For many Ghanaian couples, the wedding does not end on Saturday night. It ends on Sunday morning, dancing down the aisle of a church in matching cloth.
The thanksgiving service, held on the Sunday after the wedding, is a common tradition in Ghanaian churches. The newly married couple, their families and friends attend church together to thank God for the marriage and the successful ceremonies.
What happens
The couple usually arrives in coordinated outfits, often in a new wax print or other cloth chosen for the occasion, sometimes matching their families and friends. At the appropriate point in the service, the pastor invites them forward. The couple, followed by family and friends, dance down the aisle to the front, often to lively gospel or highlife music, bringing offerings of thanksgiving.
The pastor prays for the couple and the congregation joins in blessing them. In some churches, the couple is invited to say a few words.
Why it matters
The thanksgiving service reflects the central place of faith in many Ghanaian families. It publicly recognises that the couple has begun married life and asks for God’s blessing. It also gives members of the congregation who could not attend the wedding a chance to celebrate with the couple.
For families, it is a moment of pride and relief after months of planning and weeks of ceremonies.
Planning tips
Tell the church early. Inform the pastor or church office so they can include the thanksgiving in the programme.
Choose outfits. Decide whether family and friends will wear matching cloth, and share the details early.
Prepare the offering. Decide what the couple and families will give, and how it will be presented.
Plan a small gathering. Some families host lunch after the service for close relatives and friends who travelled for the wedding.
Keep it restful. After a busy weekend, keep the Sunday programme manageable, especially if the couple is travelling for a honeymoon.
Variations
Traditions vary between churches and denominations. In some, the thanksgiving is held a week or more after the wedding. Muslim families may hold prayers and gatherings of thanksgiving in their own traditions, and other faith communities have their own customs.
For guests
If you are invited to a thanksgiving service, wear the agreed cloth if you can, arrive on time and join the dancing. It is part of the celebration.
The ceremonies end with the reception. The marriage begins, for many Ghanaian couples, with a dance down the church aisle the next morning.
