The Wonderful Latin Wedding Traditions
One of the wonderful things about planning a Latin wedding is to celebrate the vibrant culture of the bride and /or the groom’s Latin culture. Making the wedding memorable is a must for a band. Incorporating cultural traditions into a wedding ceremony and reception is one way to make a wedding unforgettably unforgettable.
Here are some traditions that are important to know when planning and understanding the importance of having them be an integral part of the wedding day. There are many beautiful Latin cultures, but I have selected two – Cuban and Puerto Rican.
Cuban Wedding Tradition
Misa De Fianza
A few months prior to the wedding day, Cuban couples sometimes do a This ceremony is when the parents bless the marriage and when the couples exchange rings and participate in a special dance.
CUBAN WEDDING ATTIRE
Brides in Cuba often wear dresses with floral motifs made of satin or silk. However, in the USA the brides may want to wear white wedding gowns. If you’re a guest, you can wear clothing that reflects the Cuban culture. If the wedding is Black Tie preferred or optional, men would want to wear a tuxedo of any color, but most men stick with black.
THE WEDDING CEREMONY
There are a few wedding ceremony traditions that may happen. One is the unity candle that is lit and symbolizes the unity that the bride and groom need to have for a successful marriage. The other is the Arras. This is when the groom gives the bride 13 Gold coins. The priest blesses the coins before the ceremony begins. The bride keeps twelve of the coins, and the thirteenth coin is placed under her right shoe which symbolizes that she will never lack the necessities in life.
Cuban brides usually carry a white bouquet when walking down the aisle. White symbolizes purity, as well as fertility which are significant values in Cuban culture.
THE WEDDING RECEPTION
Latin weddings are all about having lots of fun, and many times last longer than other non-Latin wedding receptions.
Some of the essential dance genres you’ll hear at a Cuban wedding are Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata and Cha Cha. You’ll also hear a Comprasa where everyone grabs onto one another’s hips and sways while moving around the dance floor. A Rumba is another style of music and a specific type of dance. There could also be a Money Dance which is when the party and guests lavish money on the bride and groom while they dance.
CUBAN WEDDING FOOD AND DRINK
Food is an important aspect of a Cuban wedding. The foods are colorful and flavorful. Native dishes such as Masitas, which is fried pork. Another staple is Arroz y frijoles, which is fried rice and Cuban-style black beans. This dish is made with onions, garlic, and green peppers. Sweet plantains and yuca fritters are also common.
Cuban desserts would include the serving of the wedding cake but also traditional desserts such as guava cake, dulce de leche a type of caramel. Cubanitas are usually also served. These are bars with a coconut or fruit base. Flan, a delectable custard is also a popular dessert.
Rum drinks are very popular at Cuban weddings. Mojitos, daiquiris and Cubanitos, and Cuba Libre (rum and coke) are the four most popular rum drinks.
PUERTO RICAN WEDDING TRADITIONS
There are many shared traditions between Latin cultures, so the following are Puerto Rican wedding traditions that could be shared with other Latin traditions from all over Latin America.
It’s traditional in Puerto Rico for the bride and groom to have a rehearsal dinner and the expenses are covered by the groom’s parents. It’s also tradition for the bride and groom to meet with the priest who will marry them. This occurs weeks prior to the actual wedding ceremony.
THE WEDDING CEREMONY
Many Latin weddings don’t have a wedding party with bridesmaids and groomsmen. The wedding party would consist of the Godparents of the bride and groom – the Padrinos as well as the flower girl and ring bearer. The Padrinos are usually married themselves and act as mentors for the bride and groom.
Many brides carry a hand fan that matches their dress. The hand fan could be an heirloom passed down from generation to generation. The wedding ceremony also usually includes the exchange of rings, the arras (gold coins) a rosary prayer, and other blessings.
Another shared tradition in Cuban Wedding ceremonies is the blessing of coins. This takes place after the vows have been exchanged.
THE RECEPTION
During the reception, there is a detail that is sometimes used that is unique. During the toasts, the couple uses handcrafted cups made from polished coconuts.
A custom that is really not unique to a Latin wedding is the bouquet toss. However, the bouquet is usually not the original bouquet but a secondary one. Sometimes the bouquet of flowers is made up of a traditional Puerto Rican flower, the beautiful, Amapola flower.
Of course, the dances at a Latin wedding are unique to the culture. At a Puerto Rican wedding, guests will dance to Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Cha Cha, similar to a Cuban wedding. However, at a Puerto Rican wedding reception, guests will be dancing to Reggaeton, Bomba, and sometimes the traditional music of Puerto Rico called Plena dance music. At some Puerto Rican weddings the bride and groom will dance their first dance to a traditional Waltz called “Danza Criolla”.
TRADITIONAL WEDDING FOOD, DRINKS, AND DESSERTS
You can expect many wonderful traditional Puerto Rican foods to be served. Alcapurrias is one dish that are fritters made of Green Plantains. Roasted pork with rice and beans is another. Whereas black beans are traditionally Cuban, red beans are more traditionally Puerto Rican, so expect rice and red beans at a Puerto Rican wedding.
For drinks, Mojitos and Pina Coladas are more traditionally served, but of course, any alcoholic beverage would be available at most weddings.
Latin Wedding traditions
Not every couple will choose to celebrate with traditional Latin wedding customs, but no matter what, the evening will always be festive with lots of dancing and great food and drink!
It was very educational and informative for me as a band leader to research this topic. My band has performed at many Latin wedding celebrations, and we have enjoyed every moment.
Original photo of the couple taken from Chi Thee Wed.
If you’re interested in the Best of Both Worlds concept for your Latin wedding traditions wedding, check out that section of my website and call me at 267-259-7570. You can also fill out the contact form on the site. We love to hear from you!
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