Happy Black Marriage Day! 20 Ways To Celebrate Your Love.

By Aiyana Ma’at

Black Marriage day is right around the corner.

Black Marriage Day began in 2002 to create a cultural shift in the way marriage is viewed and celebrated in the Black community. Bet you didn’t know that it started with just 30 supporters initially. Hundreds of people celebrate Black Marriage Day every spring.

12 years after its beginning we thought we’d help to spark your imagination and give you some interesting and fun things to do this year. Whether you are considering celebrating this day for the first time or have celebrated since the beginning, I’m sure you’ll find something that appeals to you!

A Few Ideas To Make Black Marriage Day more Meaningful For The Two Of You

Bubble bath for two. Candles. Champagne. Need we say more?

Pick a TV show, get a season’s worth on DVD and make a running date to watch it together every night.

*Try brunch and a matinee; fancy restaurants are way more affordable in the a.m.

*Take a dinner cruise: The motion of the ocean sets off sensuous signals inside us (think water beds).

*Make your boo a personalized mixtape.

*Put a blanket in the backyard and have a picnic.

*A Night in Paris Without Leaving Home. You decorate your home like a restaurant in a foreign country. Make it as cheesy as possible while keeping it looking nice. Cook the themed food yourself. It shows off your cooking skills, your romantic side, your sense of humor and your creativity. <— (I really like this one.)

* Go wine tasting at a winery at a local winery event or get a couple of glasses, a bottle, and have a picnic lunch outdoors.

Ideas To Celebrate Black Marriage Day In Your Community

These ideas and suggestions come from the Smart Marriages Website. These are just the beginning of what you can do. Be as creative as you like and tailor the program to your community.

Ask judges and divorce lawyers to declare a moratorium on divorce – NO Divorces filed or granted during the week leading up to Black Marriage Day. Ask them to “schedule vacation” that week if that’s what it takes. Get this to the media!

Celebrate your own marriage. Teach by example! If you’re not married, offer to babysit so someone else can go celebrate.

Strengthen your own marriage. Read a book, attend a course. See smartmarriages.com for books and classes.

Create a “Ten Most Affordable (or best, or most romantic, or most creative) Marriage Dates” list/contest for your community. Get these to the media – radio, TV, newspapers, community newsletters. Ask radio stations to promote a contest – keep the focus on Marriage – not just any old date, but ideas for the best, most creative, or most affordable Marriage Date.

Honor members of your extended family or community whose marriages have had an impact on your life. Write a note of appreciation for marriages that have inspired you. Or, throw a surprise party.

Hold a “How this marriage has had an impact on my life” or a “Why I think this is a great Marriage” essay contest for children in the community (lessons learned, examples set, why they want a marriage like this when they grow up, etc.) Award prizes, get the media involved. Marriages described could be those of their parents, relatives, ancestors or one of local, state or national significance.

Send a marriage-strengthening book or give a gift certificate for a class to newlyweds, new parents, or anyone whose marriage could use a boost.

Organize a Community Marriage Policy and get it signed during the week leading up to Black Marriage Day. See www.marriagesavers.org to get started.

Encourage civic, community and religious leaders to acknowledge Black Marriage Day with an endorsement, announcement or declaration and activities.

Ask media to include a Strengthening Marriage Tip, Marriage Article, Marriage Quiz -” Of the Day” for the full week leading up to Black Marriage Day. Send them the material! It’s only seven days……

Recognize the couple in your community, region or state who has been married the longest.

Ask local stations to run Public Service Announcements about marriage.