Recommended Reading for Wedding Bells

Academic & Sociological Studies

Childs, Erica C., and Karyn A. Lacy. Marriage in Black: The Pursuit of Married Life among American-born and Immigrant Black Couples. New York: Routledge, 2019.
This sociological study examines the desires, challenges, and practices of Black couples. It highlights marriage as both aspiration and resilience, shaped by heritage and modern pressures.

McBride, Tyler D. Jumping the Broom: The Surprising Multicultural Origins of a Black Wedding Ritual. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2020.
McBride traces the broom-jumping tradition to multicultural influences across Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The study reframes it as a living ritual of resilience, continuity, and celebration.

Pryde, Jessica P. Black Romance Matters: Real Talk on Romance, Being Seen, and Happily Ever Afters. New York: Berkley, 2023.
An anthology of essays and reflections on the importance of Black romance stories in literature and culture. It affirms that joy, visibility, and love narratives are essential for thriving marriages.

Stewart, Dianne M. Black Women, Black Love: America’s War on African American Marriage. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2020.
Stewart critiques systemic forces that undermine Black marriage, from slavery to mass incarceration. The book argues for reclaiming marriage as liberation and love as resistance.

Turner, Terry M. God’s Amazing Grace: Reconciling Four Centuries of African American Marriages and Families. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2017.
Turner traces the history of African American marriage and family life through the lens of faith. His work celebrates resilience, continuity, and the grace that sustains long unions.

Fiction

Lee, Rosey. A Gardin Wedding: A Gardins of Edin Novel. New York: William Morrow, 2023.
Set in New Orleans, this contemporary romance explores family ties, celebration, and new beginnings. The novel highlights weddings as spaces of healing, reunion, and joy.

West, Dorothy. The Wedding. New York: Doubleday, 1995.
A modern classic, West’s novel explores love, class, and race in a Martha’s Vineyard wedding. It portrays weddings as cultural crossroads, where personal joy intersects with societal expectation.

History

Foster, Frances Smith. Love and Marriage in Early African America. Boston: Beacon Press, 2007.
Foster documents love and marriage practices among early African Americans through letters, diaries, and narratives. She situates weddings as affirmations of love and community resilience in constrained circumstances.

Hunter, Tera W. Bound in Wedlock: Slave and Free Black Marriage in the Nineteenth Century. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2017.
Hunter’s groundbreaking study explores how marriage was defined, denied, and reimagined in enslaved and free Black communities. It affirms weddings as acts of resistance and affirmation of humanity.

Inspiration

Rainbow, Julie. Standing the Test of Time: Love Stories of African American Elders. San Francisco: Pomegranate, 1999.
Rainbow documents the love stories of elder African American couples, portraying marriage as legacy. Their testimonies affirm that weddings are just the beginning of lifelong resilience and joy.

Sanders, Otis G. Always and Forever, Love: African American Success Stories of Marriages 20+ Years Strong. Chicago: African American Images, 2004.
Through profiles of long-lasting couples, Sanders emphasizes what sustains marriages over decades. It illustrates joy in enduring bonds and the wisdom of commitment.

Stovall, TaRessa, and Calvin Stovall. A Love Supreme: Real-Life Stories of Black Love. New York: Dafina Books, 2001.
An uplifting collection of true stories highlighting enduring partnerships. It portrays love as sacred, resilient, and worthy of celebration.

Marriage & Relationship Advice

Arnold, Harold L. Marriage ROCKS for Christian Couples: A Leader’s Guide. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009.
A faith-based resource emphasizing commitment, prayer, and shared spirituality. It affirms marriage as covenant, sustained by both divine grace and intentional effort.

Diggs, Anita Doreen, and Vera S. Paster. Staying Married: A Guide for African American Couples. New York: Citadel Press, 2003.
A practical, compassionate guide to sustaining marriages, tailored for the unique experiences of African American couples. It frames long marriages as requiring both tenderness and determination.

Dixon, Patricia. African American Relationships, Marriages, and Families: An Introduction. New York: Routledge, 2009.
A foundational text exploring the sociology of Black relationships and family structures. Dixon emphasizes how marriage both reflects and strengthens cultural identity.

Helm, Katherine M. Love, Intimacy, and the African American Couple. New York: Routledge, 2010.
Helm’s book integrates psychological research with cultural context, offering insights into sustaining intimacy. It highlights the strength of Black marriages amid unique challenges.

Small, Marcus. Becoming Married, Staying Married: A Guide for African American Couples. Chicago: African American Images, 2010.
This handbook emphasizes communication, commitment, and shared values. It portrays resilience as the foundation for lifelong union.

Wedding Planning & Cultural Guides

Ayim, Beatrice A. Black Brides the Book: The Ultimate Style Guide for Black Brides-To-Be. Baltimore: Ayim Publications, 2008.
A stylish, visual guide focusing on attire, beauty, and aesthetics for Black brides. Ayim underscores how personal adornment is both celebration and cultural pride.

Cole, Harriette. Jumping the Broom: The African-American Wedding Planner. New York: Henry Holt, 1993.
Cole blends practical planning with cultural grounding, guiding couples through everything from budgeting to ceremony design. The book affirms weddings as both personal milestones and community celebrations rooted in African American tradition.

Cole, Harriette. Vows: The African-American Couple’s Guide to Designing a Sacred Ceremony. New York: William Morrow, 1995.
Part guide, part inspiration, Cole’s book provides sample vows, rituals, and ceremony structures. It emphasizes the sacredness of words, affirming the wedding as both covenant and cultural inheritance.

Newton, Philo. Black Weddings: The Definitive Guide. New York: Ballantine Books, 2004.
This comprehensive resource covers etiquette, style, and cultural traditions in Black weddings. Newton emphasizes weddings as acts of cultural affirmation, where elegance and heritage meet.

Nikuradse, Tamara, ed. African American Wedding Readings. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.
A curated anthology of poetry, scripture, and prose, this book provides couples with meaningful readings. It affirms that words of love and history can sanctify and enrich the wedding day.

Sturgis, Ingrid. The Nubian Wedding Book. New York: Harlem Moon, 2002.
Sturgis offers couples inspiration for weaving African heritage into modern wedding ceremonies. The book celebrates the blending of contemporary romance with historical and cultural continuity.