29 Sep 5 Hispanic Wedding Traditions for Your Big Day
Wedding Traditions You Won’t Want to Skip
Weddings are a time to celebrate love, commitment, and the joining of two families. We love seeing how DB Brides incorporate familial and cultural traditions into their big day to honor the generations that came before them. Keep reading to learn more about five unique and beautiful Hispanic wedding traditions!
Madrinas & Padrinos (Sponsors)
It is a tradition amongst most Hispanic weddings for the couple to select Los Padrinos or sponsors for the wedding. Madrinas & padrinos can be anyone the couple chooses, but most often they are close family members & friends. These individuals are there with the couple throughout the entire wedding process and help give advice and guidance to the young bride & groom. In addition, these madrinas & padrinos are responsible for sponsoring different aspects of the wedding & ceremony such as the las arras matrimoniales, el lazo, la mantilla, and more.
El Lazo (Wedding Lasso)
Following the exchanging of vows, a wedding lasso is placed around the shoulders of the bride & groom in a figure-eight shape. This lasso is used to represent the unity between the couple and links them together for the future. Couples might use an oversized beaded rosary or ribbon to complete this unity ritual. For an easy wedding DIY, you can make your own lasso using beads, rope, cords, ribbon, and more for a custom look!
DB bride Katherine and her husband chose to incorporate this tradition into their own wedding. “The lasso can be used for less religious couples who still want traditional elements, and the rosary is often used for a more religious couple. We chose the rosary because we wanted to use the same one my sister used at her wedding and start a family tradition. Usually, the couple chooses a married couple they look up to, so we had my mother and father place it on us. Then the officiant can say a prayer or some special words about the union to the couple.”
Las Arras Matrimoniales (Marriage Coins)
Las arras matrimoniales is another tradition seen at many Hispanic weddings. During the ceremony, the groom presents his new bride with thirteen coins (twelve gold & one platinum coin). These coins are a representation of his promise to provide for his new wife and future family. The couple’s sponsors might provide the coins, and keep them in a jewelry box or simple pouch.
Money Dance
This fun tradition is just what it sounds like! Occurring sometime during the reception, this celebration is a way for guests to shower the couple with a simple gift and aid in providing them a prosperous and happy life together. Guest can pay a small price (usually a dollar or more) for a dance with the bride or groom. In other cases, some couples might choose to have guests pin money to the bride’s dress while she and the groom take a spin on the dance floor.
La Mantilla
If you’re looking to bring a traditional touch to your bridal look, a mantilla veil is a beautiful choice. These circular lace-trimmed veils have been worn by brides for years. Mantilla comes from the word manta, meaning cape. It is custom in traditional Catholic weddings for the bride to wear a veil and have her shoulders covered. A mantilla veil, with its cape-like length, provides both style and coverage.
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Disappearing Act
The Disappearing Act is one of our favorite and most special Hispanic wedding traditions. Towards the end of the ceremony, it is custom for the bride and groom to sneak away from their guests. If the couple successfully disappears without anyone seeing them, they will be blessed with good luck. It’s also believed that good luck will rain down on the first guest who notices they are missing.
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Featured image: Juliana Rose Photography
