Mexican Wedding Traditions

Many Mexican Americans decide to have a wedding that celebrates their heritage. Some of the Mexican wedding traditions that are celebrated today began when the Spanish came to Mexico and intermarried with the Aztec Indians, blending their religion with some of the Aztecs customs of worship.

Some of the common Mexican wedding traditions include:

The Thirteen Gold Coins
The groom gives the bride 13 gold coins as symbol of his unquestionable trust and confidence. When the bride accepts, she is letting the groom know that she will take his trust and confidence unconditionally with total dedication and prudence. The number 13 represents Christ and his 12 apostles.

“Of promise”
This is a tradition of giving a ring, known as “of promise” before the ring of commitment. This ring can be given up to a year before the commitment ring and is common in long engagements.

The Lasso
To symbolize unity, a large loop of rosary beads or a cord is placed in a figure eight around the couples necks or wrists after they have exchanged their vows. The lasso can be made from a string of orange blossoms which symbolize fertility and happiness. The lasso is then worn through the remainder of the ceremony and is either removed by the couple who placed the lasso or by a priest and then given to bride as a memento of her becoming the mistress of the grooms heart and home.

Wedding Attire
The bride may choose to either wear a slim dress with a bolero jacket or a Flamenco style dress with ruffles at the hem. Instead of flowers, she may choose to carry a fan. The groom may choose to wear a bolero jacket with tight fitting pants, known as a matadorian outfit.

Traditional Foods & Music
The reception meal includes tortilla dishes made from chicken or beef, spicy rice, and beans. Sangria, a cold drink made from red or white wine, brandy, sugar, fruit juice, and soda water, is served.
Men dressed in black suits with their pants laced with silver, or completely dressed in white, play Mariachi music.