Jump The Broom With Joyful Style!

(Jumping the Broom by Annie Lee - Image Courtesy of Howerton Wooten Events)

Hey, everybody! We at Yazzie & Co. know that your wedding day is one of the biggest milestones in your life and definitely understand the importance of tradition. This is why it’s the perfect opportunity to incorporate the time-honored act of jumping the broom. More than just a mere catchphrase, it has been regarded as a rite of passage in symbolizing devotion for generations. While jumping the broom had once been considered as a painful reminder of black love and commitment being unrecognized during slavery, the success of Alex Haley’s celebration of African American heritage, Roots, brought it back to prominence. If you’re not quite sure if this is the route that you’d like to take, consider the parts that complete the special broom. The broomstick represents family and its handle symbolizes an Almighty spirit, while the ribbons represent the ties that bind you and your beloved together for eternity. Once you’ve got that in mind, it’ll be easy for you to bring that great tradition to life with your own special touch.

(Image Courtesy of Stuart’s Creations)

If you’ve decided on staging a Jumping the Broom ceremony, you should definitely choose your broom a few weeks in advance. After all, you want to make sure that you have the time to pick that special broom with care. According to Black Bridal Guide, it can feature anything from refined ribbons that hint at your wedding theme to beautiful cowrie shells that are a nod to your culture. Silk and fresh flowers are also welcome decorations that will spruce up your broom. You can purchase one from a local ethnic store or an online black bridal store such as Black Bridal Guide. If you’d prefer to cut costs, a simple household broom will do just fine. Larry James of Weddings by Lance suggests that you decorate it with your bridesmaids on a night before your wedding. Not only will you be personalizing your broom, but you’ll have the chance to bond with your sistas without the craziness that wedding planning brings.

(Image Courtesy of Katrina at the Get Real Photography)

Black Bridal Guide suggests that you make sure that the spiritual leader that you’ve chosen to officiate over your wedding ceremony is willing to include your Jump the Broom moment. Although the tradition is widely accepted in African American culture, there are some that prefer not to act out the rite of passage because of social and/or religious beliefs. If he or she has no qualms about it, then you can go forward and include everyone in attendance to participate in your Jumping the Broom ceremony on your big day by having them tie ribbons with their written initials around the broom branches before the ceremony. That way, your guests will represent the proverbial Village that is watching you take your leap to the next stage in your life. Larry James of Weddings by Lance suggests that you choose a convenient time before the bridal ceremony for them to do so. After you and your beloved hubby share your first kiss as man and wife, your maid of honor or his best man can place the broom in front of the two of you so that you can jump. Once presented as the new Mr. and Mrs., you’ll take that giant step towards your new life together and let the sweeping music carry you away towards great possibilities.

(Image Courtesy of the Pike’s Peak Wedding)

Once the festivities are over, don’t forget to save your wedding broom as a memento of your special day. According to Black Bridal Guide, you can preserve it in a special keepsake box so that it will stand the test of time. It can be passed down to your future children and grandchildren when they decide to tie the knot, thus keeping African American tradition alive. If you’re also looking for a chic way to give props to this special rite of passage, you can purchase our one-of-kind Jumping The Broom/Soul Inspiration bridal tee from our official website. It’ll serve as the perfect example of paying homage to love’s legacy and lifetime devotion – much like your Jumping the Broom ceremony!

Until Next Time,

The Yazzie Blogger

Get On Your Good Foot for Your Wedding Day

(Image Courtesy of For Black Weddings)

Hello, everyone! While your first wedding dance symbolizes enchanting love, it can also be terrifying to a bride or groom with two left feet. And as much as you’d rather just skip that part, chances are that your brand new spouse and your guests may feel cheated out of that special moment. Before you start to think that you’re between a rock and a hard place, we at Yazzie & Co. have the perfect solution that’ll get you over that hump – teaching yourself how to dance. Not only will you be able to effortlessly glide over to your new bride or groom, you may just be as good as a Dancing with the Starscontestant.

(Image Courtesy of Here Comes The Guide)

You’re probably thinking that your hectic life leaves little time for you to take lessons in a professional studio. Well, the good part about that is that you can teach yourself from the comfort of your own home. In addition, you’ll spare yourself the self-consciousness that you’ll feel from revealing your lack of skills in a public forum. Now that you’ve made the time and the space, you can implement the four principles of dance – posture, balance, rhythm, and movement. Wedding expert, Mary Pinizzotto, lays it out in this simple equation – breath steadily to control your posture and balance while stepping and moving with grace and poise. This sounds complicated, but it really isn’t once you allow yourself to feel the music. From there, your feet and body will move naturally while you’ll find yourself having fun! As far as what dances you should learn for your big day? Pinizzotto recommends that you stick to the rumba, waltz, or foxtrot as two-step dances that you’ll be able to pick up easily when you apply the four principles to yourself. You can easily take your cues from YouTube tutorials, for there are plenty of professional dancers who provide lessons through these clips. Not only will you get to learn along, but you’ll have an interactive and fun experience in appreciating dance!

(Image Courtesy of Caitlin Rose Foster)

Once you’ve gotten the hang of dance, you can either stick to the familiar steps that you’ve learned or personalize your wedding dance by adding a little something at the end. Not only will an extra twirl or dip be memorable to your bride or groom, it’ll be quite a show for your guests. Just remember to keep your steps in sync as you would with your hearts and your wedding day is guaranteed to be special!

Until Next Time,

The Yazzie Blogger

Break Tradition This Valentine’s Day with a Perfect Proposal!

(Image Courtesy of Offbeat Bride)

Hi, ladies. February 14th is less than two weeks and we know that you want to express your heart and soul to the man in your life. If you’re positive in your desire to spend the rest of your life with him, why not take a leap and ask him to be your husband? This special day is the perfect opportunity to flip the script when it comes to making your Valentine’s Day a memorable one. Since the thought of taking the lead can be quite overwhelming for a lot of you, we at Yazzie & Co. have come up with some surefire tips on how to pull this off without a hitch!

(Image Courtesy of Super Stock)

First things first, you need to shop for an engagement ring – for him. After all, it’s only fair for you to do so since you’re doing the asking here. With that said, this will require a lot more subtlety on your end, since men aren’t really into the over-the-top sentiments. The best way to go about this is to find a ring that is tailor-made to fit his personality. If you prefer to go the easier route, Mahalo suggests that you purchase matching rings for him and you to commemorate your bond.

(Image Courtesy of Getty Images)

The next thing that you need to do is make sure that both his and your families are on board with this. Granted, you’re taking an unorthodox step towards matrimony and you need to be aware that they may object to this. More importantly, though, you want to make sure that they support the both of you getting married. After all, you should have all the support that you can get when taking this big step.

(Image Courtesy of National African American Relationships Institute)

Afterwards, you should set the scene for this special moment. As we said earlier, men aren’t usually about receiving grand and sweeping gestures, so you’ll have to tread a little more carefully with this as well. As Mahalo mentions, he’s not likely to be bowled over by a carriage in the park proposal as much as you would be. So, where exactly is the best place to make this happen? We suggest that you keep it simple with an intimate dinner at home. Prepare his favorite foods and a sinful dessert, while setting the lights down low to the tune of soulful music and he won’t be able to resist.

(Image Courtesy of Getty Images)

And there’s the moment – when you take the leap by proposing to him. Since this all about him, curb your desire to write gushy poems about love everlasting and speak your truth. Let him know everything that is in your heart and why you’d love to spend the rest of your life with him. You can even get down on bended knee to pop the question, as Mahalo suggests, for it’s still charming no matter who’s doing the proposing.

(Image Courtesy of Big Stock Photo)

And if he turns you down? Well, he’s turned you down. After all, that’s what love is about – taking risks by putting it and yourself out there. What’s wonderful is the fact that you were fearless enough to flip the script by asking for his hand in marriage. Then again, if he accepts – well, you’ll have one of the happiest and most memorable Valentine’s Day memories of your life. Even better, he’ll love the fact that you were woman enough to go after what you wanted – him. That, ladies, is what we should celebrate on February 14th – the courage to love.

Sincerely,

The Yazzie Blogger

Evoke the Spirit of Charity on This Holiday!

(Image Courtesy of UK Times Online)

Hello, everyone. While we at Yazzie & Co. usually dish on the best ways to be bridal beautiful, we’re going to shift gears this time around. Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti has shed light on the heartbreaking results of such devastation, reminding us just how connected we really are. Regardless of gender, race, or religion, we are one as a people that are capable of feeling both joy and pain. However, we are also able to rally together to help one another in need – something that we’d like to encourage you to do this Martin Luther King Day.

Not quite sure if and what you can do? Well, you should take heart in the overwhelming generosity that has been displayed over the past week. Though everyone had their own problems to contend with, they set them aside to donate whatever they could to assist the distraught people in Haiti. From five dollar donations through cellular phone texts to Yele Haiti to money contributions to Doctors Without Borders, many opened their hearts to those that needed it the most. We believe that Dr. King would want us to carry out his message of love and compassion through charity and hope that you find it in your heart to do so this Monday.

Of course, if you happen to be organizing your wedding registry at this time, this would be the perfect moment to encourage your loved ones to give back. Instead of requesting that toaster oven that you were eyeing, you can ask your guests to donate some money to reputable organizations such as the Red Cross. If money is truly tight, you can provide your perishables to a local food bank or volunteer your time at an outreach center. In any case, the spirit of giving will be what will ultimately bind us together.

Sincerely,

The Yazzie Blogger

Start Your Bridal New Year With Our Resolutions!

(Image Courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess)

Hey, ladies! Are you poised to plan your wedding this year? With the New Year rolling in, this would be the ideal time to fuse your bridal plans with the spirit of resolutions. After all, you’ll have a straight head on your shoulders when it comes to putting everything together for the main event. And if you’re not sure just where to begin, well, we at Yazzie & Co. have some surefire suggestions that’ll help you out with everything!

(Image Courtesy of Magazine Express)

#1 – Don’t expect your wedding to be perfect. Now, don’t misunderstand us, for we definitely want your big day to be magical. But, the minute that you start incorporating ideas from Modern Bride Magazine , it’s a sign that you’re getting ahead of yourself. Since the last thing you need is stress when planning your wedding, you should bear in mind that everything isn’t micro manageable. Resist the urge to be a boorish Bridezilla and you’ll definitely come across as the beautiful bride that you were meant to be.

(Image Courtesy of Essence Magazine's Bridal Bliss Blog)

#2 – Don’t bite off more than you can chew. We know that planning a wedding requires that you put in a lot of time and attention, but that doesn’t mean that you should be forced to shoulder all the responsibilities. You’ve got family, friends, and a darling fiancé, so why not delegate some of the duties to them. After all, both friends and relatives will be psyched to play roles in this life-changing event, while your soon-to-be spouse will be kept in the loop. Even better, you’ll be able to make confident decisions while refraining from overspending on unneeded frivolities.

(Image Courtesy of Coconut Cove)

#3 – Be nice to your fiancé. And by that, we mean to remember that you’ll be marrying and spending the rest of your life with him. Sure, the wedding is a great opportunity for you to be totally fabulous, but there’s a marriage ahead that will be absolutely divine. Set aside some non-bridal planning time for the two of you and you’ll be guaranteed a life together that’s worth far more than a wedding day!

We at Yazzie & Co. want 2010 to be start of something wonderful for every bride and bride-to-be everywhere. Thus, we are continuing our mission to provide sassy advice for the soulful and sophisticated sista. After all, we want you to be your best you this year!

Sincerely,

The Yazzie Blogger

Give Back To the Sistas in Your Life This Season!

(Image Courtesy of Corbis)

Hi, ladies! Normally, we at Yazzie & Co. would dish on latest ways to be a fly and fabulous bride. This time around, we’re going to get in the true spirit of the season by having you give back. That’s right; instead of salivating over the spectacular gifts that you’re going to get this year, why not channel that same energy into treating the sistas in your life? Not only will they appreciate this gesture from your heart, you’ll also feel great about making them smile. If you’re not sure how to go about that, keep reading for some great ideas from yours truly.

(Image Courtesy of Getty Images)

Chances are that you’ve been driving your maid of honor up the wall while planning your wedding. And as great a best friend or sister as she’s been to you, we’re pretty she’d love you even more for showing her how much you appreciate her being there. So, what better way to do that than to give her a lovely jewelry keepsake? We personally think that she’d really appreciate a pretty pair of pearl earrings from Macy's.

(Image Courtesy of the Getty Images)

Perhaps, your Thank You list has extended to every bridesmaid in your party. After all, they’ve weathered the craziness that is planning your wedding, so it’s only fair that they receive lovely tokens of appreciation. You’ll definitely score a home run by gifting them with Yazzie & Co.'s bridal t-shirts. Not to toot our own horn, but they’ll appreciate the sass and the soulfulness that they’ve got to offer!

(Image Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Then again, you may want to take some time out of your bridal organizing schedule to pay homage to the woman that has raised you from girl to woman this season. While Mom may be proud to see her baby walk down the aisle, we’re certain that she’d adore you even more if you presented her with a gift of love. So, why not go the extra mile by treating her to a mother-daughter spa day at The Back Room? You’ll be able to bond over the exquisite treatments while sharing in your sisterhood.

(Image Courtesy of Beautiful Hairstyles)

With a few great gift ideas on your list, you ought to be ready to hit the scene for some last-minute holiday shopping. Even better, you’ll be able to treat all the ladies in your life who’ve made it this far with you as you prepare to start your new life. You’re blessed with the gift of sisterhood and we encourage you to celebrate that this season.

Wishing you a Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and a Wonderful New Year,

The Yazzie Blogger

Shop Smart for the Sensational Bride This Season!

Hello, everyone! If you’re one of the lucky people who have to shop for an upcoming bride this season, fear not. Yazzie & Co. has got the perfect present for the soon-to-be newlywed in your life – our chic bridal t-shirts. Designed with sass and soul, our tees represent the tradition of our culture with the modern sensibilities of today’s sista. If you’re not sure where to begin, scroll on down and let us introduce you to a few of our snazzy numbers that’ll work for every kind of bride.

Let’s say that you’re on the lookout for a t-shirt that’s just as brash as the busy bride in your world. Well, you absolutely can’t go wrong with our Rapture baby tee. It’s cute enough for her to wear as she’s running the town, yet comfy enough for her to chill in when she’s winding down. Even better, she’ll love the Bridezilla icon for being as bold as she is.

Rapture Bridal Tee for $28.50

Perhaps, the soon-to-be bride is a mellow smooth kind of girl who is all about keeping things peaceful. It’s as easy as a Sunday morning to find the perfect tee – our Close Your Eyes tank top. Created in four lovely colors – gentle pink, soothing gray, tranquil lavender, and serene blue – she’ll fall head over heels with the simple t-shirt.

Close Your Eyes Bridal Tank Top for $14.40 (20% off)

Then again, you may be shopping for a bride whose heart is firmly steeped in tradition but aren’t sure how to pay homage to both. Well, this is where our Carrie bridal t-shirt comes in. Long-sleeved and styled in a baseball design, it honors both the longstanding legacy of HBCU pride and the beginning of a new life. Not only will she appreciate the tribute that you’re paying to her, she’ll fall in love with its jazzy style.

The Carrie Baseball Tee for $30.00

You’ve got a few weeks to check out our vast selection of bridal tees, so don’t fret. After all, Yazzie & Co. is here to help make the best choices for your holiday gifts. You can catch us on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, or even drop us an e-mail if you’re seeking more holiday shopping advice from yours truly. So, until next time…

Happy Holidays,

The Yazzie Blogger