Vows: The African-American Couples' Guide to Designing a Sacred Ceremony (Hardcover)

by Harriette Cole (Author), George Chinsee (Photographer) "THE MOMENT you officially declare your love and commitment for one another will echo in your memory for years to come..." (more)
Key Phrases: ceremony site, ring ceremony, own vows, Native American, West African, Holy One (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In 1993 Harriette Cole wrote Jumping the Broom, the first wedding guide specifically for African-American couples, showing them how to create a wedding that honored their culture and heritage. In her new book, Vows, Cole turns her attention to the heart of the special day: the wedding ceremony.

With everything that is involved in planning a wedding, it is easy to get so caught up in all the details of the celebration that you lose sight of the significance of what you are actually doing -- committing to make a life together. In this beautiful volume, Cole gives you the guidance and inspiration you need to focus your energy on the spiritual and sacred aspect of your wedding day. Chapters include:

Reflecting on Your Commitment: What does marriage mean to each of you? How can you honor and express to your community the life you intend to create and share?

Ceremonial Rituals from Around the World: A selection of wedding traditions to inspire you.

Writing Your Own Wedding Vows: Vows from many traditions and religions, as well as guidelines for transforming your feelings for each other into words.

There is advice on selecting your wedding attendants and their special role in your wedding, and on how to welcome children into your ceremony, as well as sensitive counsel on renewal of vows, remarriage, and joining ceremonies.

Illuminated by stories and anecdotes from couples remembering their own weddings, and illustrated with beautiful black-and-white photographs by George Chinsee, Vows is a book every African-American couple must have.

About the Author
Hariette Cole is the author of Jumping the Broom: The African-American Wedding Planner; the Jumping the Broom Wedding Workbook; How to Be: Contemporary Etiquette for African Americans; Coming Together: Celebrations for African American Families; and Choosing Truth: Living an Authentic Life. She is the owner of profundities, inc., an image development and production company through which she offers media and presentation training as well as fashion styling, and where she has worked with stars such as platinum-selling recording artists Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, and Mary J. Blige. Cole writes a New York Daily News nationally syndicated advice column titled "Sense & Sensitivity." She lives in Harlem in New York City with her husband, George Chinsee, a fashion photographer.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (February 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684873133
• ISBN-13: 978-0684873138
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #176,346 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A good book, but not what I expected..., February 5, 2004

By	S. P. Mosley (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

With a title like "Vows", I expected to find a number of different inspirational vows and ceremonies to choose from in addition to guidance on writing my own. Instead I found a lot of information on African cultures which was nice (the history of the dowry, how to jump a broom, telling your family of your engagement, incorporating african themes into your ceremony, honring the dead at your ceremony, etc.).

The info was good, but what I was really looking for was Vows...There were a couple, but the book was generally about traditions, customs, etc.

5.0 out of 5 stars Vows, October 8, 2008

By	Raegan J. Higgins - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Vows : The African-American Couples' Guide to Designing a Sacred Ceremony (Hardcover)

Excellent book. I recommend it to anyone who is considering having a culturally centered wedding. My husband and I are culturally conscious (he more than I) and I truly appreciated the Yoruba Tasting Ceremony. My pastor had never performed such a wedding and he really commented on the importance of the tasting ceremony and the blessing of those in attendance.

Great guide.