Mexican Wedding Traditions

In Mexico, as in all countries, there are particular wedding traditions that have existed for a long time and continue existing through the 21^st century.

As some people know most Mexican weddings are big in size, mainly because Mexican families are big and traditionally, it is very important for us to involve all the people we love, to witness the magical day. Also, we, as Greeks do, must involve everyone in the coordination and planning of the big event.  Some Mexican weddings can have over 1,000 guests!

In terms of music, Mariachis are key and very important. Their music helps celebrate the marriage. Mariachis can play at the end of the ceremony or during the reception or towards the end of the wedding.

In Mexican ceremonies (most of them catholic) the Bride has to have two bouquets, one for her and the other for the Virgin, which is an “ofrenda” or a gift from the Bride to the Virgen to obtain the blessing of the virgin for the marriage. The main bouquet is carried by the Bride and the other bouquet is carried by a bridesmaid called “godmother of the bouquet”. Additionally  during the ceremony, the Groom gives to the Bride 13 gold coins which symbolize the financial responsibility for the new family; each coin is for every month of the year and the 13^th is for good luck. After the coins are given, the Bride and Groom are covered by a rope “lazo” which symbolizes their eternal union.

During the party and after the first dance, in some Mexican weddings in small villages the Bride dances around the guests and they have to pin a bill on the veil, which means good luck (financially) and the money is used on their honeymoon. Later during the reception the guest dance a traditional song called “la vivora de la mar”, where the Bride and Groom and all the guests dance around in a line, similar to muscial chairs.

After the reception and (much) drinking and dancing, Mexican weddings usually have a second dinner. This dinner is usually greasy, spicy and heavy so the guests can keep partying until very late in the night or very early the next day.

In some Mexican towns, once the Bride and Groom leave the reception, people cannot see them the next day because they have consummated the matrimony on the wedding night and it would be indecent to see them.

Another peculiar tradition in Oaxaca (State in the southern part of Mexico), Weddings can be three to four days long, the  whole town assists the wedding and women wear gold jewelry symbolizing  “abundance for the new couple” . At  these weddings the banquet includes traditional mole, rice and tortillas.

Mexico is a country full of culture an traditions. There are many, way to many traditions in Mexican Weddings so these are only some that we would like to share with you now… till next time.

***Wedding Planner is a regular bi-weekly ESCAPES magazine on-line column by Adriana Dupinet, a Wedding Planner and Event Organizer from ONE Happenings Weddings & Events.

Read next Adriana’s column, which will be posted on January 18, 2010.