Wedding Traditions
Learn about the traditions that will take place during our wedding and how you can take part in them!
Reception Traditions
El Baile del Billete (The Money Dance)
The Money Dance is a wedding tradition where guests dance with the bride or groom while pinning money to their clothing. This symbolizes financial support and well wishes for the newlyweds as they start their life together. The dance is lively and joyful, often filled with laughter and playful moments!
💃 How to participate: Guests circle around the couple to take turns dancing with the bride or groom. To participate, bring a small bill and attach it to their outfit with a pin. The dance is short and fun, so feel free to add a spin, twirl, or a fun move to make it even more memorable. If you don't have a small bill with you, please feel free to still participate - this is less about money and more about sharing a special moment with the couple!
La Víbora de la Mar (The Sea Snake)
La Víbora de la Mar is a lively wedding tradition that symbolizes the unpredictable challenges of marriage. The bride and groom stand on chairs, holding the veil as a symbolic bridge, while their family surrounds them for support. Guests form two human chains—one of women and one of men—snaking through the dance floor. The men's line then playfully charges at the groom, trying to knock him off his chair, while his family fights to keep him steady. Through it all, the groom must hold onto the veil, representing the couple's resilience.
🐍 How to participate: Hold hands with other guests and follow the leader as you weave through the dance floor, ducking under the couple's bridge. The faster the music, the wilder it gets! Meanwhile, the groom's family members will try to keep him steady while the men's chain attempts to knock him down. Just go with the flow and enjoy the fun!
El Muertito (The Little Dead Man)
El Muertito is a playful tradition where the groom is lifted into the air by his friends, tossed up, and has his jacket, shoes, or tie removed as a joke about leaving behind his single life. The bride then gathers his clothes and dresses him again, symbolizing the start of their marriage. This is one of the most lighthearted and entertaining moments of the wedding.
☠️ How to participate: If you're a friend or family member of the groom, help lift and toss him in the air while his accessories are removed. If you're watching, cheer and encourage the bride as she picks up his clothes and dresses him again. The tradition ends when the groom is fully dressed, marking his transition into married life. This is a great moment for photos and laughter, so enjoy the fun and energy of the celebration!
The Calenda
A Calenda is a vibrant and festive wedding parade that symbolizes the union of two families and invites the whole community to celebrate the couple's new journey together. The parade begins at the church and winds through the streets, featuring traditional music, dance, and symbolic elements that bring luck, prosperity, and happiness to the newlyweds. Join the parade, dance alongside everyone, and celebrate with music, mezcal, and joyful energy!
Tiliches
Tiliches are playful characters dressed in colorful, tattered costumes, representing fun and spontaneity. Their lively dances bring humor and energy to the calenda, making it even more entertaining.
Marmotas
Marmotas are large, round paper lanterns mounted on poles and carried through the parade. They symbolize light guiding the couple into their new life together and add a spectacular visual element to the procession.
Banda
The banda provides the heart and soul of the calenda, playing lively Oaxacan music that keeps everyone dancing and celebrating. The rhythm of the drums and brass instruments creates an electrifying atmosphere.
Chinas Oaxaqueñas
These beautifully dressed women wear colorful, embroidered outfits and carry floral-adorned baskets on their heads. Their presence in the calenda is a tribute to Oaxacan culture and femininity.
Guajolotes (Turkeys)
The guajolote (turkey) is a symbol of abundance and prosperity. In some traditions, turkeys are gifted or paraded during the wedding as a blessing for the couple's future home.
Mezcal
As part of the celebration, mezcal, the iconic Oaxacan spirit, is shared with guests in small cane tubes called 'carrizos.' This represents hospitality, good fortune, and a communal toast to love and happiness.
Ceremony Traditions
El Lazo
El Lazo (The Wedding Lasso) is a beautiful tradition symbolizing the couple's unity. A large looped rosary is placed around the bride and groom's shoulders in a figure-eight shape as a sign of their eternal bond. It remains in place during the prayers and blessings of the ceremony.
Las Arras
Las Arras (The Wedding Coins) are 13 symbolic gold or silver coins given to the bride by the groom, representing his trust, commitment, and responsibility in providing for their future together. The number 13 represents Jesus and his apostles, signifying faith and prosperity in marriage.