WV PICKS – Weddings
More and more African-American couples are breaking away from old wedding traditions to incorporate African inspired attire and rituals on their wedding day. Finding the perfect attire and equipment for an Afrocentric style wedding can be a daunting task since there is not a lot of information out there for couples who truly want to make a special cultural statement on one of the most important days of their lives. But all is not lost! Below are some of the best books and guides written for those who want to add an Afrocentric way of saying, �I DO� on their special day.
The Afrocentric Bride: A Style Guide
by Therez Fleetwood (Author), Yvonne Rose (Editor), Editor-In-Chief, The Knot Carley Roney (Foreword)
Amber Books
0972751912
$16.95; Paperback
This is the nation’s #1 African-American bridal book. This internationally acclaimed styling guide for brides of color has shown thousands of women how to successfully present their PERFECT WEDDING DAY.
Jumping the Broom, Second Edition: The African-American Wedding Planner
by Harriette Cole
Owl Books
0805073299
$20.00; Paperback
Jumping the Broom is newly revised for the twenty-first century. The bestselling�and the first�comprehensive wedding guide written and designed expressly for African Americans, it presents everything you need to know to plan an event that is truly an expression of your personal style and heritage.
Going to the Chapel: From Traditional to African Inspired, and Everything in Between–The Ultimate Wedding Guide for Today’s Black Couple
by Signature Bride Magazine (Editor)
Berkeley Publishing Group
0425176509
$16.95; Paperback
The experts at Signature Bride magazine offer hundreds of options to make wedding-day dreams come true-with inspiring advice on everything from preparing a budget to picking out a bridesmaid’s dress. This book offers many helpful ideas…with a smart style and a lively tone. It gives warm and witty advice on how to make the very best of your special day.
The Nubian Wedding Book: Words and Rituals to Celebrate and Plan an African-American Wedding
by Ingrid Sturgis
Three Rivers Press
0609801856
Paperback
Reminiscent of Jumping the Broom but with more historical background and more detailed and practical suggestions, this comprehensive guide to planning an Afrocentric wedding features: ceremonies, vows, toasts, wedding prayers, libations, recipes, suggestions for Afrocentric gift giving, and anecdotes from couples about their experiences with weddings reflecting their own rich heritage.
Vows : The African-American Couples’ Guide to Designing a Sacred Ceremony
by Harriette Cole, George Chinsee (Photographer)
Simon & Schuster
0684873133
$20.00; Hardcover
In her new book, Vows, Cole turns her attention to the heart of the special day: the wedding ceremony. With everything that is involved in planning a wedding, it is easy to get so caught up in all the details of the celebration that you lose sight of the significance of what you are actually doing — committing to make a life together. In this beautiful volume, Cole gives you the guidance and inspiration you need to focus your energy on the spiritual and sacred aspect of your wedding day.
African-American Wedding Readings (Paperback)
by Tamara Nikuradse (Editor)
Plume Books
0452280230
Paperback
A beautiful treasury drawn from prose, poetry, and song, African-American Wedding Readings offers a complete range of selections for every significant nuptial moment. From the proposal, bridal shower, and rehearsal dinner to the actual ceremony, wedding toasts, and the honeymoon, excerpts from a wide variety of sources supply the perfect words to express joy, exuberance, and romance. Drawing from the Bible, prose and poetry from both past and contemporary writers, as well as actual love letters originally penned by prominent African-Americans, Tamara Nikuradse provides inspiration for brides and grooms, wedding party members, parents and clergy–anyone wishing to commemorate a wondrous event with the best possible words.
The African Roots Of Jumping The Broom
by Tolagbe Ogunleye
Xlibris Corporation
1413458157
$16.99; Paperback
This book examines the matrimonial practice known as Jumping the Broom from an African-centered perspective and dispels the myth of a Gypsy origin of this ritual. Ogunleye traces this custom�s foundations to Africa and demonstrates that it was the Africans who migrated to the British Isles during antiquity who created and initially practiced this nuptial. Ogunleye situates this custom within earlier matrimonial rites and measures to safeguard marriages and family abodes. She illustrates that this tradition�s roots are discernible in the cosmologies, moral codes of conduct, religious beliefs, and proscriptions of the ancient Khamites (Egyptians), Nubians, Khoisan, Twa, and Yoruba.
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