Wedding traditions in South America

South America is a continent with predominantly Christian population. That's why here I won't describe the religious part of the wedding. I'll rather focus on those little details, local traditions that make each wedding even more beautiful.

Let's start our journey in Brazil. There groom must not see the bride wearing her wedding dress before the wedding ceremony. Wedding ring should be engraved with grooms name on bride's ring and vice versa.

Brazilian bride should arrive at the place where the wedding ceremony is held 10 minutes later than it is scheduled. She must not arrive later than the groom.

Groomsmen are chosen at the wedding ceremony. They hold small Brazilian flags.

casadinhos

When carrying the bride in his hands in the house or hotel the groom should enter the building with his right foot first. At the wedding reception people will eat “casadinhos” or “marry well” cookies.

caipirinha

People at Brazilian weddings often drink cocktail "caipirinha". The word caipirinha is a diminutive of "caipira", which means a "person coming from the countryside". The caipirinha is made with cachaça, lime and sugar. The "cachaça" is a beverage made of sugar cane.

All brides want to have great weather at their wedding. That is why all future brides never eat directly from the pot in the weeks before the wedding.

In Brazil it is tradition that the happy couple gives presents to parents. Parents also give presents to the couple.

lembrancinhas

At the wedding reception in Brazil the bride often walks from table to table carrying a basket with "lembrancinhas". Each guest gets little object which serves as kind of "souvenir" of the wedding.

Argentinians usually do not have engagement parties. But if they happen, they are more private, family affair. The wedding on the other side is a big party. The presents bride and groom get can be opened in front of guests. But it is fine if the couple decides otherwise.

In Argentina parents or grandparents sometimes give the gold (in the form of an old gold chain or something like that) for the new wedding ring to be made. At the wedding ceremony both the bride and groom wear engagement rings. They are usually made of silver and are thinner than wedding rings. During the exchange of rings at the wedding ceremony engagement rings are replaced by wedding rings. Still sometimes the couple keeps engagement rings and wears them together with wedding rings.

In Chile the wedding rings are also exchanged at the engagement. When the couple is engaged they have a ring on their right hands. After the wedding they'll have it on their left hands.

In Venezuela it is expected from the groom to ask his potential father-in-law for the permission before proposing. People there have two wedding ceremonies – a civil and a church one. The civil one is organized two weeks before the church one. Receptions are organized after each of them.

Do not be surprised if the wedding reception ends without the bride and groom. They just disappear. It suppose to bring good luck to their marriage.

In Peru they put charms (attached with ribbons) between the layers of the wedding cake. Just before the cake is cut and served there is a little tradition organized. Each single woman present at the reception pulls a string. Peruvians believe that the one who pulls out the ribbon with the ring is going to marry within a year.

An old person makes a speech reminding the couple of their duties in the marriage. The elders bless the couple immediately after the wedding ceremony.