to light the unity candles and jump the broom?

Kia- Definately not! Both traditions are part of our heritage and symbolize two different things. If that is what you want to do, go for it. Neither take alot of time and you don't do one for the other, you may regret it later. Here is an idea. Light the unity candle at the ceremony and jump the broom when you are introduced at the reception (right before your first dance).

I'm having an Afrikan-theme wedding on May 7. We're both American but my fiance is a Pan-Afrikanist. We're having custom wedding attire made by a Nigerian designer and bridal-shop owner. The ceremony will begin with a libation and include the drinking of the wine, the Afoshe (tasting of spices,) vows in Yoruba and English. etc. Would love to have live drummers, but we're using recorded African music (small budget, and planning didn't begin until January.) Definitely a far cry from my first wedding ...

Hello, I'm new to the board and I just got engaged. My fiance is from Burkina Faso/West Africa and I would like to have an African Themed Wedding. I live in CA and he lives in Seattle and our wedding is going to Be in Virginia (July 8, 2006). Also, he is Catholic/Christian and I am Christian and no this is not a problem with us but we want to incorporate both relions in the wedding cermony and I'm lost about that.... He has never been to a wedding cermony in Africa or in America, but we are going to one of his friends wedding in August and I'm hoping this will help him. He really is being a part of the planning and organization, but some things he just doesn't get. HELP!! Our colors are shades of purple, blues and golds. I say shades because we haven't decided on the exact colors yet but we do know these will be the colors. I have found an African store in Oakland, CA that makes African dresses but Oakland is far from me and I am in the process of moving into our new condo in Seatle and starting a new job, so I am stressed already to say the least. I have booked the Church in Virginia, I'm using the "sister church" of the church that I grew up in because it will allow me to use their huge reception area for our reception. My auntie is catering, my maid of honor(my cousin is artist and a close friend of the family who will be singing/she is a song bird, but these two ladies are willing to help make or create wedding favors and that's all I have planned right now.. We did register but I need to know how to register on this site also. JUST PLEASE HELP IN ANY WAY WITH ANY IDEAS, I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL.

Rosetta wrote:

How many of you are having an african style wedding?

We are wearing african attire, the entire bridal party. What suggestions do you have for the hall?

I would keep the hall simple. With the luxurious, bold look of (and expense) most African fabrics, you want them to stand out! Pick a neutral background. One that is accented in the African with gold. You can do Purple and gold, Ivory and gold or white and gold on the walls, the aisle and arches. I would add a more dramatic table centerpiece like Moroccan lamps and Large Candles.

On the chairs you can drape Kente or mud cloth bows. Use your imagination. Africa is COLOR. It is Vibrant. Hence the name of my site, Vibrant Brides! Get more ideas Click Here.

*bump* for Sistalove