A wedding is a tradition in and of itself, but within the wedding ceremony there are many opportunities for couples to connect with their heritage, history and family values or traditions.
We love seeing many of these traditions carried on and included in modern ceremonies held at Historic Venue 1902.
For those new to our blog, welcome to Historic Venue 1902. We are a Florida based wedding venue and we love to offer ideas- tips and information that can help engaged couples throughout the planning process. From knowing
what we offer at Historic Venue 1902 to actual wedding day inspiration, we always strive to provide a wide range of content. As the opening paragraph alluded to, this week’s blog is going to focus on wedding traditions and the rich heritage of them and how you can add them to your wedding day.
Have you ever wondered about certain wedding traditions? Where did they originate and why they are done? The first tradition we would love to share, is the tradition of jumping the broom after a Wedding Ceremony. “Jumping the Broom” has roots deep in African centered Culture; its original purpose was to represent the joining of two families. It was a symbol of sweeping away the old and welcoming in the new. During the time of slavery, slaves were not allowed to practice many of their traditions and because of these circumstances many of their traditional rituals were lost. However, a few were considered harmless and “Broom Jumping” was one of them. During this time, they used the practice of Jumping over the Broom as their way to give legitimacy to their Union and connect them to their homeland. Today “Broom Jumping” is a ritual, handed down from generation to generation to remind African Americans of a time when they were not allowed to legally marry. This is done at the end of the ceremony as a way to pay tribute to their history. I asked two of our Venue 1902 Couples what it meant to them: Zenda and Terrell were married last September and shared these thoughts about their experience. " The broom we used was decorated and designed by my step-mom and the practice of jumping the broom was passed down generation to generation from my family. My parents were truly instrumental in ensuring we kept with this tradition." Melissa and Donnell shared this: "To us jumping the broom means many things. It was representing a leap into a new life and sweeping away our past, our single lives, problems and concerns, leaving all of the bad history in the past. "the straw represents family and the handle represents faith. The ribbon they placed on their broom represents the binding of the two. The flowers represented beauty and fertility and the growth that would occur as they go forward together."
Jumping the Broom FAQs
When does jumping the broom happen in the ceremony?
After exchanging vows and saying, “I do,” the officiant will either provide a prayer, poem, or a brief explanation of the meaning of jumping the broom, explains Harris. The broom is then placed on the ground and the newlyweds jump over it.
Who places the broom on the ground?
There is no traditional person who takes on this role. However, a couple may choose a significant person to take on this responsibility.
Where does the broom come from?
The broom can be a family heirloom that is passed down through generations. It also can be purchased or be made by the couple, family members, or someone significant to the couple. Brooms can be bought at a craft store and decorated.
What does the broom look like?
The broom is not the typical household tool that you have in your home. It is usually three feet long and has a wooden handle with natural bristles. According to Harris, most brides customize their brooms. The broom typically has silk ribbons, flowers, intricate beading or lace. Some couples have guests write their names on decorative paper to attach to the broom before being used in the ceremony. This symbolizes the guests and their well-wishes for the couple entering a marriage.
What do you do with the broom after the wedding?
Many couples save the broom as a keepsake from their wedding or pass it down to future generations. When the wedding is over, hang the broom as a beautiful decoration and symbol of your union in your home.
"Broom Jumping" today is also practiced by other groups including different religions around the world with slight variations. We love having traditions shared with us, as our Bride's and Groom's add their personal and family traditions. These traditions add to the rich history of Historic Venue 1902 as each of our couples leave with us after they have said I do at Venue 1902!
Are you ready to start wedding planning?
We hope we have offered you some insights into these special wedding day traditions. Historic Venue 1902 believes everyone deserves a beautiful wedding day. we offer three different packages and weekday pricing along with our flexible catering options to accommodate the budget of any couple. Venue1902 is conveniently located just outside of Orlando in the beautiful Historic district of Sanford. We have been honored and privileged to host hundreds of weddings
and celebrate so much love, We would love to show you everything Venue 1902 has to offer. To Schedule a tour you can text or call 407-986-8600. In the meantime feel free to check out our Instagram page and see the many reasons you too should say I do at Historic Venue 1902!
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