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

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

Bring Out That Bodacious Style with Our Bad Bethune Tee

(Image Courtesy of Yazzie & Co.)

Hey, ladies! We at Yazzie & Co. hope that you’ve enjoyed our feature on our brand new HBCU t-shirts thus far. However, if you have yet to check it out, well, allow us to introduce you to our stylish bridal baseball tees. Whether you’re shopping for a marvelous maid-of-honor, a beautiful bridesmaid, or a magnificent matron-of-honor, our tees will flatter every kind of fashionable girl. More than just trendy pieces, our collection is steeped in the impressive history and remarkable tradition of our people.

Searching for a way to gift the bride without breaking the bank? Perhaps, you’re looking for that special present that captures the very essence of the girl that’s about to jump the broom. If either is the case, you’re definitely in luck with our t-shirt of the week – our chic Bethune bridal tee. Not only does it bring its righteous origins to mind with its ravishing red, beautiful blue, and wonderful white colors, it represents the righteous sista to the fullest. If the new bride or bride-to-be is the kind of woman who is all about giving back while looking sharp, then our bridal t-shirt is the perfect way to sum this up at a bargain price. What’s more, its preshrunk 100% cotton material guarantees a great fit for every frame while feeling super-soft to the touch. One-part spunk with one-part style with a whole lot of school spirit, your girl will definitely be the toast of the town in this terrific tee.

In turn, we at Yazzie & Co. would love to hear your feedback on our lovely HBCU bridal tees. We want to know if they truly represent you as the sassy, sophisticated, and soulful women that you are. You can either e-mail us at yazzieblogger@yazzieco.com or drop us a line on our MySpace page.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Until Next Time,

The Yazzie Blogger

Jump for Joy in Our Jubilee T-Shirt

(Image Courtesy of Yazzie & Co.)

What’s up, ladies! The last time we spoke, we were introducing you to our lovely new HBCU bridal t-shirt line. Made with the honor of tradition in mind, we at Yazzie & Co. created this collection as a love letter to our dedicated clientele. After all, with the weather becoming warmer and the fashions becoming more carefree, it’s a great time to add one of tees to create a cool and sexy look. Moreover, it’s the perfect gift for a Spring bride who wants to flaunt her upcoming nuptials with style!

With that said, we’d like to introduce you to our t-shirt of the week: the jazzy Jubilee tee. Bursting with Bayou flair, this navy and white baseball tee is just the thing for the girl who is a determined diva. Whether she’s the proud mother of the bride or her best sistagirl, she’ll be making chic moves while showcasing her school spirit. Furthermore, our t-shirt is specifically made with 100% preshrunk cotton for an extremely comfortable fit that doesn’t skimp on style. So, what better than to hook your girl up in a tee that shouts her status out in gold!

We at Yazzie & Co.believe that our clients should always have the opportunity to dress in style without breaking the bank. This is why our bridal t-shirt collections are designed with the bargain bride in mind. Not only are they priced reasonably, they represent the soulful, sassy, and sophisticated sista that is all about being elegant and stylish. Guilt-free glamour with the air of school pride, our HBCU tees work as pieces that will surely jazz up a girl’s wardrobe!

Until Next Time,

The Yazzie Blogger

Show Some Soulful School Spirit with Our Abby Tee

(Image Courtesy of Yazzie & Co.)

Hey, ladies! It’s a new month in a new season and Yazzie & Co. wants to kick it off with a new bridal t-shirt line and a new blog. With the astounding success of our Uptown Bridal collection, we wanted to expand with a line of tees that celebrated the pride of black college life. Thus, we have created our HBCU bridal t-shirt collection with our sassy, sophisticated, and soulful sistas in mind. After all, we think it fair to pay homage to one of the places that shaped you into the woman that you are today: your historically black college and university.

That being said, we’d like to introduce you to our terrific The Abby t-shirt. Designed in a pretty powder blue and white combination, this baseball tee evokes the taste that is befitting of the spectacular sista. Its ¾ length sleeves and soft preshrunk cotton make for a chic and comfy fit. What’s more, it’s accessible to every kind of sophisticated lady – from the breathtaking bride to her beautiful bridesmaids. The marvelous matron of honor and the magnificent maid of honor can also share in the school spirit with this sensational tee.

Over the next few weeks, we at Yazzie & Co. are are going to profile our growing collection of HBCU bridal t-shirts in our blog. Not merely any bridal t-shirt company, we’re determined to change the fashion game while staying true to our roots. Thus, we think that our uniting wonderful wedding flair and splendid school pride will change the way that you approach bridal chic. So, stay tuned to our lovely blog for more bridal tees for you to drool over. Your closet will definitely thank you later.

Until Next Time,

The Yazzie Blogger

Bring Tradition Back With a Borrowed Bridal Gown

(Image Courtesy of Missouri Historical Society via Flickr)

Hi, ladies! Does it seem that the only road to wedding day glamour involves your spending money that you don’t have? Perhaps, you’re having a tough time finding a gown that speaks directly to you. If that’s the case, we at Yazzie & Co. have a great suggestion on how to still maintain that glam look on your big day without spending a down payment’s worth on a dress: borrow your wedding dress from the most important woman in your life. Whether it’d be your marvelous mother, amazing aunt, graceful grandmother, or sensational sister, wearing their dress is a wonderful way to pay homage to your bond and heritage while looking gorgeous.

Whether your choice is your mother’s extravagant gown, an aunt’s elegant dress, or your grandmother’s classic wedding dress, you’ll definitely be making a statement on your wedding day. Not only will you be carrying on the tradition of the extraordinary women in your family, you’ll look gorgeous when walking down the aisle. What’s more, the woman who you’ve chosen to honor on your wedding day will be touched beyond measure. Your need for something borrowed will definitely be fulfilled while tradition will play a major part on your wedding day.

However, it’s important that you make sure that your borrowed bridal gown is within two dress sizes of yours, according to the folks on the Love To Know website. Which seems simple enough, but when considering how body sizes and dress measurements have changed over the years, this may be an issue. This is why we highly suggest that you hire a skilled seamstress that will be able to tailor your beloved borrowed gown to fit your frame. With the two-dress-size leeway, he or she will be able to tuck in or let out the hem or waistline on your dress. Should you decide that you’d like to add a personal touch to it, please have the courtesy to ask the original owner if she would mind? After all, the last thing that you want to do is turn a wedding fashion "Do" into a disrespectful "Don’t".

Though countless bridal magazines and wedding websites will promote the pricey Vera Wang gowns as the ultimate wedding get, we at Yazzie & Co. believe that you should have pride in your choice to save big by representing the generations of women in your family. Not only have you successfully avoided the rat race of shopping for your wedding dress in a department store, you’re carrying on a tradition that will be available for your future daughter to assume someday.

Until Next Time,

The Yazzie Blogger