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Hi everyone,
It's always been my dream to jump the broom at my wedding. I'm African American and my fiance is white. What do you all think - can I do it even though he's white? Or would it somehow be insensitive? Thanks!
I am white and my fiance is African American. I would totally have jumped the broom if he had wanted to. If that is your dream, I think you should ask him to do it. (I would ask him privately so he can be honest if he has a problem with it though. You wouldn't want him to feel pressured one way or the other.)
I actually asked my fiance if there were any traditions he wanted to add to the ceremony. White covers a lot of groups, but you might see if there are any traditions from your fiance's heritage that you can include too.
veils_006.jpg (1079.4 KB, 117 downloads) 2 years old veils_005.jpg (1111.9 KB, 53 downloads) 2 years old 
We are incorporating a number of cultural traditions into our wedding. Some are from our cultures, but some are traditions that are meaningful to us despite not being of our cutures of origin.
Naturally, I would support jumping the broom if your fiance is ok with it. I think it is really important to discuss which cultural traditions you want to incorporate into your married and family life, so this is a perfect time to open the discussion!
If you opt to celebrate this tradition, you might want to include a brief explanation in the program re: why broom jumping is significant. On the flip side, if you want to include a traditional element, but you (or your fiance) won't be comfortable with jumping the broom, there is another tradition where the eldest family member from both families holds a ribbon (or 2 ribbons intertwined) and you walk through it as you are leaving the ceremony. This signifies that you are joining your families and entering into a life together. It would also make for a great photo op b/c more than likely it will be an elderly grandmother or grandfather on each side.
I know many interracial couples, but for the life of me I can't seem to recall if they jumped the broom after getting married. I think you might get more whispers by jumping the broom, particularly if your family is not as open about interracial marriage. Just be prepared and do what feels right. Good luck!
I think you should do it! A wedding should incorporate the unique cultures of both the bride and the groom. I only wish I had something interesting like the jumping of the broom to add to my wedding.
Wow - you're all amazing!! Thanks so much. I love the idea of explaining the tradition in the program. My fiance is totally open to the idea. Thanks again!!!
Yeah we plan on incorporating the broom jumping in our ceremony - i'm white and my fiance is african american. We will have his sister introduce the tradition to everyone and lead the audience in counting 1-2-3. You can have your broom custom made to include your wedding colors. I'm looking forward to it.
"This is a ceremony dating back to the 1600s and derived from Africa. Dating back to slave days, jumping the broom together has been part of weddings for couples who want to honor that tradition. It also has roots in the Celtic culture and including but not limited to Welsh, Celtics, Druids, and Gypsies and some aboriginal or shamanistic cultures.
Jumping the broom or in some cases jumping over an imaginary line is an African ritual, or tradition still being practiced in some parts of West Africa. Jumping the broom is not associated with slavery. Enslaved Africans, as an affirmation of their cultural heritage practiced it during slavery in North America."
Go for it! How can we change stereotypes if we hold onto old ideas of what is appropriate? You're in love, celebrate! 
Derived from: http://www.celebrateintimateweddings.com/ceremonybroom.html
Go for it! Lot's of interracial couples are incorporating traditions from both cultures.
Hispanic bride, Indian groom
Korean bride, White groom
His parents participated too.
Jewish bride, Pakastani groom
White bride, Ghanaian groom
She wanted to incorporate elements of his culture in the details. Instead of table numbers she used symbols which would be meaninful to their marriage. The one below, Nyame Dua or "Altar of God" is the symbol of God's presence and protection.
You should definitely jump the broom if it has always been your dream. Incorporating each families traditions is what makes each wedding so special and unique. Each family will be represented in the ceremony and or reception.
I think you should totally do it! Make sure to talk with your FI first -- if it's your dream though I'm sure he won't be overly opposed.
My fiance and I are jumping the broom! He is African American and I'm Filipino. I was totally stoked when he suggested incorporating this!
If it's something you want to do, talk to your groom about incorporating it! Intercultural marrages are so common now, it's so much fun when there are more traditions to be combined. Just explain the significance in your programs so your guests can appreciate it as much as you do.
When it comes time, I'm going to ask my bf about jumping the broom, I'd like to do it.
I don't see how it would be insensitive, unless it were a one-way "we're jumping the broom but I'm not stomping wine glasses!" or something like that.
I don't see it being any problem to incorporate any traditions you see fit, especially if they are ones that are in your background. You're getting married because you both love each other and because you accept each others' histories.
do whatever feels right! if you both feel it is important to incorporate this symbolic cultural ritual into your wedding, go for it! who cares if you both of you aren't "of the culture"? what matters most is what you feel is the best expression of your love for each other!
I just saw some wedding pics from my photog blog that showed an African-American bride and white groom jumping the broom. I thought it was SO sweet. I say go for it!
I agree go for it! If I weren't clumsy... I'd just might think it was cool to do lol! but alas I can see me falling...
As an african-american women, I don't think it is offensive in the least and if it is important to you, I say hands down do it. You should definitely provide a description of the symbolism of the event itself. In slave days, because blackes werer not allowed to marry, they would "jump the broom" to signify jumping into their new life together and sweeping away the old one. There is a great book on jumping the broom which explains the tradition.
I was incredibly surprised when I (an African-American woman) turned to my (Irish-American) fiancé the night we got engaged and asked him if we could jump the broom. His response (with a humongous smile was) "I was hoping you would ask! YES YES YES!" We're recessing to bagpipes to honor his cultural background as well.
Yes, do it! I think that's a great way to LITERALLY start things off on the right foot!
I love sharing traditions. My husband is Jewish and doing the Hora (the chair dance) was SO much fun.
Who cares just do it!!! My fiance is Mexican, I'm white, I speak better Spanish than he does and I go to a black church!! We'll probbaly jump the broom too lol. No, maybe not, but my pastor told me I should haha.
Just do what you want, don't worry about everyone else.
I say do what feels right for the two of you. We asked that all our guests rise and hold hands with us while reciting the Lord's Prayer. I haven't been to a wedding where this has been done. I saw something similiar on another wedding site and thought it was a special touch so we made it fit with our wedding. We also didn't do the garter or bouquet toss because we just didn't feel it was appropriate with our wedding guests (not very many single guys/girls left).
definitely go for it! the explanation to the guests is nice too b/c most people don't know the history behind it.
I totally think you should do it because it begins a life of sharing different cultural elements into your lives. My FH and I are having a Christian Orthodox wedding ceremony which is completely foreign to me, but I've taken the time to explain the ceremony to my family beforehand and they are completely ok with it. We'll also be adding elements from my background because our lives and how we raise our children will be a blend of all those cultural elements.
I also LOVE those pictures!
My fiance is white too and I'm Black and it was something he begged me to do!! lol go figure :)
I agree with the other bee's! You should definitely include things from your cultue and his or mayb oterh tradtions your families have done. Even if they haven't it's never too late to start your own traditions. I'm Hispanic and my FI is American. Some of the things we are doing is dancing our "first dance" song to a bachata song that is sung in Spanish and English. We are also havng coconut mojitos at the wedding as a signature drink since he absolutely loves mojito's. He thinks he should have been born cuban. lol
Wow I just jumped the broom we are both white I dont c how your race matters ??? it dates back to the 18th century ,, might not have all the facts here ??? insulting much?
@KTseamans: Race doesn't matter, its just more of a cultural norm for certain races
just like "soul food"
No one is saying that no one else does it. Its just more of a common thing seen in AA weddings. Its good that you and your husband jumped the broom its a wonderful symbolization to implicate after a ceremony. I've come across many who recognize the term but not the actual broom jumping after the wedding. It was something lots of slaves did to solidify their marriage since they were not necessarily afforded the luxury of church weddings. Many minorities did this in other places as well.
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Broom jumping is most famous in the United States as an African American wedding custom. During the antebellum period in the United States, slave marriages were not recognized as legal or binding. The broom jumping ritual was a symbolic act within slave communities for marriage. Many African American couples are taking back this custom and incorporating it as part of their modern ceremony. Broom jumping was not done only by slaves however, poor whites in the South and in New England, as well as Gypsies also used this marriage ritual. The jumping of the broom is of Welsh and Celtic origin. In the Celtic ritual, it is a symbol of fertility. Several couples interested in history or pagan ritual also are now adopting this custom in their weddings.
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i would totaly go for it! My Future fiance is african american & im white & we'll thinking about doing jumping the broom @ our ceremony! Plus ITS UR WEDDING do what u want to!
We are jumping the broom and neither of us are of african, or african-american descent, I am English-Australian and my fiance is Macedonian-Australian.
We are including it as it is popular in celtic/pagan weddings aswell and we have included many elements from this tradition in our wedding. We plan to have each guest tie a ribbon to the broom as they arrive as a symbol of thier support for our marriage.
My white hubby & I will be jumping the broom at our wedding. I can't wait.
I'm white and my fiancee is black. What has kept me interested and in love with him for 8 years (yes i know that's a long time) is our differences. I love his culture and would jump the broom if he wants to. But I just asked him and he said no because I'd then make him sweep the kitchen with it (lol). I also love his sense of humor. But I think when you enter into an interracial relationship you are already open to doing this a little differently and learn not to care what others think.So if you want to celebrate that tradition, you absolutely should do it. If he loves you enough to marry you, he loves you enough to celebrate what's important to you. Best wishes..
Heck yes you can!! If its something you want to be incorporated in your wedding and its a part of your culture, then it is totally accpetable and not to mention awesome for you to do.
If they can do it why not you guys. Fallow your wedding vision :)
Why not? You can do what ever you want. If you want to do the hokey pokey down the aisle, then do it. If you want to wear lime green then do it. If you want to jump the broom with you sexy FI (no mater what is race, religion, or culture is) then you do it. It is your day.
I know this thread is old, but I wanted to comment. I'm AA and I didn't want to jump the broom. I found out it's not just an African tradition, but an Irish one as well. Mr. Tattoo's grandmother brought it up and I told her I didn't think we would, but she said it was both African and Irish tradition and it would be nice.
So we are doing it. Mr. Tattoo is Irish and wants it in the wedding. We will put in the program that it's actually an African and Irish tradition to jump the broom. Yay!
I'm like Miss Tattoo. I know this thread is really old....but I wanted to chime in with my two cents :)
I'm AA and my fiance is Caucasian and we are jumping the broom. When I shared the significance behind it, he was really eager to incorporate it into our ceremony. He's from New Orleans so we're also doing a Second Line parade as our recessional. I plan to put a little explanation of both in the program so everyone knows what is going on. I'm so excited because I feel like it is the little touches that really can make the ceremony special.
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