Learn All About Bahamian Wedding Traditions
A Bahamian garden park
Do you plan on getting married in the Bahamas and want to learn more about their wedding traditions? Does your family hail from or live in the Bahamas, and you want to honor your ancestors and family at your very own wedding? Regardless of your reasoning, we have the Bahamian wedding traditions covered.
Bahamian traditions have been influenced by European, African, and Indigenous influences throughout many decades and centuries. In most ways, Bahamian weddings are very similar to American weddings.
But there are a few traditions that make these wedding ceremonies and celebrations unique. Whether you choose to honor Bahamian wedding traditions on the islands or in another country, we’ll download you on everything you need to know.
Unique Bahamian Wedding Ceremony Traditions
A Dime in the Bride’s Shoe - On the day of the wedding, a dime is placed in one of the shoes the bride is wearing to walk down the aisle. The dime is thought to bring prosperity and wealth to the soon-to-be-married couple.
Wedding Cake Crumbs Cannot Fall - When eating or cutting wedding cake, you should take great care not to allow wedding cake crumbs to fall on the floor. It’s believed that if they do, the marriage’s longevity will suffer.
Sprinkling White Rum - It’s tradition to sprinkle a small amount of white rum on the ground outside to honor family and friends who are no longer with you. By sprinkling the white rum, everyone can celebrate with you, even if they aren’t physically there. Additionally, this tradition is also thought to ward off evil spirits.
The Bride’s Veil - Although most brides wear a veil, the Bahamian wedding tradition of a veil is done a little differently. Tradition dictates that the bride wears a veil covering her face down the aisle. Her face remains covered until the wedding ceremony has been completed. This tradition represents modesty and complete emotional dedication to one’s partner.
The Bouquet Toss - Unlike in American weddings, bouquets should be thrown directly to another person without touching the ground. It’s said that if your bouquet touches the ground or is destroyed in any way, your husband will be unfaithful to you.
Bridesmaids Wear White - A completely taboo idea in most countries is an essential value for Bahamian weddings. Bridesmaids should wear white attire during the wedding. This confuses any evil spirits nearby, so they cannot identify who the bride is.
Where Are Bahamian Weddings Traditionally Held?
Many Bahamian wedding ceremonies are held on the beach. They usually take place in the evening time, around sunset, or earlier on in the day before the afternoon. A sunset wedding creates dreamy backdrops for photos. Holding the ceremony before or after the mid-day point shields the couple and guests from the most extreme temperatures of the day.
If a beach doesn’t fit your wedding theme, but you want to choose a traditional Bahamian location, wedding ceremonies are also held in churches and hotels as well.
Bahamian Food and Music Wedding Traditions
An outdoor Bahamian feast
Music Traditions
The Junkanoo - This tradition involves musicians wearing colorful costumes and masks and performing a “Junkanoo”. A “Junkanoo” is a special concert that gets the guests in the mood to party and celebrate a wedding.
Most Bahamian weddings use steel pan or reggae-style music to turn up the party. Some popular Bahamian wedding music artists include Iron & Wine, Rosi Golan, The Paper Kites, and Odessa.
If you aren’t a huge fan of this style of music, you are always able to use other styles or just hire a DJ.
Food Traditions
Seafood, fruits, chicken, and alcohol are the largest influence on Bahamian wedding foods. If you plan on incorporating Bahamian foods into your wedding, add some of these items to your menu:
Jerk meats, such as Jerk Chicken and Jerk Pork
Fish, such as Tilapia and Salmon
Seafood, like scallops, lobster, and crab
Plantains
Coconut and other tropical fruits
Rum and champagne
Cassava
The Bahamian Wedding Cake - “Black Cake”
The Black Cake is a large mixed fruit cake that is soaked in rum for about six months. When it gets near the wedding day, you bake the cake and prepare it for the couple and the wedding guests. Many say that once baked, this cake has a pudding-like texture.
The Black Cake recipe is usually passed down through generations. But, if this type of cake doesn’t fit you and your partner, feel free to purchase or bring your own wedding cake.
The Bahamas is a beautiful place full of rich traditions and a vast love for ancestors and friends. Honoring your ancestors is always noble and allows you to incorporate your culture into your marriage as well.
If you plan on utilizing these Bahamian wedding traditions in the Bahamas, why not stay a little longer and plan a honeymoon? The Bahamas is a beautiful place for a honeymoon on a budget.