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WEDDING CEREMONY

At Legassi Gardens Eco-Chic Accra Apartments, we offer couples a Traditional African alternative to the wedding packages of Jamaica or Hawaii, with a unique difference: we provide vegan, plant based catering at our receptions!

Whether you are coming home to your roots or just want an experience that is distinctly memorable and creative, Legassi Gardens Weddings offers you a wedding ceremony and Honey-Moon holiday that you and your closest friends and relatives can treasure.

Why marry in Ghana?

There is a mystic about Ghana: being at the centre of the Earth, and at the very heart of Africa in terms of history and culture.

The Ghana traditional wedding ceremony is quite an experience, even for the guests, due to its rich cultural significance. If you are thinking of getting married soon, we will help you to plan your wedding well, so that you can fully enjoy the ceremony.

The Traditional Ghana marriage, including THE KNOCKING’ and the actual Wedding, is also an engaging ceremony, involving both families of the bride and the groom. Typically, the groom, accompanied by his family, attend the house of the bride and her family to formally ask for the bride's hand in marriage. This takes place in the presence of friends, family and well-wishers. Even in the modern world, the traditional Ghanaian ceremony is a necessary common rite of all marriages for all Ghanaian couples. It can also provide a cultural foundation for greater unity for any couple.

The ‘Knocking’

This practice is derived from the tradition of a visitor knocking at the entrance of a house and waiting to be welcomed before entering. The knocking takes place a week or two before the actual wedding ceremony. The groom and his family, bearing gifts that include money, two bottles of Schnapps and Cola, knock at the door/gate of the bride’s family home. The gifts are presented to whoever opens the door, and if they are accepted, the groom and his team are allowed to enter.

• Once inside, the spokesperson for the groom colourfully, yet not using direct language, explains the purpose of their visit – “to uproot a beautiful flower from her home”, with her parent’s consent. The spokesperson then asks what is required for them to acquire this flower. At this point, the bride’s family asks the groom’s family to return at a later date. During this waiting period, the bride’s family investigates the groom’s family background thoroughly. After they are satisfied that he is a suitable husband for her daughter, they send a list of requirements to the spokesperson who will pass them on the groom’s family. These items must be provided before the groom can marry the bride.

The Wedding Ceremony

• On the set date, the groom, his family, and guests show up early at the bride’s home. They knock at the door by saying ‘agoo’, and the bride’s family responds with ‘amee’. Each family then sits on different sides, facing each other. The ceremony then begins with a brief prayer.Introductions

• Each family chooses a family linguist (called Abusua Kyeamee) to serve as their spokesperson. The linguist of the bride’s family asks what mission the groom’s family has, to which the groom’s family linguist replies. After this, the family members are introduced by the linguist from their side, with the groom’s family going first, as they are the visitors. The language used is very respectful yet humorous and entertaining.Presentation of items

• The next item on the agenda of the Ghana traditional wedding ceremony is the presentation of items on the list given by the bride’s family. The items on the list include:a) Dowry/bride price – an undisclosed amount of money, and two bottles of whisky and ginb) Gifts for the bride’s father – money, a bottle of expensive whisky and a piece of kente fabricc) Gifts for the bride’s mother- a piece of kente cloth or a pair of sandals, and moneyd) Jewelry, shoes, headpieces and other gifts for the bridee) Six pieces of traditional wax print cloth for the bride

  f) Engagement ring

  g) Engagement Bible

  h) Money for the brothers or male cousins of the bride

  i) Food, drinks, and money for the guests who will attend the ceremony

• Note that the groom does not speak at all at this point. Also, if the groom’s family is not able to provide everything on the list, there is room for negotiation with the bride’s family.Introduction of the bride and groom

• After the bride’s family is satisfied with the requirements, the groom is introduced to the bride’s family. After he is introduced, a member of the bride’s family is instructed to bring the bride out of the house. Some humor is added to the occasion at this point as a ‘decoy’ is sent out instead of the bride. There is applause and cheering after the groom finally identifies his brideThe bride accepts the marriage offer

• Once the groom identifies his bride, she is asked by her father if she wants to marry the young man. She is also asked if the gifts that the groom’s family has brought are acceptable. Her joyful acceptance is greeted with jubilation and cheers from the crowd. At this point, the groom puts the engagement ring on her finger, then hugs and kisses her. A pastor or elder then presents the Engagement Bible to the bride as a symbol of how God’s importance in married life.
• The bride and groom are now a married couple and can sit together for the rest of the ceremony, after which blessings are proclaimed, and prayers are said. The couple receives congratulatory messages and advice from the elders and other guests. Lastly, everyone in attendance is treated to a feast accompanied by freely flowing drinks. Our 10 Day Wedding Package includes:-Accommodation for 14 persons (7 from each family) including Breakfasts and Evening Meals-4 Cultural Tours and Activities: options of Accra, Aburi, Ada, Volta, Koforidua, Cape Coast/Elmina-Culturally decorated Wedding Venue, Ceremony and Reception

  -Cultural Beauty preparations and Relaxation treatments

  -Blessing and Counselling by Traditional Priest

  -Honey-moon Dinner and First Night in a private venue