Occasionally the best “something borrowed” component of a wedding comes from a tradition steeped in dignity and celebration. “Even after the end of slavery, today, many black couples incorporate this beautiful and meaningful ritual as a way to honor those who sacrificed so much for their love and freedom!” says planner Yodit Gebreyes Endale, Founder of Favored By Yodit Events & Design on the significance of the jump the broom wedding day ritual. We spoke with the founder on the customs of this African American wedding tradition that honors their ancestors as they take their very first step into marriage.
This practice is well attested as a marriage ceremony for slaves in the Southern United States in the 1840s and 1850s who were often not permitted to wed legally. The act symbolizes a new beginning and a sweeping away of the past, and can also signify the joining of two families or offer a respectful nod to family ancestors.
—Yodit Gebreyes Endale, Favored By Yodit Events & Design