Traditions
For many couples, it is the allure of the tropical climate, stunning scenery and vibrant culture that makes Jamaica the ideal destination wedding location. For such couples, nothing short of paradise is an appropriate backdrop for their most perfect union.
Fabulously, Jamaica is not only beautiful but has a rich culture infused with wedding traditions which reflect the country’s African and European heritage. For destination brides who opt to wed in Jamaica, the option to incorporate these traditions into their wedding is another way to make their wedding unique and memorable.
Planning
Building the Venue
As with raising children, secure and healthy marriages are considered as much the responsibility of the community as the couple. To this end, the construction of the venue is a community endeavour.
Prior to the wedding, the men of the community construct a marquee using coconut boughs. The groom is forbidden from participating in the construction of the structure, but obliged to supervise the work and subject to many taunts and jokes! The construction of the marquee is an all day event, accompanied by food and music.
Selecting the Goat
Curried goat is a staple on the menu of traditional Jamaican weddings. The prospective bride and groom select the family who owns the herd from which the goat to be eaten will be taken. The choice – which signifies trust and ‘good vibes’ – is of great significance and often fuels much gossip! Once chosen, a kid from the herd is isolated and tended on the bride’s familial land.
Dresses
A piece of lace from the bride’s mother’s wedding gown is typically incorporated into the bride’s gown, which, along with those of the bridesmaids, is made by a local seamstress. It is from the bride’s wedding gown that her children’s christening gowns are made.
Cakes
The wedding cake is of great significance in the Jamaican culture. Traditionally, the Jamaican wedding cake is a fruit cake laced with a dizzying amount of rum. As soon as the engagement is announced, it is the responsibility of the grandmother of the groom to soak dried fruit in white overproof rum for the duration of the engagement. The grandmother or mother of the bride then bakes the cake a week before the wedding. It is then carried to the venue, in a procession led by the matriarchs of the village, on the morning of the wedding.