How to plan an African Inspired Wedding on a Budget
Many African American couples like the idea of incorporating their heritage into their wedding nuptials. Depending upon the region in Africa from which their ancestors hail, African traditions concerning weddings can vary greatly. In order to create the perfect African Inspired wedding on a budget for both individuals, it would benefit a couple to sit down with one another and discuss what traditions and customs they would like to incorporate into their wedding.
Traditional African Food menu: There are many methods in which wedding traditions can be used. For example, the wedding cake and/or the reception’s cuisine could be prepared by a professional chef or catering company who specializes in these types of foods. If the couple is on a budget, then they could enroll in a cooking course together to learn how to prepare traditional African food themselves. Another wedding idea is to include African inspired wedding backdrops and to have the wedding party attired in traditional African attire. Similarly, guests attending the wedding could be asked to arrive in traditional African costumes or ceremonial outfits.
African themed wedding decorations: Incorporating African inspired decorations for your wedding can begin with the creating invitations that are made for guests. Creating stationary that is inspired by African tribal designs will reflect the theme of a couple’s wedding in a tasteful manner. When it comes to determining the décor of an African themed wedding, wedding backdrops can be created from a variety of different items. For example, the addition of sweeping ferns and palm fronds to the décor of the reception site can be reminiscent of the coastal tribes of Africa. Furthermore, for those who are operating within limited monetary means, it will allow them to divert their money towards other wedding operations. Other authentic touches can include the incorporation of wooden African masks, mosquito netting, and 19th century colonial furniture. African tribal prints can also be used in the decoration as tablecloths, upholstery, or any other number of manners.
African wedding ceremony: When it comes to an African wedding ceremony , there are numerous ways that a person can incorporate African traditions into their ceremony. A couple might want to consider having a designer create customized African wedding outfits for their ceremony. During the ceremony, parents, grandparents, and other attending elders can be honored through the readings of prayers and libations. Additionally, local African drummers or dancers could be hired to lend cultural rhythms to one’s festivities. One wedding tradition that is practiced in many different parts of Africa is the “Circle of Love”. This is a literal creation of a circle, involving the attendants and guests of the wedding. It is symbolic in the fact that it creates a single unit, which the married couple has now become.
The limitations are endless when it comes to planning an African inspired wedding on a budget! I hope this article helped you get inspired in the planning of your wedding.
Images: J Kim Photography
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This is a great article. I was really glad to come across it. Yes, it is true that more and more couples of African descent are either celebrating or looking to celebrate their heritage in their wedding ceremonies. As you have pointed out so well, there are many different ways to do this and hopefully more and more couples will adopt some of these suggestions in their ceremonies.
Thank you! 🙂
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