Spanish culture is filled with romance. In college, I used to be lucky to spend a semester studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain. to mention the town left an impact on me would be an irony. The architecture may be a perfect blend of the recent and old world, the people are filled with love and passionate energy, and therefore the smell of orange blossoms wafts through the streets.
A country steeped in tradition like Spain has beautiful wedding traditions. Here are some favorites.
Engagement Ring
When women in Spain become engaged, they wear their ring on the annualry of their left. After the marriage, their wedding band (typically a solid gold band) is worn on the annualry of the proper hand. In other words, they do not stack both rings on the annualry of the lefthand as we typically neutralize us.
No wedding
You typically won’t find bridesmaids and groomsmen at a marriage in Spain. Instead, the bride and groom are attended to by padrinos, or godparents, whose job it’s to stay the bride and groom from seeing one another before the marriage. The bride’s Padrino is traditionally her father, and therefore the groom’s Padrino is his mother.
At the reception, both sets of oldsters sit with the bride and groom at a head table for six.
Orange Blossoms
My greatest memory from living in Seville is the smell of orange trees around every corner. Since orange trees are so prevalent in Spain, it’s no surprise that the orange blossom is that the traditional Spanish wedding flower. For Spaniards, orange blossoms represent joy and happiness for the new marriage. They’re also symbolic of fertility.
I love orange blossoms such a lot that I named my company after them! Orange Blossom Special Events is my way of always remembering the sweetness and smell of fresh orange blossoms and therefore the blessings they represent.
Gold Coins
In Spanish Catholic weddings, almost like Catholic weddings around the world, the bride and groom share 13 coins referred to as arras or unity coins. The meaning of the coins varies a touch from culture to culture but, generally, they symbolize luck for the wedding ahead. within the Catholic religion, the amount 13 is representative of Jesus and his twelve apostles.
Bride Wears Black
Although many brides today prefer to wear white, the tradition in Spain is that brides wear a black, silk dress. For Catholic brides in Spain, the black signifies the bride’s commitment and devotion to her groom “until death do us part.” Today, a bride might prefer to wear black as a nod to the tradition or to interrupt out of the white bridal gown mold.
Lace Mantilla Veil
Similar to the black dress, Spanish brides traditionally wear a black wedding veil. The veil is formed of intricate lace and is named a mantilla. Starting within the 17th century, it had been common for ladies in Spain to wear a veil, or mantilla, every day. As that practice fell out of favor, wearing a mantilla was reserved exclusively for special occasions, like weddings.
Paella and Seafood
Paella, and seafood generally, maybe a big part of Spanish culture and is usually served at large gatherings like weddings. Paella originated in Spain and is cooked on an open flame during a large, flat frypan. The contents of paella vary but primarily contains mixed seafood, rice, and vegetables. it is a great dish for sharing with an enormous group!
Sequidillas Manchegas
In Spain, there is a traditional wedding dance called “sequidillas manchegas.” During this dance, wedding guests pay the bride to bop and, at some weddings, may bid on her garter. the cash earned by the couple during the dance is employed to line up their new home together.
Cutting up the Groom’s Tie
During some Spanish weddings today, the groom’s friends will take scissors and chop his tie, then sell the pieces to guests to boost extra money for the couple.
As you’ll see, Spanish wedding traditions are rooted in the history of their culture. If you’re invited to a marriage in Spain, go! You’re bound to have an honest time.
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