How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?

TL25

My mother is Jamaican, (I and all the kids of her siblings are first generation Americans). That being said my venue does not allow outside food and I don't care for the chef trying to put his spin on jerk chicken (no thanks)! So, therefore there will be no JA food (gasp, how dare I). There will no doubt be a bunch of reggae pumping through the speakers and aside from the wedding cake provided by the venue I can bring in a Jamaican wedding cake. Other than that, that's about all the incorporating of culture I'll be doing.
What are your plans? Tell me all about your background, I love hearing of other peoples cultures.

rowenac82

I am Guyanese, FI is Grenadian...so we will be having black cake and that's it. My mom has suggested having Ginger beer at the cocktail hour but I haven't even asked the venue. We have a "Qwe Qwe" the night before the wedding and our rehearsal lunch is at a caribbean restaurant. And of course we will be having soca and reggae music playing at the reception. 

RealHappyGal

REGGAE AND SOCA BRUNCH LIKE OP !!!!!
But, we will be having the black cake.  its a M-U-S-T must. 

Rowena !! have fun at you qwe qwe !!

TL25

Qwe-Qwe-explain more! Girl I said I LOVE hearing about other cultures, so give me more detail lol!

M1ssJ

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:63d71353-f230-44be-b950-8f2de190de76">How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]M<strong>y mother is Jamaican</strong>, (I and all the kids of her siblings are first generation Americans). That being said my venue does not allow outside food and I don't care for the chef trying to put his spin on jerk chicken (no thanks)! So, therefore there will be <strong>no JA foo</strong>d (gasp, how dare I). There will no doubt be a bunch of reggae pumping through the speakers and aside from the wedding cake provided by the venue I can bring in a Jamaican wedding cake. Other than that, that's about all the incorporating of culture I'll be doing. What are your plans? Tell me all about your background, I love hearing of other peoples cultures.
Posted by TL25[/QUOTE]
<div>
</div><div>Girl I'm half Jamaican too (half Haitian) I have been hoarding ackee in the freezer so that the chef can make an ackee and saltfish appetizer. Because its not available locally and I broke into some thetrical tears the venue agreed to let my mom bring a little cooked ackee n saltfish for them to use.</div><div>
</div><div>We are mostly leaving out our culture because its really alll about the food!  We will be having compas and reggae thoughh! We are toying with making the favors reflect us but it seemed expensive.</div><div>At his wedding my uncle had tiny blue mountain coffe bags in burlap sacks that were super cute</div><div>
</div>

TL25

An ackee and saltfish appetizer... I love that idea! You just made my mouth water lol!

Carla1019

My FI is Nigerian and we are having two buffets. One with the pounded yam, fish, egusi, meat pies, etc The other buffet is more Americanized, shrimp, pasta, spring salad, beef carving station...

We have a band that will play ole' school, mo-town and popular R&B, while the DJ will play African & Caribbean music.

At the reception we will change into the traditional African clothes.

[Deleted User]

Hey T.  great post I love hearing about cultural inclusions too.

I'm South African, he's American.  I made our theme "blending of Sugar & Spice" so I'm making favors that are a mini spice jar of peri peri mix (South African dry rub) and mini Amarula (South African creme liqueur).  Somewhere in the reception, I'm not sure where yet but, there'll be a lot of Hugh Masekela & Miriam Makeba music.   Haven't decided if I'm changing but if so, my reception dress will be native garb minus head wrap.  No authentic South African food because last I heard it was still kind of illegal to kill goats and sheep in your garage so... 

Our non continent guests just aren't ready lol.  

footballwife77

I googled but nothing came up. Whats a qwe qwe and whats in a jamaican cake?

CaseynMike

this is a really interesting post! I am just a little ol girl from Texas with all my grandparents being from Louisiana....My FI is 100% New Orleanian....My FI rides on the Ivory side of my family...My youngest daughter has blonde hair and some funny colored hazel eyes that sometime change to match what she has on....My youngest niece has blonde hair grey eyes and he is like wow...your white people really came out in them babies huh....

Soooo we won't be having any cultures to mix just going to eat some good ol cooking and secondline everywhere lol....


my niece


my daughter with my parents...my dad is the original blonde hair blue eyed baby of the family but his hair changed coal black and his eyes are hazel now...

island07b2b

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:63d71353-f230-44be-b950-8f2de190de76">How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]My mother is Jamaican, (I and all the kids of her siblings are first generation Americans). That being said my venue does not allow outside food and I don't care for the chef trying to put his spin on jerk chicken (no thanks)! So, therefore there will be no JA food (gasp, how dare I). There will no doubt be a bunch of reggae pumping through the speakers and aside from the wedding cake provided by the venue I can bring in a Jamaican wedding cake. Other than that, that's about all the incorporating of culture I'll be doing. What are your plans? Tell me all about your background, I love hearing of other peoples cultures.
Posted by TL25[/QUOTE]

My side:  Jamaica (Mom); Trinidad (Dad)  I am first generation American
The Dude:  Cajun/Creole (Baton Rouge, LA)

We will be incorporating food ( e.g. Black Cake, Jerk something or the other, Ginger Beer, Roti, Jambalaya) from all cultures as well as music.  I am doing some research on wedding traditions as well that I may incorporate. 

CaseynMike

SECOND LINE SHA!!! That is one thing you can incorporate!

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:31428b2e-f175-4386-a482-7af9d23555ec">Re: How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding? : My side:  Jamaica (Mom); Trinidad (Dad)  I am first generation American The Dude:  Cajun/Creole (Baton Rouge, LA) We will be incorporating food (Black Cake, Jerk something or the other, Ginger Beer, Jambalaya) from all cultures as well as music.  I am doing some research on wedding traditions as well that I may incorporate. 
Posted by island07b2b[/QUOTE]

TL25

Carla- A band and DJ ya wedding is gonna be lovely!
Hey T.- Hey Sultry! I'm in Jersey too!
 whats in a jamaican cake?- Never made one, however I do know that it's black and there's rum in it!

rowenac82

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:59868efd-905e-40d1-9d77-abaf2aa061bd">Re: How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding? : Girl I'm half Jamaican too (half Haitian) I have been hoarding ackee in the freezer so that the chef can make an ackee and saltfish appetizer. Because its not available locally and I broke into some thetrical tears the venue agreed to let my mom bring a little cooked ackee n saltfish for them to use. We are mostly leaving out our culture because its really alll about the food!  We will be having compas and reggae thoughh! <strong>We are toying with making the favors reflect us but it seemed expensive.</strong> At his wedding my uncle had tiny blue mountain coffe bags in burlap sacks that were super cute
Posted by M1ssJ[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>I really want to do this but YES! so expensive...:-/</div>

rowenac82

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:37cce755-e02f-4d11-bf9c-5ed29bee7021">Re: How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]REGGAE AND SOCA BRUNCH LIKE OP !!!!! But, we will be having the black cake.  its a M-U-S-T must.  <strong>Rowena !! have fun at you qwe qwe !!</strong>
Posted by RealHappyGal[/QUOTE]

<div>LOL...I CAN"T WAIT...DEM OL PEOPLE BE PUTTING IT DOWN..LOL</div><div>
</div><div>I guess I spelt it wrong, it's queh, queh....</div><div>
</div><div>I looked up a definition and here it is..</div><div>
</div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:17px;" class="Apple-style-span">A Guyanese custom that has its origins in Africa, the queh-queh is usually held a week or two before the wedding. It is a co-ed celebration of the coming ceremony that includes African dancing, drumming, and music, along with traditional songs, often sexual in nature and performed by family elders.</span></div>

rowenac82

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:6cf71db3-ae58-44d5-9aed-aac10589c6e4">Re: How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hey T.  great post I love hearing about cultural inclusions too. I'm South African, he's American.  I made our theme "blending of Sugar & Spice" so I'm making favors that are a mini spice jar of peri peri mix (South African dry rub) and mini Amarula (South African creme liqueur).  Somewhere in the reception, I'm not sure where yet but, there'll be a lot of Hugh Masekela & Miriam Makeba music.   Haven't decided if I'm changing but if so, my reception dress will be native garb minus head wrap.  No authentic South African food because last I heard it was still kind of illegal to kill <strong>goats </strong>and sheep in your garage so...  Our non continent guests just aren't ready lol.  
Posted by sultryzulu[/QUOTE]

<div>Girl please! you better have that goat meat at your wedding...</div><div>
</div><div>And yes, changing into african attire is a must:-) I can't for my nigerian friends to get married...I guess I need to find them significant others first:-)</div>

TL25

Casey- You have a beautiful family!
island07b2b- Let me know what you find during research
Rowena- Thanks for the explanation!

kaimah

My family is from West Africa. Our wedding theme is Coming to America

We will have African breads, drinks and music 

I will also change into an African dress during the reception

TL25

Coming to America is FI's favorite movie!

RealHappyGal

ISLAND !!!! Im 1/2 trini, 1/2 jamaican to !!!
 but, mom is the trini, dad is the jamaican

LSAS

We were both born and raised in Jamaica!! TL25, I'm with you, we are not having Jamaican food at our wedding, because it's a small destination wedding.  We have the black cake and music though!

I too love to hear of other cultures

TL25

What's your destination LSAS?

bsims726

My family is Panamanian so that makes us Hispanic (my generation was born in America). The food will have some spanish touches like beans, tortillas, etc but it will be mainly American. The music will of course be reggaeton, bachata, salsa, etc. One major thing we're trying to get is traditional tamborito dancers to do a performance during the reception. That's basically it because we want a nice blend of the Hispanic and American cultures.

[Deleted User]

@ T - I see you girl, we need a tristate get to gether stat!

@ Ro - you know I'm not even playing with the aunties like that. lol

BluIvory82

I am Ghanaian. My FI is American. We have an African DJ and we will be changing into traditional wear.
Carla, I want to come to your wedding. OMG that food sounds so good!

keyaira04

I have nothign to add but I love this post and learning about weddings with cultural traditions...so cool! 

CaseynMike

THANKS!!

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:56d5d92a-8d5c-42c0-bf73-8926c730a340">Re: How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]Casey- You have a beautiful family! island07b2b- Let me know what you find during research Rowena- Thanks for the explanation!
Posted by TL25[/QUOTE]

Carla1019

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:fdcd6ed4-50b6-4b53-9f7e-24ea7f5e24f6">Re: How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]I am Ghanaian. My FI is American. We have an African DJ and we will be changing into traditional wear. <strong>Carla, I want to come to your wedding. OMG that food sounds so good!
</strong>Posted by BluIvory82[/QUOTE]

Girl, come on down to H-town and see how we do it! LOL! The last 5 pounds I lost will come right back on that night.

M1ssJ

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:fae74b0c-a634-49a1-b379-92d9ebd96c95">Re: How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding? : I really want to do this but YES! so expensive...:-/
Posted by rowenac82[/QUOTE]
When we made my  uncle's it wasnt too bad but they were both Jamaican so the loose grounds in the burlap bags was perfect.<div>
</div><div>FI & I thought of A bottle of BBQ sauce and a bottle of scotch bonnet pepper sauce but again..... pricey!</div>

[Deleted User]

We're all from New Orleans and we will Second-Line and take it to the street!!

Yolie1098

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_how-will-you-be-incorporating-your-culture-into-your-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:20706458-42ca-4327-9f8d-33cb8ed8be78Post:6cf71db3-ae58-44d5-9aed-aac10589c6e4">Re: How will you be incorporating your culture into your wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hey T.  great post I love hearing about cultural inclusions too. I'm South African, he's American.  I made our theme "blending of Sugar & Spice" so I'm making favors that are a mini spice jar of peri peri mix (South African dry rub) and mini Amarula (South African creme liqueur).  Somewhere in the reception, I'm not sure where yet but, there'll be a lot of Hugh Masekela & Miriam Makeba music.   Haven't decided if I'm changing but if so, my reception dress will be native garb minus head wrap.  No authentic South African food because last I heard it was still kind of illegal to kill goats and sheep in your garage so...  Our non continent guests just aren't ready lol.  
Posted by sultryzulu[/QUOTE]

I'm over here cracking up at the "still kind of illegal to kill goats and sheep in your garage".......