Mexican Wedding Traditions
Mexican Wedding Photography in Los Angeles
Celebrating Mexican Wedding Traditions
Mexican weddings are rich with symbolism, faith, and family, blending centuries-old customs with joyful, music-filled celebration. Alongside the ceremony itself, couples often incorporate a handful of meaningful rituals passed down through generations — some rooted in Catholic tradition, others in regional custom — that turn the wedding day into a living expression of family history. These traditions vary widely by region and family, but a few are especially well documented and continue to appear in Mexican weddings across Los Angeles and beyond.
Las Arras: Thirteen Coins, One Commitment
The arras are thirteen ceremonial coins, traditionally presented by the groom to the bride, or exchanged between both partners, during the ceremony, often blessed by the officiant beforehand. The coins symbolize the groom’s commitment to provide for and support the family the couple is building together, and the number thirteen is often tied to Christ and his twelve apostles, reflecting the ceremony’s Catholic roots. The arras are typically kept afterward as a treasured keepsake, sometimes passed down as a family heirloom of their own.
The Lazo: A Cord of Unity
The lazo is a ceremonial cord, rosary, or floral rope looped around the couple’s shoulders in a figure-eight during the ceremony, symbolizing their union and the lasting bond of marriage. It is often placed by the couple’s madrina and padrino de lazo — the godparents responsible for that specific element — partway through the ceremony, and remains in place through the exchange of vows.
The figure-eight shape of the lazo has no beginning and no end — a quiet visual reminder that the couple is now bound together for life.
Madrinas and Padrinos
Mexican weddings often involve a network of madrinas and padrinos (godparents or sponsors), each responsible for a specific element of the celebration — the arras, the lazo, the bible or rosary, the wedding cake, or even the mariachi band. This tradition distributes the honor, and the cost, of the wedding across trusted family and friends, and each padrino or madrina is often formally recognized during the ceremony or reception for their role.
Mariachi and a Dance-Filled Reception
Live mariachi is a hallmark of many Mexican wedding receptions, often greeting guests during cocktail hour or accompanying the couple’s grand entrance. From there, the reception typically becomes a high-energy, dance-filled celebration late into the night, blending traditional dances with contemporary music and multi-generational dancing that keeps the whole room on its feet.
Our Approach to Photographing These Traditions
With 2,200+ weddings photographed since 2016, Lulan Studio pays close attention to the small, symbolic moments that make a Mexican wedding meaningful — the exact instant the arras are presented, the placement of the lazo, and the joy on a madrina’s or padrino’s face as they’re recognized for their role. We also stay close to the dance floor once the mariachi starts, since some of the most genuine, unguarded moments of the day happen there. Every collection includes both photography and videography coverage, with collections including 6 or 8 hours depending on package — see our wedding photography collections for details.
Documenting Every Family’s Traditions
Some elements carry across cultures — a similar coin tradition appears in Filipino wedding customs, for example. Lulan Studio approaches each family’s traditions with the same care and attention to detail, whether it’s a Mexican lazo ceremony or the ritual details of a Persian wedding.
Traditions Vary by Region and Family
Not every Mexican wedding includes all of these traditions, and the specific customs, blessings, and order of events can vary significantly by region, generation, and family. Some couples include every ritual exactly as their parents and grandparents did; others choose only the elements that feel most meaningful to them, or adapt them to fit an interfaith or bicultural celebration. Lulan Studio’s role is simply to document whatever traditions a couple chooses to include, with care and without disruption.
FAQ: Mexican Wedding Traditions
What are las arras?
Las arras are thirteen ceremonial coins presented during the wedding ceremony, symbolizing the groom’s commitment to provide for the family the couple is building together. They are often blessed by the officiant and kept afterward as a keepsake.
What is the lazo?
The lazo is a cord, rosary, or floral rope looped around the couple in a figure-eight shape during the ceremony, symbolizing the unity and lasting bond of marriage. It is typically placed by a designated madrina or padrino partway through the ceremony.
What do madrinas and padrinos do at a wedding?
Madrinas and padrinos are godparents or sponsors who each take responsibility for a specific element of the wedding, such as the arras, the lazo, or the wedding cake. It’s a way of honoring trusted family and friends by giving them a meaningful role in the celebration.
How do we check availability for our wedding date?
We would love to hear from you — reach out through our contact page with your wedding date and details, and we will let you know our availability.
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