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It's true that Caribbean weddings borrow from the traditions and customs of U.S. wedding traditions. However, Caribbean heritage draws from African and European tradition, which means they have some customs of their own. Caribbean weddings have many unique elements.
One popular tradition is for the bride and groom to don their very finest clothes, and walk from the home to the church. This serves as a way to announce the wedding and to celebrate the occasion. Members of the community will line the streets as the couple comes by, admiring the duo. Most guests are invited to the wedding via word-of-mouth, and it isn't unusual for guests to "crash" the wedding; invitations aren't traditionally required in the Caribbean!
Ceremonies are often comprised of Catholic, Mayan and African elements. It is traditional that the bride's father or parents take the bride down the aisle. Surprisingly, Island weddings don't have a best man. The ceremony is capped off with a reception, often punctuated by beautiful steel-drum island music.
Traditional Caribbean wedding gifts include quilts and hand-made furniture. Caribbean wedding presents are often hand-made, the gifts reflecting the gorgeous handiwork of talented island artisans.
When attending a reception dinner in the Caribbean islands, be prepared to eat delicious curried goat or spicy chicken jerky. Often those dishes will be punctuated with fried plantains and conch fritters. The food has definite island flair, and really emphasizes that special island ambiance.
Caribbean wedding cakes are unlike any other; they're unique to the islands. It's called the "Black Cake" which has a beautiful tradition associated with it. Mothers pass the recipe to daughters, and the daughter is charged with improving the recipe in some way. The idea is that each successive generation makes the recipe more delicious.
The basics of the cake are always the same: a pound of flour, brown sugar, butter, glazed cherries, currants, prunes, raisins, and 12 fresh eggs. ~ The cake has a delicious hard rum sauce, and the fruits are often left soaking in rum anywhere from 2 weeks to an entire year.
After the wedding is over, the couple goes on a kind of honeymoon. Usually, the groom provides a secluded place to stay, or the couple travels to a nearby island. Once their week of seclusion is over, they return home to begin life as a married couple.
About this Author
Elizabeth is a freelance writer who loves to travel. Her latest travels took her to see beautiful San Juan. To learn more about destination weddings in Puerto Rico, visit http://www.weddingsinpuertorico.org/
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