Planning a wedding can be one of the most wondrous times in a couple's life and one of the most stressful. From the ceremony to the reception venue to the food and the clothing and writing the vows and a million other task list items. All couples, regarding ethnicity, encounter fine-tuning these details before their big day and yet in mainstream bridal magazines, black brides and content pertaining to brides of color appear to be non-existent.
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It is 2018 (and whenever we have to mention the year to drive a point home you know there’s an issue) and the thought that black brides are STILL not being celebrated in the same light as white brides is frustrating to say the least. Throughout history, black marriages have faced hardships such as not being seen as legal during slavery and, in present-day, being made to look as as though they do not exist.
Bridgette Bartlett-Royall, founder/editor of Black Bridal Bliss, told Refinery29 black brides are not only seen as an afterthought in mainstream bridal publications but their traditions such as "jumping the broom at the ceremony… or Greeks strolling at a reception, or Caribbean black cake favors, or spraying at a Nigerian wedding" are virtually ignored.
"One of the reasons I created Black Bridal Bliss was to actually counter this dangerous notion. All Black women deserve bridal bliss and recognition in magazines and websites like white brides receive. It is imperative to tell our own stories and own our narratives," Bartlett-Royall said.
While the mainstream play catch-up, sites such as MunaLuchi Bride and Black Bride are filling in the gaps and paying homage to brides of color and giving them more attention than an isolating blurb on a back page. And thanks to the power for social media, hashtags such as #BlackWedding, #BlackLove, #BlackMarriage are also showcasing the beauty of black nuptials.
If you are a blushing bride-to-be and are still looking for makeup inspo for your big day, check out these 10 looks below for feature-worthy beats:
Are you more of a DIY bride? We got you covered! Check out this makeup tutorial from Ronkeraji to get you right:
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