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Home/Featured/Creole Wedding
horse and white buggy with people at creole wedding

Creole Wedding

There was a time when a bride would ride to her wedding in a horse and wagon,  especially in the rural farmlands of Louisiana’s Creole country.  And there were a few other unique traditions that were part of those ceremonies. 

horse pulling white wagon down street with traffic
Horse and wagon take bride and groom to Creole wedding in Opelousas, LA

reliving a louisiana creole wedding tradition

The horse and buggy are part of a celebration of a simpler time when a bride, groom and families would travel to a rural wedding in a farm wagon, not a limousine. Elton Sam and his bride India are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows. They are also remembering their Creole heritage, promoting the customs handed down from their ancestors in Creole communities near Opelousas, Louisiana.

woman in straw hat with flowers and print dress holding microphone
Rebecca Henry organized the 12th annual Creole buggy wedding in Opelousas.

The marriage reenactment takes place on the grounds of the Creole Heritage Folklife Center. Director Rebecca Henry has staged these traditional creole buggy weddings for the past 12 years. I asked Henry to tell me about a Creole wedding and what makes it different from today’s weddings. “Simplicity for one thing,” Henry says, pointing out that they were inexpensive events. She adds that permission to marry also required a number of approvals, “You had to ask the young lady’s dad, the mom, the grandmother, the godmother, the uncles,” she explains. “You had to get all their blessings.”

man in white shirt and white cowboy hat with woman in white dress with white flower boquet at Creole wedding
Elton and India Sam renew their wedding vows

“I do”

A preacher repeats the wedding vows that Mr. and Mrs. Sam took 30 years ago.  “Once again, I pronounce you husband and wife,” he said. 

creole buggy wedding featured on tv

Watch this Heart of Louisiana story of the Creole wedding in Opelousas, LA.

The ceremony is also a teaching moment as Elton and India Sam reflect on their 30 years of marriage.  They are interviewed about their 30 years of married life.  “What is the secret to enduring love in a healthy marriage for that long,” they are asked.  Elton replies, “First thing is just trying to communicate. She would always say communication is the key.”  India responds with one word, “patience”.

woman in hat speaks to couple getting remarried
Elton and India Sam discuss their 30 years of marriage.

jumping the broom at a creole wedding

After exchanging vows,  the couple demonstrates an old Creole tradition of jumping the broom. Henry explains that jumping the broom was to consumate the marriage in times of slavery, “because it was unlawful for black people to marry”.  And another tradition involves cutting the cake where both husband and wife have a knife.  “Whoever goes down first,” Henry says, “is supposed to be the boss of the house.”

man in white shirt and cowboy hat and bride in white dress prepare to jump the broom at Creole wedding
Married couple reenacts tradition of jumping the broom.
bride and groom cut wedding cake
Cutting the cake to pick “the boss”.

living a creole tradition

India Sam stands with her longtime husband wearing a white lace dress with brown western boots.  This wedding is a different experience for her.  “I was reared by my grandmother and so I always heard of how things were done,” she explains.  “But of course in 1993, they weren’t doing those traditions anymore.”  For her husband Elton, whose nickname is ‘Cowboy Preacher’, he says the fun part was riding in the buggy, “and reenacting everything of the oldtime people.” 

 man in plaid shirt and hat escorts woman in white wedding dress
India Sam is escorted to renew her vows.

feasting with friends

Friends and family mingle after the ceremony.  They fill plates with traditional creole food including smothered okra, boudin, and sweet potatoes.  “What is culture if we can’t live it,” Henry says. It’s a celebration of a rural Louisiana tradition and of a man and woman who can reflect on the joy and success of 30 years of marriage.  

sausage being served from cooker
Serving boudin sausage to wedding guests.

finding louisiana creole in opelousas

A small museum in the Louisiana city of Opelousas introduces visitors to Creole. Rebecca Henry, who founded the Creole Heritage Folklife Center, explains that finding Creole is all about connecting with the lifestyle of ancestors. Click here to see the story.

red creole cottage white picket fence metal roof
Creole Heritage Folklife Museum in Opelousas

Learn more about the Creole Heritage Folklife Center in Opelousas.

getting there

The Creole Heritage Folklife Center is located at 1113 W. Vine Street, Opelousas, LA. Phone: (337) 945-5064.

1113 W Vine St, Opelousas, LA 70570

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        Written by:
        Dave McNamara
        Published on:
        November 7, 2023
        Thoughts:
        1 Comment

        Categories: Acadiana, Featured

        Reader Interactions

        Comments

        1. Lois Thomas

          December 6, 2023 at 9:49 am

          Wedding was beautiful!! The buggy was awesome going through Opelousas. Very traditional of the older days. Spreading tradition is wonderful for our younger generation to see and be aware of how it was done many years ago. Thank you for a lovely day❤️

          Reply

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