We would like to share with you another love story. In September we presented you a love story by Shaliz and Robert, captured by Chris+Lynn Photography. This time, we have a new love story to tell.
ESCAPES magazine, a lifestyle magazine on living in Baja California Sur, is featuring in its current issue a wonderful story on Mexican Wedding Traditions, and part of the photographs were taken at Capella Pedregal as well. For publishing the story and making the photo shoot happen we would like to give a big THANK YOU to Adriana Dupinet and Leslie Bost, Wedding Planners from ONE Happenings, who helped organize the photo shoot, and to Francisco Estrada from Photoamore, Wedding Photographer from Cabo San Lucas.
Every culture and country has its own way of celebrating two souls in love. In Mexico, there are specific traditions that have defined our culture for many years, traditions that to this day, are prevalent in our society. Mexican wedding traditions are a result of a combination of cultures: Indigenous groups, such as the Huicholes, Tarahumaras, Mayas, and mostly Aztecs and then the clash of Spanish influences with the Catholic religion.
Picture-perfect locations, beautiful weather all year long, immaculate beaches and stunning nature make Baja California Sur as one of the most wanted wedding-states of Mexico. In Baja Sur the Mexican wedding traditions mix with the culture and traditions of the wedding couple, which make the weddings here even more unique and special. If you are planning your wedding in Baja California Sur, we invite you to embrace some of the traditions of our land described below and include them in your ceremony. The spirit of Mexico will thus always be with you.
Mexicans have extremely strong family values and most families are large. Having a large number of guests, for Mexicans, is extremely important and almost unavoidable. Mexicans believe that it is important to share their special day with all of their loved ones and friends and even friends of friends, so that everyone can be witness to their love and commitment. Some of the guests are chosen as ‘Godparents’ of the wedding and contribute to the event in different ways, whether being the ‘godparent’ of the cake, music, location, etc. This deed demonstrates affection for the couple, by paying for these things. It is a matter of great respect to be chosen as a godparent, as godparents are considered to be wise and experienced in love and marriage and can give advice to the couple not only in the planning process, but during their marriage and life together.
A large percentage of Mexicans wed in a traditional Catholic ceremony. Catholic ceremonies in Mexico also assign ‘godparents’, which are usually close friends or family of the couple. These ‘godparents’ have different responsibilities during the ceremony such as: velación (Vigil Godparents), lazo or lasso, rings, coins, rosmary & bible and lastly, the madrina or matron of the bouquet. Each godparent has a specific job during the catholic mass and each honor has a specific significance. Let us talk of these Mexican traditions found during the mass of each catholic wedding.
The Velación or Vigil godparents are the most important godparents during the mass. The godparents, preferably family members, must be married by the Catholic Church and not divorced, as they will watch over the new couple. They are an example to follow by; and one who can always give advice to the new couple. They must carry two candles, one candle each, which will be lit with the churches candle when the Priest indicates. They also sign the churches wedding certificate as witnesses of the marriage.
The godparents of the Lasso put the lasso around the couple’s neck in the shape of an eight. The Lasso signifies the union of the two in an unbreakable bond of love and trust. At the end of the ceremony, the lasso is removed by the godparents of the lasso or by the priest and is given to the bride, who will cherish it as it represents that the bride is now the owner of the grooms heart and symbolically, of their home.
During the vow exchange, the Groom gives to the Bride 13 golden coins which symbolize the financial responsibility for the new family; they symbolize all the wealth and material possessions that the groom gives to his bride, as a mark of his unquestionable trust and confidence in her. The acceptance of the coins by the bride, in turn symbolizes her consent to maintain his trust and take care of him and his belongings with utmost devotion. Each coin is for every month of the year and the 13th is for good luck. It is also believed that the 13th coin symbolizes the extra income a family will have and that they will share with the poor and the needy.
During the ceremony, the bride & groom must kiss a crucifix and a bible to show their loyalty to one and other and once the bride & groom have proclaimed their vows of fidelity, they exchange their rings, which are placed on the ring finger. The rings are carried by the godparents of the rings and given to them when the Priest indicates. The rings usually have the names of the bride and groom inscribed inside, as well as the date of the marriage. Tradition dictates that the rings will be worn until death do them part; they are a promise of eternal love that the couple makes before God and before the guests the day of their wedding. An interesting fact is that the ring finger (4th ringer on the left hand) became such, because it is believed that the vein that runs through that finger goes straight to the heart. The throwing of the rice at the end of the mass now a day is substituted by flower petals or bubbles and symbolizes the good predictions to form a family.
Mexican Bride has three bouquets. The Matron of the Bouquet carries the 1st bouquet; this Matron must be single and signify purity, as her bouquet is given to the bride at the end of the ceremony so that the bride can offer it to the Virgin of Guadalupe as a symbol of respect and purity and to obtain the blessing of their marriage. The main bouquet is the one the Bride holds during the wedding and the third bouquet is the one that she tosses during the party. The bouquet is not strictly a Mexican tradition, but it is important to mention that the flowers represent fertility of the couple and it is believed that the foliage pushes away bad spirits that day.
The veil plays an important role during the ceremony, besides complementing the clothing and over all look, it symbolizes the purity and chastity of the bride. In old times the veil would be removed until the end of the celebration and thus the groom would kiss the bride and receive her purity.
In terms of music, the traditional Mariachis have to be part of the party! The Mariachis can start during the church or at the end of the mass or even during the party to mark the start or finish of the reception. During the reception, in some Mexican weddings, specifically in small towns of Mexico, the bride dances around the guest and each guest places on her dress or veil bills of money with pins. This wishes the happy couple good luck financially as well as helping the bride & groom have some extra spending money for their honeymoon. Additionally, the dance called ‘Vibora de la Mar’ is danced where the bride & groom lead all the guests to dance behind them like a train.
Mexican weddings are so long, that many times the party goes until sunrise, so usually a second dinner is served through the night called a ‘tornaboda‘ and consists of snacks or plated traditional meals usually spicy like tamales, tacos or chilaquiles.
Read the article in ESCAPES magazine here.
Read more about Capella Pedregal Weddings and our Yours Truly program on how we can help you have a beautiful wedding or honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, or call us for more information (877) 247-6688 or visit www.capellayourstruly.com.
