Tamara & Antoine
Traditions Observed
Pouring of the Sands
Unity.
The unity sand ceremony is a tradition in which a couple pours sand from separate vessels into a unified, central one. It represents two people coming together in marriage.
God’s Knot/Cord of 3 Strands
Bride. Groom. God.
This ceremony idea comes from Christian tradition, based on Ecclesiastes 4:12: "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Each individual strand of the braid represents the bride, groom, and God. Together they represent the unending bond and strength between the three. During the ceremony, the groom traditionally holds a ring securing the three strands, while the bride braids them.
Jumping the Broom
Honoring the Ancestors
Jumping the broom is a traditional act performed at some Black weddings. After vows are exchanged, the newlyweds hold hands and jump over a broom to seal the union. Because enslaved Africans generally had no legal right to marry before the Civil War, they saw jumping the broom as a symbolic way to recognize their unions.