AFRICAN, ASIAN AND LATIN INSPIRED WEDDING AND BRIDES MAID DRESSES

Marriage is an African must-have, you can’t excape

You might be familiar with this question: “So when are you getting married?” The question never gets old, especially not within the African communities. The tone of the question gets more intense as you get older and as you remain single. Some can experience the question as a pressure from the older generation and someone’s answer might be: Mom, I am not getting married at all. Come to think of it, that answer is probably the worst answer you can give an African parent. African movies also paint the picture of marriage being the ultimate goal into everyone’s life. To me this is an interesting matter, which leads me to the question: Why is marriage so important to Africans and how important is this to us in the Diasporas? I ran into an interesting article onAfrican Holocaust, which goes into the subject of Africans and marriage.

One thing we can point out is that family is important within all black communities. Look at the African-Americans, Afro-Caribbean’s, Afro-Latino’s, they all have a thing in common: family is important. Black people are more likely to regard a friend as a sister, cousin or something like it. I believe that this family orientation keeps marriage as an important element in African people’s life.  If not marriage, having children is.

Africans regards marriage as two families being joined together. Even our faiths tell us this. Yet, within the western countries families almost don’t influence the decision making process of a person who is getting married. For example a European dad can disapprove of a daughter’s decision to marry a certain man, yet the daughter will probably continue, because she knows that it’s her right. Africans on the other hand, don’t allow this. Even the thought of having no contact with family is a horror to an African. Even though we are Africans and we’re residing in western countries, western ideas influence us and the influence becomes stronger as more African generations reside in non-African countries. So I wonder, will the coming generation keep marriage as something so sacred as our families do in Africa?

“A man without a wife is like a vase without flowers”—An African Proverb

That proverb reminds me of how in African countries, women are trained for marriage. As a woman, knowing how to cook and clean is very important. Also in the Diasporas African men expect African women to be able to cook. It’s that piece that African men want to keep in their homes. Especially when their mothers are great cooks.

All the above are question. Of which I would like to know how you feel and think. How important is marriage to you?

THE PERFECT WEDDING, IS IT WORTH IT? BE WISE

When I was a little girl, I used to dream about my huge fairytale wedding day irrespective of the costs associated with it. But then again, I always dreamt of being swept off my feet by Prince Charming (a wealthy one at that); One who wouldn’t mind spending a few thousands to make my dream come true. But as I grew older I realized that I was living in a fool’s paradise and reality  and maturity set in.

I asked myself if now, I would be willing to go the extra mile to fullfill my childhood fantasies, or better yet, would I even be able to afford my luxurious dream wedding? The answer to that is a big fat NO! I know that some Africans in particular love to throw super trendy weddings, but at the end of the day, can we really afford it? Is it even worth it?

A friend and I were invited to a wedding this weekend which, unfortunately, I was unable to attend. However, when my friend got to the wedding she called to say that her first impression of the venue was that it was an absolute and “elaborate” chaos. Just parking  was a hassle. She said there were at least 350 cars in the lot. While I don’t want to be judgmental on  people who choose to throw very large weddings, I sometimes wonder if their priorities are misplaced.

The average cost of a U.S. wedding is about $27,000. But for Africans in the diaspora and even in Africa today I can imagine this number doubling because we tend to have very large families and the bride and groom are typically expected to invite all the “fambul”.

If one can afford a very large wedding, it is their prerogative if they want to throw one. Okay, let’s just say you can afford to because the two families chip in or rather one of the families offered to pay for the expenses. Wouldn’t you rather they invest that money by using it as a down payment on a house, pay down your debt or save for the kids or retirement? Let’s be realistic here, even with all the hassle and fanfare that goes on at such huge weddings, how many of these marriages really last these days anyway?

From where I am sitting the picture isn’t pretty or perfect at all. As  much as we find many people rushing into the churches for marriages, we also find many of them rush to the courts to annul or divorce. But do we blame these people when most of them are pressured into spending their life end money on elaborate weddings? All this makes you wonder if it is at all worth it. A friend once told me “Edna, having the biggest wedding in town would not determine whether you have a lasting relationship with your spouse or not.”

Certainly, the success or failure of your marriage will not depend on how much you spent on your wedding. But for some of you it might if you start your life together in debt. The number one reason why many marriages fail is money problems, so while you deserve a wonderful wedding day, please be smart about your money! Take it from me, the same people who will talk good about the marriage  at the beginning of it are the same people who will talk bad about it at the end of it. So be wise!

STYLE ZA NYWELE HARUSINI.

There comes a time that for most African ladies to choose an appropriate hairstyle for weddings or other  wedding related occasions becomes a great problem. with that in mind, most resort to styles that fit another person better than how it fits themselves. As an African lady you should always strive for simplicity that results into a great style of hair that reflects your natural beauty. After all, black is beautiful at any time of the day.

Here is a set of simple hair styles that can make you look good at any wedding event.

MAMBO YA KUFIKIRIA KABLA YA KUCHAGUA GAUNI LA HARUSI.

Kuchagua gauni la harusi inaweza kua kitu kigumu na cha kukupa mawazo sana na maswali mengi kichwani. Unaweza kujiuliza maswali mengi kama " je, mpenzi wangu atalifurahia?, Familia yangu nayo itafurahia, gauni linaweza kugharimu kiasi gani? Je litaendana na aina ya harusi ninayo itaka? na mambo mengi kama hayo. Naomba nikutoe shaka kidogo kuhusu hili swala, kuna vitu vichache sana vya muhimu vya kuangalia. jaribu kukaa katika muongozo huu:

1. KUA NA MAWAZO CHANYA JUU YAKO BINAFSI.

Siku zote ukianza kufikiria kua unaenda kutafuta gauni la harusi ukiwa na mawazo ya kua hutopata gauni sahihi kwaajili yako basi ujue kua unajinyima mwenyewe uwezo wa kupata gauni zauri. Mara nyingi waswahili husema, aliwazalo mjinga ndilo litakalomtokea, ukiwaza kua hutapata kilichobora kabla hata ya kuanza kutafuta basi itakula kwako. Fikiria kwa upana na hata ukiona kua bado hujapata chaguo sahihi usijipe mawazo mabaya kwani sehemu na machaguo yako mengi.

2. TUMIA MUDA WAKO VIZURI KUTAFUTA GAUNI.

Dunia imebadilika sana siku hii. Mitindo mingi sana ya magauni ya harusi yako mitandaoni, kwenye magazeti, kwenye majarida na hata kwenye baadhi ya vioindi vya televisheni. Jitahidi kua na picha kichwani ya aina ya gauni unalohisi kua ni sawa kwako ili uweze kujiletea uwezo mzuri wa kuchagua. Wakati wote huu pia ujitahidi kuhusisha watu wanaohusika na harusi yako kama mpanbe wako au mshauri.

3. TAFUTA KINACHOKUVUTIA ZAIDI KATIKA GAUNI.

Mara nyingi mtu hujua kitu kinachomvutia sana kutoka na majaribio. Ukijaribu na kujaribu utajua baadhi ya vitu ambavyo vinaugusa moyo wako katika gauni. Ukishajua hivo basi utakua umepunguza uwanja wa magauni ya kutafuta na kupata kile kinachokuvutia zaidi.

4. JARIBU KUTIZAMA BAJETI YAKO.

Wabongo wanasema, mipango sio matumizi. Kila mara ni vyema kujua kamati yako imepanga bei gani kwaajili ya gauni. Unaweza chagua kitu ambacho kiko mbali sana na uwezo wako kifadhe na baada ya hapo kujikuta ukipata simanzi. Jitahidi kufanya makisi mazuri ya pesa iliyopo ili ujitahidi kupata kitu kizuri kinachoendana na dhamani yake.

5. CHAGUA MTU SAHIHI WA KUCHAGUA NAE NGUO.

Mara nyingi kama binadamu kuna hali flani ya kukubali au kukataa ushauri wa mtu na pia ushauri unatofautiana. Ukiamua kuchagua gauni la harusi chagua mtu ambae anweza kukupa ukweli na ambae sio muoga kusema kua hii haijakupendeza. Ukipata mtu wa ndio tu basi unaweza kujikuta sio katika harusi.

6. JUA MADUKA YA VIFAA VYA BIBI HARUSI NA UPAMBAJI WAO.

Kuna baadhi ya sehemu wamekariri jinsi ya kumpamba bibi harusi na sio kumpamba kutokana na jinsi alivyo. Kutokana na hayo inabidi uangalie baadhi ya picha walizopamba watu na uweze kutofautisha na kutizama kama kuna hali ya kufanana sana. ukiona ufanano umezidi jua kua hautafanyiwa kitu cha tofauti sana. Jaribu pengine na pengine tena.

7. ENDELEA KUWA NA MAWAZO CHANYA.
Ukiwaza vyema utapata mema, jaribu kujiweka katika hali ya kua wazi na kupokea mawazo kwa watu mbali mbali lakini usipoteze lengo. Kua mchangamfu, cha muhimu jua kua unapendwa.

WEDDING:ANGALIA PICHA ZA NGUO ZA HARUSI ZA KIAFRIKA ZAIDI NA JINSI YA KUFANYA HARUSI YAKO IONEKANE YA KIAFRIKA ZAIDI.

Mavazi ya harusi yanauwezo wa kufanya harusi kuonekana ya aina gani. kama katika moyo wako unatamani harusi yako iwe na muonekano wa kiAfrika zaidi basi wabunifu wengi wa mitindo wanashauri Bibi na Bwana harusi wajitahidi kuchagua mavazi yanayoendana na uafrika wanaoutaka. Kuna mavazi mengi kwanzia kwa wapamba harusi mpaka maharusi wenyewe ambayo yanaweza kuleta muonekano wa kiafrika katika harusi husika. Japokua pia upambaji wa ukumbi wa harusi unapaswa kuzingatia aina ya harusi unayotaka lakini kama unapenda kuonekana kiafrika zaidi, unaweza kuvaa kama hivi.

MAHARUSI

special thanks to Tekay designs.

UKUMBI

TAZAMA KEKI 10 ZENYE UZURI WA PEKEE KATI YA KEKI NYINGI ZA HARUSI

 

KEKI HII YA HARUSI NI MOJA KATI YA KEKI NZURI SANA ZA HARUSI IWAPO MAPAMBO YA HARUSI YATAKUA NA RANGI YA NJANO AMA GOLD NA NYEUPE. CAKE HII INA FLAVOUR YA VANILLA NA ILITENGENEZWA RASMI KWA AJILI YA MCHEZA FILAMU MAARUFU HUKO USWIZI.

 

USISTAAJABU UKADHANI HAYA NI MAUA YAMEPAMBWA MEZANI. HII NI KEKI YA HARUSI ILIYOTENGENEZWA KWA MFANO WA MAURIDI. LENGO LA KUTENGENEZA CAKE HII KWA RANGI NYEUPE NI KUASHIRIA USAFI WA MOYO, UMOJA NA UPENDO WA DHATI.

 

KEKI HII NI NZURI HASA KWA SABABU YA JINSI ILIVYOKUA NA UMBILE LA KUFANANIA NA UA. PIA UPAMBAJI WAKE WA PEMBENI HUVUTA HISIA YA KUTAMANI KUJUA AU KUGUSA JAPO UJUI ZILIVYOTUMIKA KUPAMBA NI NINI.

 

UNAPENDA CHOCOLATE? KEKI HII YA HARUSI AMBAYO ASILI YAKE NI UHOLANZI IMETENGENEZWA KWA LADHA YA CHOCOLATE ILA JINSI ILIVYOPAMBA NI MAAJABU. MTENGENEZAJI WA KEKI HII ANAITWA AMY DE GIULIO NA USTADI WAKE WA KUPAMBA KEKI KUNAWEZA KUKUFANYA USITAMANI KUIKATA.

KEKI HII IMEPEWA NAFASI NZURI KATI YA KEKI BORA DUNIANI SABABU YA UBUNIFU MKUU ULIOPO HAPO JUU. MTENGENEZA KEKI HUYU ALIWEZA KUTUMIA UBUNIFU WA HALI YA JUU KUWEKA PAMBO AMBALO LINAFANANA KWA ASILIMIA 100 PETE YA ENGAGEMENT ALOVALISHWA BIBI HARUSI KABLA YA NDOA. PIA UWEPO WA PEARLS KATIKA UPAMBAJI WAKE NI WA USTADI.

 

KEKI HII KWA GHARAMA YAKE YA AWALI NI $400. SABABU YA KEKI HII KUA NA BEI HII NI KAZI KUBWA ALOIFANYA MTENGENEZAJI KATIKA KUPANGA VIPANDE VYA CHOCOLATE NYEUPE KATIKA KILA NGAZI YA KEKI HII

 

UMESHWAI KUONA KEKI IMEFANANA NA KADI YAKO YA MUALIKO? KEKI HII AMBAYO INA LADHA YA CHOCOLATE KWA SEHEMU MOJA, STRAWBERRY KWA SEHEMU NYINGINE NA VANILLA LWA UPANDE MWINGINE NI KAZI YA UBUNIFU AMBAYO INAWEZA KUFANYA SHEREHE YAKO IWE NA JAMBO LA KUONGELEA

 

KAKI HII INA UMBILE LA PENTAGON AMBAPO INA NGAZI KUU 4. KITU KILICHOFANYA KEKI HII KUONEKANA NZURI ZAIDI NI MAPAMBO YA AINA TOFAUTI KATIKA KILA NGAZI AAMBAPO INAONESHA KABISA MTENGENEAJI HAKUA MZEMBE.
 

RANGI YA PINKI NA NYEKUNDU NI MOJAWAPO KATI YA VIVUTIO VIKUU KATIKA KEKI HII YA HARUSI. THE CAKE IS SIMPLE BUT STILL VERY BEAUTIFUL.

 

UPAMBAJI SIKU ZOTE HULETA TOFAUTI KATI YA KEKI MOJA NA INGINE. RANGI YA KIJANI ILIYOPAUKA PAMOJA NA MAPAMBO YNAYOFANANA NA MKUFU YAMEFANYA KEKI HII IWE KATI YA NZURI NA ZENYE UBUNIFU MKUU.


KAMA UNAFANYA SHUGULI YA UPAMBAJI, UANDAAJI WA HARUSI NA UTENGENEZAJI KEKI USISITE KUTUTAFUTA TUWEKE UBUNIFU WAKO MBELE YA JAMII. CONTACTS US, YOU ARE WELCOME.