African American Cake Toppers – A Celebration of Heritage

african5.jpgAfrican American cake toppers honor a couple’s ancestors by incorporating a touch of heritage into their wedding day.  By celebrating a couple’s roots, the family can truly honor their lifelong commitment as the bride and groom as they embark on their new lives together.  Adding African American cake toppers enhances the meaningful rituals, colorful attire and elaborate costumes for a true celebration of love and heritage.

Many African American weddings incorporate vibrant, strong colors such as red, black and green into the wedding décor and attire.  Other colors and patterns often used include gold and paisley.  Various fabrics and garments are worn to express African American heritage.   With over 1,000 tribes existing in Africa, the customs and traditions vary greatly.  However, there are some traditions that remain a mainstay during most traditional African American weddings today.

Exhilarating Song and Dance

interraccial2.jpgOften African American weddings feature gospel music to uplift the guests’ spirits along with a native drummer to match the music during the ceremony.  Dance is another important element during the wedding.  African dancers may even walk down the aisle before the bride so she can make a dramatic entrance to her big day.  The cake cutting ceremony is another traditional ritual during every wedding reception.  Including African American cake toppers adds to the excitement and ethnicity in the air.  Interchangeable ethnic bride and grooms cake toppers dance atop the wedding cake to perfectly top off the theme of the day.

Special Fabrics with a Story

Special fabrics are often used for African American wedding garments, which may include tunic style gowns and elaborate headdresses.  A popular fabric used in these weddings is Kente cloth, often used in West Africa.  This unique fabric contains a weave and patterns that represent different symbols so the garment actually tells a story.  Various symbols have their own meaning, such as the Adrinka symbols that represent strength and unity.  Couples can choose symbols that reflect their relationship and personal preferences best.

The fabric that weaves a couple’s relationship often has its own interesting and amusing stories.  These romantic and whimsical moments can be personified with unusual African American cake toppers.  For couples who enjoy fishing together, the gone fishing mix and match cake toppers really take the cake in a completely new direction.  The bride is shown holding a fishing rod and catching the groom by the seat of his pants.  Another funny couple that brings special times to life is the comical couple with the groom taking the plunge.  With so many reluctant grooms, this terrific cake topper shows a bride catching the falling groom who is getting ready to take that plunge.

Jumping the Broom

african6.jpgA popular tradition at African American weddings is jumping the broom, which represents welcoming the new and sweeping away the old.  Usually the ceremony is done at the end of the wedding ceremony or during the reception.  All the guests gather around the happy couple and a broom is placed on the floor in front of them.  A close family member or friend narrates the history of the custom and explains the joining of two lives, with the need for support from everyone in their community.  As the narrator speaks, the couple holds the broom and sweeps it in a circle together until the story is over.  The broom is placed on the floor and the couple holds hands while the guests count to three then they jump over the broom together.

Cutting the cake is another way couples represent starting a new life together by feeding one another. 

Having monogrammed African American cake toppers featuring the couple’s initials is a personalized way to celebrate the moment.  Brushed silver monogram cake toppers add a touch of elegance to the wedding cake while jeweled monogram cake toppers bring a little bling to the day.  Both look fabulous in all the wedding photos and videos.

African American weddings are an exciting, colorful celebration of a couple’s love and commitment. Romantic garb, passionate dance, throbbing drums and meaningful rituals make weddings even more memorable.  Adding African American cake toppers shows dedication to heritage and detail for a perfect beginning to married life.

Stephanie About Stephanie

Hi, I am Stephanie Clark, the sister of Jennifer who also writes for this website. I hope you get the best information here with us and I will try to do my best to help decide on your wedding accessories and plan your wedding. I'd love to hear from you.

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