Who doesn’t love a good wedding? The music, company of good people, food and drinks, gifts and the celebration of a happy couple are all things that make weddings enjoyable. Every culture celebrates weddings in different ways. Each tradition is unique and beautiful and showcases how diverse the world’s cultures are. And at Day Translations, we’re exploring wedding traditions in all shapes and sizes!
Today we want to highlight weddings done the Caribbean way. Caribbean wedding traditions are a combination of African, European and American traditions. From the ceremony to the reception, let’s explore some of the many wedding traditions nestled within the Caribbean.
Jamaican Wedding Ceremony Traditions
Did you know that Jamaica is one of the most sought after countries for destination weddings? Here’s one Jamaican wedding tradition we bet you never knew; the cake is one of the most important components of the wedding reception. It’s not just any cake however, traditionally, Jamaican wedding cakes are known as fruit cake or Jamaican black cake. And, it better not be served without a good amount of rum in it.
Traditional Jamaican wedding cakes are steeped with rum, moist and flavorful as they contain dried fruit that has been soaked in rum for a year or more. The cake is also the last thing to make an appearance at the wedding reception and is covered by a veil to keep it hidden until it is ready to be cut.
Traditionally, weddings in Jamaica take place in a church. But in recent times, more and more weddings have shed the four walls of a building and are done outside in beautifully decorated gardens or by the sea, which we might add has become extremely popular.
With the captivating beauty of Jamaica, consider making your post-wedding celebration equally enchanting by exploring great offers for honeymoons in Jamaica. Experience the magic of this tropical paradise and create lasting memories as you begin your journey as a married couple.
Cuban Wedding Celebrations
The customary money dance, in which each man who dances with the bride pins money to her dress to aid with honeymoon costs, is performed by wedding guests during Cuban wedding celebrations. This engaging, extremely lucrative practice is also a tradition in several regions of the southern United States, Poland, and Greece.
Puerto Rican Wedding Traditions
The traditional flower used in Puerto Rican weddings is called amapola, or poppies. Amapola is used to fill bridal bouquets because of its stunning and vivid colors. They might also include flamboyán, margaritas, and any of the various Puerto Rican Orchid species. Although they can select between silk or real flowers, the maid of honor and bridesmaids may also wear Amapola flowers in their bouquets.
A hand fan may also be included with bouquets. The older, wealthier women might have multiple fans that they could match to the color of their dress. Fans used to be a traditional component of Puerto Rican women’s attire.
Haitian Wedding Cake and Customs
A traditional Haitian wedding ceremony can last up to three hours, depending on where the wedding is conducted. The average Catholic wedding lasts 60 minutes, which is a stark contrast to this.
Church weddings include sermons from the pastor officiating the ceremony as well as performances by multiple church choirs. During the event, friends and family members can offer to share some poems as well. It is truly a family affair when it comes to Haitian weddings.
Dominican Wedding Traditions
The church is typically not segregated into bride or groom sections in Dominican wedding customs, allowing visitors to sit wherever they choose. The bride’s mother typically enters the church first, followed by the groom. The father of the groom then makes his entrance, followed by the mother of the bride.
A sizable crowd (witnesses) will approach the altar after the wedding ceremony. Witnesses are usually family and close friends. Following this, the newlyweds will leave the church first, so don’t try to meet them outside by throwing confetti, flower petals, rice, or birdseed. Instead, guests move on to the reception and meet the bride and groom there.
Wrapping Up Wedding Day Quirks from the Caribbean
The Caribbean is filled with serene beaches, colorful dialects, beautiful people, and remarkable island vibes. Caribbean weddings are memorable celebrations with varying cultural traditions. Each Caribbean island adds its own twist to wedding ceremonies and receptions. However, the one thing that remains consistent is that Caribbean people know how to arrange beautiful weddings and festive receptions. No wonder there are so many destination weddings here on a yearly basis. In some Caribbean countries, you have to book at least a year or more in advance at certain locations if you want to have your wedding there.
Are you fascinated by Caribbean culture? How about other cultural wedding traditions around the world? At Day Translations we pride ourselves on our ability to embrace and indulge in different traditions.
Of course, our strong point is languages. We offer professional and efficient language services from traditional translation to interpretation and even localization. We cater to whatever your personal or business needs are. Contact us today to make a real connection with the rest of the world. Our team is available to help 24/7.