Caribbean Weddings - Traditions & Ceremonies
Your Caribbean Wedding in the UK
Discover Caribbean Weddings; From Culture, Rhythm & Celebration
Caribbean weddings are beautiful celebrations of love, heritage, music and traditional cuisine. From vibrant entrances with upbeat music to hearty Caribbean stews and endless glasses of rum punch at the reception, Caribbean weddings are undeniably one of the most heart-warming and vibrant events you will host or attend!
Like every couple, Oakley Hall has its own beautiful story to tell. Built in the 1800’s, our home-away-from-home wedding venue has been host to grand Regency Balls, visits from Romantic novelist Jane Austen and, within the last 20 years, a wedding venue to over 600 weddings. As well as having a rich and unique history, Oakley Hall is one of Hampshire’s largest event spaces – welcoming up to 350 of your nearest and dearest.
Rituals and Marriage Ceremonies that Define the Day
Whilst Caribbean wedding traditions differ depending on the heritage of the bride and/or groom, one of the most common elements seen in Jamaican weddings, Trinidadian weddings and Barbadian weddings is the Libation Ceremony. Although not a mandatory part of Caribbean wedding ceremonies, the Libation ceremony is one of the most recognisable traditions. It honours the families’ ancestors and elders, whereby the bride and groom pour alcohol onto the ground as a sacred offering.
A second well-known wedding tradition within the Caribbean culture is the ‘Jumping the broom’ ceremony. Similar to the Libation ceremony, jumping the broom honours ancestors whilst symbolising the couple’s marriage. The officiant on the day will usually provide a poem or prayer before placing the broom down on the ground for the newlyweds to jump over. The broom itself can be a family heirloom or bought especially for the day.
Within the Caribbean, there are 13 independent countries, each of which holds its own history, customs and traditions. Jamaica, for example, is predominantly Christian, which would see more weddings involving a pastor/officiant. Whereas a significant proportion of the Trinidadian population is Hindu, which would welcome a Vivaha ceremony within a Mandap.
Oakley Hall Hotel is a large capacity wedding venue nestled in the North Hampshire countryside, perfect for your Caribbean wedding. Our one-of-a-kind wedding venue can be booked with our Dry Hire Package, or with our set Oakley Hall Wedding Packages. Dry Hire is a popular choice for Caribbean weddings as it offers complete flexibility for catering, bar services and décor.
Music and Dance - The Heartbeat of Caribbean Weddings
Caribbean weddings aren’t Caribbean weddings without an upbeat, musical ambience - whether it be a carefully curated playlist of reggae, calypso or dancehall tunes or live entertainment to wow your guests.
Caribbean weddings often feature a form of live entertainment during the day, from Caribbean steel drums and live bands to tribute singers! It’s a fantastic way for couples to add even more energy to the celebrations whilst providing a great source of entertainment for their guests! The Garden Pavilion is the perfect space for Caribbean wedding receptions, providing ample space for a DJ, live band and up to 350 guests. Our couples often hire steel pan drummers to play on the outdoor Garden Terrace during their drinks reception, and like to source large dance floors to provide plenty of space for dancing!
Food and Feast - A celebration of flavour
At the heart of every Caribbean wedding is the food. Warming stews, punchy rum cake, flavourful curries and not forgetting the Caribbean specials of fried plantain and salt fish! The Caribbean culture brings together a spectacular collection of ingredients, flavours and aromas that will put a smile on everyone’s faces.
Couples in the past have chosen to hire their caterers externally to ensure that their wedding cuisine is prepared and cooked in the traditional way. With Oakley Hall’s Dry Hire package, you have the flexibility to choose your own caterers and your own menus. Depending on the caterer you choose, you could have a mouthwatering buffet or plated wedding breakfast that includes jerk chicken, curried goat, rice and peas, Macaroni Pie and fried plantain.
Alternatively, mixed-cultured couples (with at least one being of Caribbean heritage) do choose to book their wedding at Oakley Hall using our Wedding Packages and work with our Head Chef to design a bespoke Caribbean menu. Previous menus have included mini saltfish fritters, jerk chicken tartlets with pineapple salsa, plantain & avocado bruschetta, jerk chicken tacos and BBQ pulled jackfruit tacos.
Bringing Caribbean Traditions to Oakley Hall
Oakley Hall Hotel sets the perfect scene for your Caribbean wedding celebrations, with a variety of unique spaces to say your ‘I do’s’. Our beautiful outdoor ceremony space, the Woodland Pavilion, has the bright & beautiful backdrop of our elegant gardens, whilst the Garden Pavilion has the space to host up to 350 of your loved ones. Our team likes to think of Oakley Hall as a ‘black canvas’ for your wedding day. Although our venue does hold its own character, we have tastefully designed the space to suit all colour schemes and other décor.
We are proud to be an incredibly flexible venue, helping you to design the wedding day of your dreams. From our adaptable and talented chefs and knowledgeable wedding coordinators to our brilliant operations team, who will be with you on the day, each and every team member at Oakley Hall strives to give you the wedding day of your dreams!
Couples even have the option to extend their celebrations into a multi-day wedding event or they can hire our hotel on an entirely exclusive basis! With 50 beautiful bedrooms & suites onsite, the award-winning Glasshouse Restaurant and easy access to neighbouring towns/cities, you and your guests will have everything you need during the wedding.
Planning tips for Caribbean weddings in the UK
We understand that for many couples, planning your wedding can be an overwhelming process. So, to hopefully help ease those nerves, we’ve listed below our top tips to plan your Caribbean wedding!
Suppliers – Book your suppliers well in advance! Although it may seem that there are a lot of suppliers in the area, they will get booked up by other couples. To avoid disappointment, book your suppliers at least 9 months prior to your special day.
The Venue – Every venue in the UK is different, so it’s crucial that you decide what’s most important to you. Aesthetic? Location? Accommodation? Flexibility? Space? Once this has been decided, always trust your gut instinct!
Caribbean Heritage & Traditions – If you want to incorporate Caribbean traditions into your special day, it’s key to explain this to your venue and suppliers. Some venues might have restrictions and regulations that can prevent certain rituals from taking place, which might even be a deciding factor for your venue choice.
Cuisine – Like all of your other suppliers, we would highly recommend booking your caterer at least 12 months before the wedding day. Every caterer is unique, so try to attend menu tastings and learn more about the caterer before signing on the dotted line. Do they offer the dishes you want for your day? Do they prepare/cook them in the traditional way that you were hoping?
FAQs about Caribbean weddings at Oakley Hall
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What traditions are part of a Caribbean wedding?
The traditions seen in Caribbean weddings depend on the country the bride and/or groom are from, as each Caribbean country holds its own unique history and traditions. Traditions that are seen frequently in Caribbean weddings include the Libation ceremony and ‘Jumping over the broom’.
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Can Oakley Hall accommodate a Libation ceremony?
Absolutely! We would be delighted to host your Libation ceremony. To check our availability, please speak with a member of our Wedding & Events team by calling 01256 783350. Or if you would like to view our spaces for your Libation ceremony, you can book an appointment here.
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Are live bands and DJs allowed at the venue?
Of course! There is no sound limiter at our venue, but DJs must end by 12am and live music (bands or singers) must end by 11pm. PAT testing (if using the venue’s electricity) and Public Liability Insurance documentation for each supplier will need to be sent to Oakley Hall prior to the wedding day.
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Can we bring our own Caribbean caterers?
You are welcome to bring your own Caribbean caterers to Oakley Hall. All we ask is that they meet with a member of our Senior Management team prior to the day. Please note that an onboarding fee may apply.
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How many guests can Oakley Hall host for a Caribbean wedding?
Our venue can host up to 350 guests in the Garden Pavilion, depending on the layout and décor that you have chosen. For outdoor ceremonies, our Woodland Pavilion can seat up to 160 guests.
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Is accommodation available for wedding guests on-site?
Oakley Hall is home to 50 beautiful bedrooms and suites, all of which are onsite. There are 4 standards to choose from, in addition to the cosy 3 bedroom Garden Cottage which is just a short walk from the main hotel.
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Can we host a weekend-long Caribbean wedding celebration?
Yes! Weekend long wedding celebrations are welcome to be held at Oakley Hall Hotel and are popular choice for our multi-cultural couples. Oakley Hall can be booked for your weekend-long wedding celebration either with our Dry Hire package or with our Exclusive Use package (which offers more privacy for couples and their guests).