Traditional Mexican Catholic Church Wedding with Backyard Reception in Phoenix, Arizona
I learned so much photographing this traditional Catholic wedding and backyard celebration in Phoenix, Arizona.
Madrinas and padrinos are like the fairy godparents of Latino weddings. We made sure to get photos of the bride and groom with their sponsors.
“El Lazo (Lasso) -The wedding lasso, or el lazo, symbolizes unity; a joining of two lives. In traditional Mexican weddings, unity ceremony is performed after the couple exchanges vows. Then, the madrinas and padrinos place the wedding lasso over the couple’s shoulders in a figure-eight shape, which represents a new beginning in the Bible. The lasso can be an oversized rosary, a silk cord or a flower garland. It’s typically joined in the middle by a crucifix. The ceremony is followed by a prayer asking to bless the union. At the end of the ceremony, the lasso is removed and kept as a memento of this special day.”
Another thing I didn’t know about was the Las Arras Matrimoniales (13 Coins) - which were in the boxes photographed in the details photos.
At the reception Mariachis performed for the guests of the wedding party. Sometimes couples may hire mariachis to sing religious songs and hymns during the ceremony and at the reception. The reception music is more upbeat and festive to celebrate the couple’s big day and get everyone out on the dance floor.
A little more about “The History and Meaning of Madrinas and Padrinos;
Madrinas and padrinos have been part of Latino culture for centuries. Similar to godparents in Christian religions, parents first choose padrinos for their child at the child’s baptism. If something were to happen to the child’s parents, padrinos would step up and raise that child themselves. For this reason, it’s most common for madrinas and padrinos to be a married couple. Their role as a guiding influence in a child’s life starts at baptism and continues throughout major life events including their first communion, quinceañera, confirmation, and finally, their wedding.
“A padrino or godparent is someone who is essentially promising before God to act as a guide, support system, and mentor in the child’s life,” says Erica. “It is not isolated only to weddings, as it is a spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial promise – one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.”"
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