Mexican Wedding

Have you ever seen such a brilliant bouquet? We love how the Mexican traditions are woven so beautifully into the wedding ceremony. The lassoing of the couple, the Las Arras Unity Coins, Los Padrinos y Madrinas (wedding attendants), and the coloured eggshells called Los Cascarones make this day complete.

What to Look for in a Venue for a Mexican Wedding

Mexican weddings are usually large, family affairs with several friends, loved ones, and acquaintances coming together to bless the happy couple on their new journey. Since many Mexicans are religious, most weddings take place in a Church or Chapel. However, many young couples prefer destination or resort-style wedding venues.

Since the wedding and reception could be held at the same venue, it is essential to ensure that the location is enough for hosting and accommodating a large number. The wedding venue can be a beach, resort, rooftop terrace, or even a stylish indoor stately banquet area. One of the Mexican wedding traditions includes La Callejoneada, the wedding parade (from the church to the reception venue) with mariachi music, and people dancing in the streets.

Colour Palettes for a Mexican Wedding

Mexican people love bright colours, and this theme is also reflected in their wedding traditions. The wedding colours should be bold, vibrant, and gorgeous when paired together. Some standard colour mixes are red, pink, green, coral, and blush. These bright colours can be tastefully added to buttercup or dandelion yellow, navy blue, seafoam green, and various shades of lavender and purple.

Some couples also prefer classic shades like cream, gold, silver, beige, and other neutral colours mixed with bright floral décor, vivid Mexican rugs, textiles, and other bright elements. The wedding colours should represent a bright future filled with love, laughter, and commitment.

Details for a Mexican Wedding

Mexican weddings are known for the traditions of El Lazo (Wedding Lasso), Las Arras Matrimoniales (Marriage Unity Coins), and their love for the Los Padrinos y Madrinas (Special Wedding Attendants). El Lazo is the ceremony symbolising unity. A large rosary in figure-eight shape is placed around the neck of the bride and groom after their vows to signify their unending love and union.

Las Arras Matrimoniales (13 unity coins) is a symbolic gesture meant to represent the unwavering commitment and trust in sharing household expenses and finances. Los Padrinos y Madrinas are special attendants selected by the couple to sponsor parts of the wedding, like giving a Bible, readings during mass, and sometimes hosting the bridal party.

Food for a Mexican Wedding

Traditional Mexican wedding food comprises an incredible variety of meats, veggies, and desserts. Since the reception ceremony can continue till late at night, the food and drinks are usually in abundance. Mexican wedding food usually includes tacos, enchiladas mole, tamales, cornbread, pork carnitas, various meats, salsa, sauces, and a dessert table with tres leches cake churros, pan dulce (sweet type of bread), and fried fritters with a dipping sauce (bunuelos).

Mexican wedding menus always include tequilas, beer, and margaritas with the food. During one of the many rounds of tequila, guests get used to hearing toasts like "¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa' dentro!", which are up, down, centre, and inside respectively. Another popular drink is Jarritos Mexican soda in various flavors for non-drinkers.

Table Setting Style for a Mexican Wedding

Like the rest of the wedding, the table setting style is quite colourful and welcoming. Mexican people are very conscious about the comfort of their guests and always ensure all small details are planned in advance. The table is usually set with a cream or beige tablecloth to offset the bright décor. Cork or rope placemats with colourful flatware and gold or silver cutlery and bright serviettes are pretty standard.

Copper or gold-coloured solid metal vases with colourful floral centrepieces in shades of orange, pink, red, coral, and green always brighten the table and make it look gorgeous. Other more minor aspects of the tables are tall white candles in golden candelabras, and authentic Mexican wine glasses and goblets.

Wedding Cake Ideas for a Mexican Wedding

The wedding cake in a Mexican wedding is usually massive, considering the sheer size of the guests attending. One of the most beautiful cake designs that are always a hit is hand painted ones, with geometric patterns, adorned with edible sugar work flowers in red, pink, and orange. Some couples also love having colourful cakes with traditional Mexican lace designs in vivid hues.

Other traditional cakes are white buttercream with edible azulejo tile décor in blue, yellow, green, orange, and pink. The icing piped in ribbons and patterns on the cake is often in bright colours. Irrespective of the cake style, Mexican weddings usually have edible sugar blooms in bold colours.

Portrait Props for a Mexican Wedding

A Mexican wedding is incomplete with sombreros! Some of the best, loving, and funny couple portrait photoshoots are with Mexican sombreros and a Spanish guitar. The bride can have large red and pink roses pinned in her hair or a large red bow with a yellow flower to look authentic in the photos.

Other portrait props that Mexican-inspired weddings should have are the papel picado, shredded paper decorations added to string, and hung on walls all around. These are usually in white but can also be in various bold colours. Adding Mexican textiles like family quilts, wall accents, and sashes to the wedding also makes for beautiful portrait props.

Favours and Gifts for a Mexican Wedding

Some of the best wedding favours and gifts for guests are mini pinatas. Colourful pinatas are a hit at all celebrations, and the mini ones can quickly be filled with thank you notes and candy. Other fabulous Mexican-themed favours for wedding guests are personalised Maracas. These can have your initials or names with the wedding date and place inscribed to make the gift unique and special.

If you both want to give something that will grow like your love and affection, you could also consider some succulents native to Mexico or sunflowers and jacarandas. Another beautiful gift could also be Dahlia pinatas, the national flower of Mexico.

Wedding Invitations for a Mexican Wedding

There are plenty of beautiful wedding invitation styles for Mexican themes. Depending on your preferred type, you could choose Picado-style invites in red or coral to fit the colour palette or a classic wedding invitation with a large border of succulents, cacti, and Dahlia pinatas.

Many couples also prefer the wedding invitations to be overly clear about the theme and opt for a sombrero design in multiple colours with a Spanish guitar and the words 'Hola!' at the top, so all wedding guests understand the traditions to follow. You could also have a border of papel picado (traditional Mexican shredded decorations) in vivid colours like sunshine yellow, green, or coral.

Outdoor Wedding Ideas for a Mexican Wedding

There are many options for outdoor weddings with a Mexican theme. A tent-style outdoor wedding with a raised dais for the vows under the Mexican national colours or white papel picado on the ceiling would be a nice touch to a Mexican-themed wedding. Other fabulous ideas are wedding floral arches with a riotous bloom of colourful flowers that match your wedding colour palette.

With so many people attending, an outdoor wedding can be filled with colourful chair covers to make the area look festive, sombreros for the men, and special floral crowns for the ladies. A mariachi band playing the wedding march will also be a beautiful touch.

Mexican Wedding Traditions

Petronella Photography is known for her gorgeous, multi-cultural wedding photography and inspiration shoots. Today she is sharing three different Mexican wedding traditions – the wedding lasso ceremony, las arras unity coin toss, and los cascarones – in order to help inspire 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation couples who are looking to incorporate their culture and heritage into their big day!

1. WEDDING LASSO CEREMONY

From Petronella Photography – “As part of the ceremony to symbolize unity, a large loop of rosary beads is placed in a figure eight shape around the necks of the couple after they have exchanged their vows.

The symbolism of the lasso is to show their love, union and protection of marriage, which should bind the couple together everyday as they equally share the responsibility of marriage for the rest of their lives. The specially appointed ‘padrinos’ are in charge of lassoing the couple together as they kneel in prayer. The lasso is then gifted to the bride as a souvenir of her taking the groom’s hand in marriage and symbolizes their commitment to each other.”

2. LAS ARRAS UNITY COINS

“The las arras matrimoniales (13 wedding coins) ceremony is an integral part of the marriage vows. Over the centuries, the gifting of the coins during the marriage ceremony evolved into a symbol of the groom’s dowry – his unwavering commitment to provide for his new family.

The 13 coins have multiple meanings, but at its core, the symbolic gesture is meant to communicate the couple’s trust in each other to share the responsibility of managing household financials. The groom makes a pledge to provide for his family while the bride vows to honor the blessings God has put into their lives.

Presented to the groom by an honored padrino and blessed by el padre (priest), the coins serve as a good luck token and symbolize prosperity. Additionally, the odd number of coins is not divisible and this symbolizes the strength of marriage.”

3. LOS CASCARONES

“Los cascarones are colored & decorated confetti-filled eggshells, which are crushed and sprinkled all over the head of the girl or guy that you’re attracted to. This tradition is meant to bring good luck.”

FURTHER INFO: MADRINOS & PADRINOS

“Madinos & Padrinos are wedding attendants who have special roles in the wedding. They are selected by the bride and groom to sponsor part of the wedding and specific items such as the lasso and arras. They serve as mentors both during the couple’s engagement and as newlyweds and often present the couple with a special gift during the wedding such as a Bible.”

MEXICAN ELEMENTS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR WEDDING

– Rosary matching that used in the lasso ceremony
– Sombreros
– Mexican wedding lace hanging decorations
– Jarritos Mexican soda
– Choose a wedding dress from a Mexican designer
– Dessert table featuring popular favorites from Mexico such as churros, powdered white Mexican wedding cookies, and cornbread.

Credits: Photography: Petronella // Photography Assistant: Sarah McNieill // Florals: House of Magnolias // Bridal Styling: Vaniglorious Brides // Event Design: Avenue Six Events // Headpieces: Olivia Headpieces // Bridal Gowns, Jewelry & Accessories: Madeleine Fig // Bridesmaid Dress: BCBG MaxAzria // Hair & Makeup: Girl Meets Bongga // Plating & Event Décor Rentals: Borrowed Blu // 125 year old chairs: La Lux Del Dia // Stationary: Eddy Martinez for Natural Impression Design // Cake: The Cake Bakeshop // Venue: Olvera Street in Los Angeles, California.