Bride and Groom have chosen to conclude their ceremony with the tradition of jumping the broom.

Today we honor and celebrate the transition from two separate lives into one life united by love. We place a broom for jumping, which symbolizes the entrance of the couple into a new life together.

Lay the broom down.

Sharing a life with another person requires many “leaps of faith.” The leap they take together over the broom is also symbolic. By taking the leap, they make a gesture of dedication to working together through the tough times ahead, as well as the easy times. They leave behind the past and jump into the future together secure in their love.

Everyone, please count 1, 2, 3… Jump! Together with me now, and shout with joy as they perform their first act of working together as husband and wife;

1, 2, 3, jump!


 I do not claim to be the original author of this script. I am sharing it like this to make it easier for anyone to use.

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As our bride and groom jump, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. It marks the beginning of their making a home together. It symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and the welcoming of the new. It is also a call of support for the marriage from the entire community of family and friends. The bride and groom will now begin their new life together with a clean sweep!

The leap they take together over the broom is also symbolic. By taking the leap, they make a gesture of dedication to working together through the tough times ahead, as well as the easy times. They leave behind the past and jump into the future together secure in their love.
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Everyone, please count 1, 2, 3… Jump! together with me now, and shout with joy as they perform their first act of working together as husband and wife;
1, 2, 3, jump!


 I do not claim to be the original author of this script. I am sharing it like this to make it easier for anyone to use.

Back to Jump The Broom

We end this ceremony with the African American tradition of jumping of the broom. Slaves in this country were not permitted to marry, so they jumped a broom as a way of ceremonially uniting. Today it represents great joy and at the same time serves as a reminder of the past and the pain of slavery. 

As Bride and Groom jump the broom, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. It marks the beginning of making a home together. It symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and the welcoming of the new; the sweeping away all negative energy, making way for all things that are good to come into your lives. It is also a call of support for the marriage from the entire community of family and friends. The bride and groom will now begin their new life together with a clean sweep!
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One of the attendants can hand the broom to the groom, who makes sweeping gestures to eliminate any negative energies. The groom can then hand the broom to the bride, who places it on the ground in their path.

 I do not claim to be the original author of this script. I am sharing it like this to make it easier for anyone to use.

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The Wedding officiant or designated person asks the guests to form a circle around the couple as they stand in front of the broom on the floor.
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One of the attendants then hands the broom to the bride and groom, who hold the broom handle together and sweep around in a circle until the Minister or designated person is finished speaking. The groom then places the broom on the ground in their path, kisses the bride and holds hands.

Wedding Officiant: "Jumping the Broom" is a ceremony dating back to the 1600s and is an African American tradition. Slaves in this country were not permitted to marry, so they jumped a broom as a way of ceremonially uniting. Today it represents great joy and at the same time serves as a reminder of the past and the pain of slavery. 

As Bride and Groom jump the broom, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. It marks the beginning of making a home together. It symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and the welcoming of the new; the sweeping away all negative energy, making way for all things that are good to come into your lives. It is also a call of support for the marriage from the entire community of family and friends. The bride and groom will now begin their new life together with a clean sweep!
Minister: Everyone count 1, 2, 3... Jump! Together! 1, 2, 3... Jump!

The bride and groom jump over the broom, then kiss. Now. . . "Let the party Begin.”

 I do not claim to be the original author of this script. I am sharing it like this to make it easier for anyone to use.

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Brooms are used for cleaning and sweeping. Therefore that they are used to symbolize the sweeping away the remnants of the past which no longer serve us is appropriate. As the Bride and Groom jump they are reminded that remaining vigilant over these aspects of the day to day shall help them to achieve the quality of life that they aspire to.

The Broom is Laid down

Now putting the past behind you, and remembering always that the power to create the future ahead of you is your own, jump together into your common future!”

The couple jumps, kisses again


I do not claim to be the original author of this script. I am sharing it like this to make it easier for anyone to use.
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This song was found in the sheet music of “At an Ole Virginia Wedding” and is dated Sept. 9, 1900
Dark an’ stormy may come de wedder
I jines dis he-male an’ dis she’male togedder.
Let none, but Him dat makes de thunder,
Put dis he-male and dis she-male asunder.
I darefor ‘nounce you bofe de same.
Be good, go ‘long, an’ keep up yo’ name.
De broomstick’s jumped, de world not wide.
She’s now yo’ own. Salute yo’ bride!


I do not claim to be the original author of this script. I am sharing it like this to make it easier for anyone to use.

Back to Jump The Broom​