Jamaican wedding traditions

[Spazz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerzzygirl I actually had a small wedding reception Jamaican style. I have an uncle who is from Jamaica but his son and brother both still live in Jamaica. They arranged a street party wedding reception for us as a surprise. My uncle rented a bus and brought us all to his friends house in boscobel the day after our wedding. They had a goat and a pig roasting, bread fruit, over proof rum and rice. They set up music outside, blocked the street off with tables and they gave us a traditional jamaican style reception. It was very interesting and very sad at the same time. Sad because of how some people have to live but they make the best of it. I fell in love with some of the children and I actually want to find a way to mail gifts to these kids. Everyone in the neigborhood just showed up. They didnt know who we were, but they welcomed us with open arms. And when they told me how the groom gives the bride the cake I didnt want to do that and I said Ewww they insisted and it wasnt as bad as I thought.

That's really great that they did that for you. What a cool way to experience Jamaica!

[starchild]

Jerzzygirl your local reception sounds like the most fun!! That's awesome!!

[boscobel]

Jerzzygril - that sounds awesome!! I am glad you had such a great time!

[jmhein]

They serve rum punch for free to all wedding guests after the ceremony at the Riu Ocho Rios! So that's a tradition I'll be incorporating!

[PrecisePlans]

My parents are both from Jamaica. They both grew up very poor and could not afford a wedding, so they wed at a friends home. My mom did not have a "standard" wedding dress. She wore a dress that she had already had in her closet which was pink and my dad wore a pants with a blazer.

 

From what i gather, there really aren't any traditions out of the ordinary that I know of other than the "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, etc....and the rum cake (which i don't like).

[Jerzzygirl]

It was a lot of fun, and on our way there we drove through ferngully and that was so cool too.

[snow88]

My wedding planner put the lifting of the veil from the cake on my program but since his mother is deceased and my mother is unable to attend, I'm not sure who would do it.

 

The cake lasts for a very long time.  After all, we are supposed to keep it for a year for good luck. I love the cake.

 

 I don't know about the mailing part never heard of that but here everyone shows up at your wedding and reception and guests take leftover food home covered with aluminum foil or extra plates.

 

Never heard of the ridiculing but it is quite common here for people to comment on what everyone is wearing.  That's the reason that I wanted to have my wedding in Jamaica.  lol!

[sonyaj]

Thanks for bumping this thread. Interesting read. I'll be incorporating the Jamaican tradition of rum into our wedding!!

[jenandmark]

Very interesting...rum is a must...an possibly the cake too! 

[JB321]

It's beautiful that in any culture, a wedding always brings people together!