Caribbean Wedding Traditions
Weddings in the Caribbean islands sometimes borrow from American wedding traditions, but for the most part, they carry a distinct flavor all their own. For this reason, many couples come to the Caribbean islands from all corners of the globe to be married. The unique blend of European and African cultures on the islands lends to some very distinctive traditions that generally are not seen elsewhere. The traditions vary between the different islands, but most of them revolve around the same basic features. Any couple journeying from other countries to be married in the Caribbean should be prepared to participate in Caribbean traditions.
Traditionally, Caribbean Wedding invitations are sent by word-of-mouth, and only a few very special guests actually receive written invitations. However, the weddings are not as formal as in other cultures and just about any person who shows up is welcome to join in the celebration, even if they were not invited. It is common for the bride and groom to both dress in their finest clothing and walk from one of their houses to the church as everyone from the area lines up along the street to view and comment on their apparel, communicating whether they approve or disapprove. As the couple begins their walk to the church, the priest will ring the church bell to announce the wedding to the entire village.
Much like American tradition, the father of the bride, or sometimes both parents, escort the veiled bride down the aisle. The groom does not have a best man, although sometimes the bride will have a maid of honor. Since the main religion of the Caribbean islands is Roman Catholicism, the ceremony consists of elements of Catholic, Mayan, and African culture. At the end of the ceremony, the groom will lift the veil of his new wife and kiss her while the crowd looks on and celebrates.
Caribbean Wedding receptions often last through the entire night, while guests drink rum punch and ginger beer and dance to the steel-drum island music. The night is filled with toasts to good health and happiness. Any man who is lucky enough to dance with the bride pins money to her dress in order to help with the expenses of the honeymoon. The bride and groom receive a multitude of gifts, many of which are hand-made, such as quilts or furniture. It is also a custom for the bride and groom to bestow a favor on each guest so that they may always remember the joyous occasion.
The food at a Caribbean Wedding consists of traditional Caribbean food like curried goat and fried plantains. The wedding cake, however, is the center of attention at the wedding reception. It is called "Black Cake" and it is a pound cake recipe handed down by the women of each generation and improved upon to suit each recipient's tastes. "Black Cake" is composed mainly of flour, brown sugar, butter, eggs, and fruit. All of the fruit is soaked in a rum-filled crock pot for anywhere from a few weeks to a year, and the cake is served with a hard rum sauce topping. On some islands, the wedding cake is topped with a tree sapling so that the couple may plant the tree at their new home.
Traditionally, Caribbean Wedding invitations are sent by word-of-mouth, and only a few very special guests actually receive written invitations. However, the weddings are not as formal as in other cultures and just about any person who shows up is welcome to join in the celebration, even if they were not invited. It is common for the bride and groom to both dress in their finest clothing and walk from one of their houses to the church as everyone from the area lines up along the street to view and comment on their apparel, communicating whether they approve or disapprove. As the couple begins their walk to the church, the priest will ring the church bell to announce the wedding to the entire village.
Much like American tradition, the father of the bride, or sometimes both parents, escort the veiled bride down the aisle. The groom does not have a best man, although sometimes the bride will have a maid of honor. Since the main religion of the Caribbean islands is Roman Catholicism, the ceremony consists of elements of Catholic, Mayan, and African culture. At the end of the ceremony, the groom will lift the veil of his new wife and kiss her while the crowd looks on and celebrates.
Caribbean Wedding receptions often last through the entire night, while guests drink rum punch and ginger beer and dance to the steel-drum island music. The night is filled with toasts to good health and happiness. Any man who is lucky enough to dance with the bride pins money to her dress in order to help with the expenses of the honeymoon. The bride and groom receive a multitude of gifts, many of which are hand-made, such as quilts or furniture. It is also a custom for the bride and groom to bestow a favor on each guest so that they may always remember the joyous occasion.
The food at a Caribbean Wedding consists of traditional Caribbean food like curried goat and fried plantains. The wedding cake, however, is the center of attention at the wedding reception. It is called "Black Cake" and it is a pound cake recipe handed down by the women of each generation and improved upon to suit each recipient's tastes. "Black Cake" is composed mainly of flour, brown sugar, butter, eggs, and fruit. All of the fruit is soaked in a rum-filled crock pot for anywhere from a few weeks to a year, and the cake is served with a hard rum sauce topping. On some islands, the wedding cake is topped with a tree sapling so that the couple may plant the tree at their new home.
