Jumping the Broom, Second Edition: The African-American Wedding Planner

“This gorgeous book is not merely a wedding guide, but a celebration of African-American culture.” —Billboard

Jumping the Broom is newly revised for the twenty-first century. The bestselling—and the first—comprehensive wedding guide written and designed expressly for African Americans, it presents everything you need to know to plan an event that is truly an expression of your personal style and heritage.

Harriette Cole, former fashion editor of Essence magazine, offers hundreds of original ideas for enhancing your wedding with Afrocentric touches at every stage—from announcements, rings, and clothes to music, food, and vows. Her suggestions range from the simple, such as having your wedding rings cast with ancient Khamitic symbols, to the elaborate, such as adorning your wedding party in traditional Yoruba asooke formal wear, and an extensive resource guide will help you manage logistics. Historical anecdotes and information on cultural traditions from all over the Motherland—as well as the Caribbean and the American South—are sprinkled throughout.

Lavishly illustrated, this new edition features twice the number of color photographs found in the original book and a completely up-to-date resource guide. Jumping the Broom makes an exquisite gift book for a special friend or family member and an indispensable planner for the most important day of your life.

Harriette Cole spent eleven years as an editor at Essence magazine before founding Profundities, Inc., an image-development and production company. Her nationally syndicated advice column, “Sense & Sensitivity,” reaches more than twelve million readers, and her advice about African American weddings has been featured on Oprah, the Today Show, and NPR. She counts among her clients Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, and Erykah Badu. She lives in New York City.