Are you planning a wedding and looking for some unique traditions to incorporate?
Guatemalan weddings contain vibrant colors, beautiful music, and interesting customs.
From the ceremony to the reception attire, so much culture is packed into each Guatemalan wedding tradition that will make your special day truly unforgettable.
In this blog post, we’ll explore four different types of Guatemalan wedding traditions – from ceremony traditions to the food and drink served – giving you plenty of ideas on planning a fantastic celebration.
So let’s dive into the world of Guatemalan weddings.
Guatemalan Wedding Traditions
Ceremony Traditions
1. The Proposal
It is common for Guatemalans to propose marriage with a romantic gesture.
Many men choose to give the woman they love a bouquet of flowers, often accompanied by a heartfelt poem or song.
Other popular props include balloons, jewelry, and cards.
Depending on the couple’s cultural background and tastes, he may also take her out on a special night to make his proposal.
Whatever the case may be, the most important thing is that both partners are happy and looking forward to their future together.
2. Pre-Wedding Celebrations
Guatemalans tend to have bachelor and bachelorette parties.
These gatherings usually take place in the weeks before the wedding as an opportunity for friends and family to come together and celebrate the couple’s upcoming nuptials.
They are typically filled with food, drinks, music, dancing, and lots of laughs.
Sometimes, a designated best man or maid of honor may even organize special activities or games for everyone present to enjoy.
3. Pre-Wedding Rituals
In Guatemala, pre-wedding rituals involve the bride and groom’s families coming together to bless the union.
This usually occurs at a special ceremony where both families are present.
During this ritual, the couple is blessed by their parents and other family members with prayers of protection and good luck for their future life together.
The bride may also receive gifts from her family, such as jewelry or clothing she will wear on her wedding day.
The Wedding Day
4. Wedding Day Rituals
On the wedding day itself, Guatemalan couples exchange vows and rings during a traditional ceremony conducted by a priest or religious leader.
After exchanging vows, they often share an intimate kiss to seal their commitment to each other before being pronounced husband and wife.
Following this, guests shower them with rose petals as they walk down the aisle, hand in hand as newlyweds.
Post-wedding rituals include a blessing from the priest who officiated the ceremony, followed by a procession to the reception hall where food is served, and music plays until late into the night.
At some point during this celebration, it is customary for all present to gather around the couple while holding lit candles, symbolizing light that will guide them through life’s journey ahead of them.
Reception Traditions
5. Food and Drinks
Guatemalan wedding receptions are full of delicious food.
Traditional dishes such as tamales, pepian, and chiles rellenos are served alongside drinks like horchata or agua de jamaica.
Horchata is a sweet drink made from rice milk and cinnamon while agua de jamaica is a refreshing beverage made from hibiscus flowers.
Guests can enjoy both drinks throughout the reception.
Alcohol is commonly served at Guatemalan weddings.
It’s a tradition for the bride and groom to offer wine or champagne during their wedding toast, as it symbolizes joy and happiness.
Alcoholic beverages are also typically served at the reception afterward, as it is seen as a way of celebrating the union of the bride and groom.
Popular drinks may include margaritas, beer, tequila, or mezcal.
6. Music and Dancing
Music plays an important role in any wedding celebration in Guatemala. Marimba bands or DJs provide music for guests to dance to traditional songs like “La Cucaracha” or “El Jarabe Tapatio”.
Guests will also enjoy live performances by local musicians playing instruments such as guitars, violins, flutes, drums, maracas, and more.
The first dance is a common tradition at Guatemalan weddings.
It is typically performed between the newly married couple as an expression of their love for one another and their commitment to spending the rest of their lives together.
During the dance, all of the guests surround them with cheers and support as they move gracefully around the room.
It is often seen as a very special moment that is cherished and remembered for years.
7. Gifting
At the end of the night, guests must give gifts to the newlyweds, such as money or jewelry.
This is usually done during a special ceremony known as el arras, where coins are exchanged between the bride and groom, symbolizing their commitment to each other.
As favors for attending the reception, partygoers receive candles with religious symbols on them along with traditional sweets like sugar skulls or pan dulce (sweet bread).
Guatemalan wedding receptions are full of vibrant energy, with delicious food and drinks, lively music and dancing, and thoughtful gifts and favors.
As the festivities come to a close, let us now take a look at what attire is traditionally worn for these special occasions.
Attire Traditions
8. Traditional Wedding Attire
Brides in Guatemala typically wear a white dress with intricate embroidery or lace details, a mantilla veil, and a floral headpiece called a corona de flores.
The traditional Guatemalan wedding dress is often made of lightweight fabrics such as silk, cotton, or chiffon to keep the bride cool during the hot summer months.
The mantilla veil is usually made of tulle and decorated with delicate lace appliques for an elegant look.
The coronas de flores are typically crafted from fresh flowers like roses, daisies, carnations, and baby’s breath arranged into a crown-like shape that rests atop the bride’s head.
Grooms in Guatemala usually wear black suits, white shirts and bow ties, and a sombrero hat known as a guacamayo.
This traditional hat is round-shaped with wide-brimmed edges that provide shade from the sun on warm days.
Other accessories, such as suspenders or pocket squares, can be added for extra style points if desired.
Guests at Guatemalan weddings are expected to dress up in bright colors such as reds, oranges, yellows, greens blues purples pinks whites etc., which represent the joyous celebration of the union between two families.
Men should opt for collared shirts paired with trousers, while women may choose either dresses or skirts, depending on their preference.
Accessories such as jewelry can be worn but should not overpower one’s outfit; instead, they should complement it nicely.
The traditional attire of a Guatemalan wedding is an important part of the culture, with each outfit having its own meaning and significance.
Cultural Traditions
9. Religious Customs and Beliefs:
Guatemalan weddings are often steeped in religious customs and beliefs.
Before the ceremony, a priest will usually bless the couple with holy water to bring them good luck on their special day.
During the ceremony, couples may recite traditional vows or prayers that have been passed down through generations of families in Guatemala.
After the wedding, another blessing from a priest is typically performed to ensure that the newlyweds start their marriage on a blessed note.
10. Family Customs and Practices:
In addition to religious customs, family customs also play an important role in Guatemalan weddings.
Depending on where you are located in Guatemala, specific dances or rituals may be passed down through generations of families for centuries.
These can include everything from group dances around a bonfire at night to more intimate ceremonies such as hand-washing rituals between members of both families before they enter each other’s homes for dinner parties after the wedding reception has ended.
11. Guatemalan Wedding Superstitions
There are several popular wedding superstitions in Guatemala.
One such belief is that the couple should not eat any chicken (or other poultry) on their wedding day as it represents bad luck for the marriage.
Another superstition is that the bride should carry a bag of coins to the ceremony; this symbolizes wealth and abundance for their new life together.
Additionally, some Guatemalans believe that if a bride wears something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue to her wedding, it will bring her good luck and ensure a prosperous future for the couple.
12. The Honeymoon
Taking a honeymoon is very popular among Guatemalan couples.
After their wedding, the newlyweds typically take a vacation, either within Guatemala itself or to another destination of their choice.
During this time, they can enjoy spending quality time together and celebrating the start of their marriage.
Popular activities include sightseeing, beach trips, and visiting historical sites.
It’s also common for newly married couples to have traditional honeymoon rituals such as sharing a special dance or exchanging gifts with one another.
Conclusion
Guatemalan wedding traditions are a unique and special way to celebrate your big day.
From the traditional attire, ceremony, reception, and cultural customs – each part of the celebration is filled with meaning and symbolism.
Whether you choose to incorporate all or some of these traditions into your own wedding day, it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
Don’t forget that no matter what Guatemalan wedding traditions you decide on, they will always be remembered as a special part of your union.
