Some traditions of an African-American wedding ceremony may vary, but the key elements are:
Pouring of Libations for the Ancestors and Blessings of the Elders. Belief in the guidance of ancestral spirits and respect for the wisdom of the elders are integral parts of life in many African cultures. The ritual pouring of a libation calls on the ancestors to join the assembled guests in witnessing this sacred occasion.
A Libation Prayer.
All praise to God Almighty
Praise to our African ancestors and roots
God gave his power for the roots of
the trees to spread its branches wide.
If man does not know his roots, then he does
not know his God.
Let the spirit of God and ancestors
bring us closer in unity.
Tasting the Four Elements (also called Bitter Herb Tasting or Tasting of Four Temperaments). This ritual dramatizes the “traditional” promise to love “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.” Four elements sometimes used are: lemon, vinegar, cayenne pepper, and honey -- represent the sour, the bitter, the hot, and the sweet times of marriage.
Feeding of the Immediate Family. After the couple tastes the four elements, they demonstrate the African belief that they're joining not only their own lives, but those of their families by each feeding the other’s family from baskets of unleavened bread.
Exchange of Kola Nuts. In Africa, the kola nut is a symbol of healing and used for many medical purposes. In ceremonies, they exchange kola nuts with members of their families and each other right before they exchange their vows to symbolize that they'll always be able to heal their differences.
Cutting the Cord or Jumping the Broom. At the end of the ceremony, the eldest member of each family holds a ribbon across the aisle for the couple to walk through, symbolizing the “cutting” of their primary ties with the families who had raised them and their readiness to raise a family of their own. Some couples choose to jump the broom instead, a custom that has its roots in Africa and also symbolizes the beginning of making a home together.