r/blackladies • u/paytonjohn467 • Aug 19 '24
Interracial Relationships 💟 Haitian/ Caribbean wedding traditions?
Hello ladies :)
I just got engaged early July. I need some advice/ help. I was adopted when I was one years old from Port-Au-Prince Haiti to Canada. I really don’t want to have a mainly western wedding. I really want to get more connected with my Haitian/ Caribbean routes. I would like to incorporate some traditions or part of my culture into our wedding?
Could anyone give me some advice/ ideas of how I can incorporate Haitian/ Caribbean culture into our wedding! Also I will be meeting a lot of my bio family for the first time ever at my wedding. So it is so important to me that I add some Haitian/caribbean culture into our wedding.
Sorry if this makes no sense or sounds dumb.
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u/Buttermilk_Pnck_91 Repiblik d Ayiti Aug 19 '24 edited Aug 19 '24
I’m Haitian, and the answer is lots and lots of Celine Dion lmao
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u/paytonjohn467 Aug 20 '24
Perfect!! My fiancé and I both love her! I will make sure she is added to the playlist!!
Thank you for this idea 💕
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u/Safe-Pressure-2558 Aug 20 '24
How did Celine Dion become a Black diaspora icon? For a certain cadre of Nigerian millennials and Gen Xers, she’s the GOAT.
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u/TroposphericDemigod United States of America Aug 20 '24
I feel like it might have to do with radio play and accessibility of music in the 90s. She was the only white girl really with soulful pipes back then, you couldn’t escape her music and you didn’t want to.
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u/warrigeh Aug 21 '24
My late Grandma (Nigerian, stayed in Nigeria all her life) was the biggest Celene Dion ever lol.
It was part of her last wishes that her songs be played at the funeral.
My mom is another big fan, she was so sad when I told her Celene was sick and I remember her praying the rosary for her that night.
All to say older Nigerians LOVE Celene Dion lol.
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u/ohdontyaknowthough Aug 19 '24
Congratulations! I love this post, I’m Haitian too and planning a wedding and while I don’t have any suggestions, I would love to see what ideas you get!
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u/paytonjohn467 Aug 20 '24
Yay!! So nice to meet you! Congratulations on your engagement and happy wedding planning! I hope you get some amazing idea’s aswell 💜
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u/throwawaytee6 Aug 19 '24
Not a dumb question! I’m not Haitian but wish you luck and congrats !! I like the idea of having flags incorporated and maybe some cultural food.
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u/paytonjohn467 Aug 20 '24
Thank you so much for your comment. I appreciate you saying that. I get abit self conscious, not knowing much about my culture. So asking questions makes me feel abit dumb. But I truly appreciate you re assuring me. 💜 we will definitely make sure to have the Haitian flag and so good Haitian food 😊
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u/Nobes2020 Aug 19 '24 edited Aug 20 '24
I suggest watching videos of Haitian weddings on YouTube and hire a Haitian caterer.
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u/paytonjohn467 Aug 20 '24
Thank you so much for this idea!! I’ve watched a few. But will keep watching more 😊. Love the food idea! I will make sure to incorporate Haitian food into our wedding.
Thank you so much for your advice/ input 💜
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u/LiveInvestigator4876 Aug 19 '24
Maybe ask your bio family? It would be a great way to connect with them and your culture!
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u/paytonjohn467 Aug 20 '24
I’ve been in contact with them as best as I can and have tried to ask them these sorts of questions. Unfortunately we have abit of a language barrier. Which makes it hard to communicate these sort of questions with them. I just thought I’d ask on here and see if anyone may have more ideas or insight. 😊💜
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u/LiveInvestigator4876 Aug 20 '24
Totally get it!
Maybe start off with getting some language lessons in your bio family native language to maybe surprise them during the wedding or just for general understanding. Should’nt be too hard to find a tutor online
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u/yeahthatwayyy Aug 19 '24
Is spraying money a Haitian thing y’all? Cause you need that. Honestly every woman needs that. Make it rain!!!😂
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u/wasabouttosay Aug 19 '24
lol that’s Nigerian but yes, we all need that 😅
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u/yeahthatwayyy Aug 19 '24 edited Aug 19 '24
Right like tell his side of the family that’s tha tradition!!! 😍💀
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u/paytonjohn467 Aug 20 '24
Girl, this is marvellous, we might just have to make this a new Haitian tradition 😂
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u/5ft8lady Aug 19 '24
Congratulations on your wedding. I’m not Haitian, but I love the - griot and pikliz - meal they have at Haitian restaurants. Maybe have that served at your wedding!
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u/paytonjohn467 Aug 20 '24
That meal sounds amazing!! I myself have never tried it. But I am going to make a point of trying it asap!
Thanks for your advice and input. 💜😊
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u/Greedy_Estimate839 Aug 20 '24
Congrats!!! I’m haitian-american but unfortunately don’t know a lot about the wedding customs because I was born here. I would definitely try posting in the r/haiti sub! Also, If you’re interested in learning Kreyòl to better communicate with your bio fam, duolingo actually has a course. Good Luck! 🫶🏾
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u/Daegu_Woman Aug 20 '24
Omg girl I used to watch your videos allllll the time in 2020 on YouTube! Did not know you were part of the community and still together!
Congrats on your engagement!! Dream couple goals.
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u/paytonjohn467 Aug 20 '24
Awe, I love this so much. This made me smile! Thank you so much 😊 💕.
We got so busy with work so we had to stop making videos 🤦🏾♀️.
I hope you are doing well!!
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u/Obvious_Boat3636 ✨🤎✨ Aug 20 '24
OMG!!! Congrats! You guys are adorable and look so happy! Happy to help my fellow Haitian Queen! I'm Haitian American. My parents immigrated to NYC in the 80s. I don't believe we have specific traditions for weddings. In my experience, Haitian weddings are similar to American weddings. Food/music is integral at a Haitian wedding. Haitian meat patties and soup Joumou (squash/pumpkin soup) as an appetizer. People look for the staples like griot w/ pikiliz (fried pork w/ our version of spicy pickled vegetables that we use as hot sauce), lambi (conch in sauce), some type of beans and rice but diri djondjon (black mushroom root rice) is always at a party or celebration. Haitian cremas is a must with the wedding cake. KOMPA is a MUST at a Haitian wedding. No if ands or buts. I would recommend getting a Haitian DJ that can play the Haitian mixes with the American music. Hope this helps and wishing you blissful nuptials.
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u/lerougee Aug 20 '24
Haitian cake! I would see if there’s a Haitian bakery that can make it as your wedding cake or one of your cakes if you have more than 1.
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u/Empress-Rae República de Cuba Aug 20 '24
I’m not Haitian but we are deeply Caribbean over here. Our culture came out more in the menu at our reception and in some small nods to traditional AA stuff, since I’m AA and Cuban (ie. Using our flags in tying the knot; using pimento scents on our broom instead of cinnamon; mixing homeland soil - mostly for my witch aunties, etc.)
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u/Safe-Pressure-2558 Aug 20 '24
Congratulations! Just wondering if there is a Haitian subreddit that could also give you some insight on this.
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u/Skewy007 Aug 20 '24
Aww, congratulations!! So happy for you. I'm Jamaican and my husband is Anguillian. Our wedding was Caribbean/tropical-themed to the best of our ability. We had both country flags at the head table. The flags were small, but noticeable because positioned them into an 'x-formation' and stuck them into a jumbo white 3-tiered wedding cake candle and the candle was placed at our head table. We named the reception tables by cities in both countries that were of particular relevance or interest to our families. We had one reading per country by a family member on each side. (I hired writers to provide a little blurb about that country. Then someone from the other country did the reading for the country other than their own, so it was like each side was learning something new. I'll admit it ended up kinda sounding like a tourism commercial, lol.) The food was Caribbean as well as the music from both countries. I guess you could say we used tropical-looking flowers to decorate the center tables (blue orchids from Whole Foods, which are dyed, so pretty! Wedding colors were baby blue/silver). Our engagement photos were taken on the beach. They served as a surprise because the wedding favor horse and carriage picture frames doubled as a favor and the assigned seating for each guest. So the guests were truly surprised when we announced that there was something for them behind their name card within the frame. Lots of ooooohs and ahhhhs lol.
You might like to have a mixologist help you create drink(s) that are popular in Haiti or you can research a drink of choice yourself. Haitian flag pins for the tux lapels or cuff links are an option. There may be some ideas on Pinterest for inspiration as well. And if you want to splurge for a well-qualified wedding planner, see if you can find a Haitian one, perhaps ask Haitian friends, family members, community centers, or relevant wedding vendors for a referral. Happy planning!!
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u/BippityBoppityBooppp Aug 20 '24
Maybe check out r/askthecaribbean and and I’m sure there’s an r/haiti subreddit too! As a fellow Caribbean girl, our weddings are very western for the most part, but there might be certain foods or deserts like fruit cake/black cake/ rum cake that’s pretty common
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u/icyauq Aug 20 '24
good Haitian food and a dance floor for you and the guest. incorporate some caribbean music and vibes with a good dj<3 congratulations beauty
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u/Tricky_Helicopter911 Aug 20 '24
Congratulations! Is wearing an engagement ring on the right hand a different tradition? I am not being snarky.
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u/Buttermilk_Pnck_91 Repiblik d Ayiti Aug 20 '24
The image could possibly be mirrored. That just might be the left hand.
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u/paytonjohn467 Aug 20 '24
Thank you 😊💕. I didn’t even realize it flipped the picture! It’s on my left hand :)
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u/No-Blackberry-6586 Aug 20 '24
I don’t have anything to contribute, but congratulations!! Yall look so beautiful! 🥰🩵
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u/SpectraShadow23 Aug 21 '24
Congratulations on your engagement! Apologies for not having any advice to offer but the other commenters have mentioned great ideas. Just wanted to congratulate you and wish you many blessings.
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u/wasabouttosay Aug 19 '24 edited Aug 19 '24
Congratulations! Am Haitian too and there aren’t wedding traditions (that I’m aware of). Just think of music, food, and language. Get a Haitian DJ that can play popular music and konpa. See about having Haitian food served at the wedding or a wedding related event (like the rehearsal dinner). Or bottle up some kremas and offer mini bottles as favors.
Edit: incorporate the Haitian flag during the reception. I don’t know if it’s tradition but I’ve seen Haitians in the states and Canada (including my cousins) do it in some respect. Usually waving it as part of your intro or while dancing