Is your family from Brazil or are you planning to attend a Brazilian wedding? South America’s largest country is a land of unique, rich wedding customs. In this article we’ll take a look at 10 of the most popular Brazilian wedding traditions.
Many people in Brazil celebrate the Catholic tradition. Some 65% of weddings are Catholic celebrations.
1. The Rings
Brazilians don’t make a big deal about buying different rings for the wedding. Instead, during the ceremony, they’ll simply switch if from one hand to the other.
The rings are also generally plain in nature; no need for a massive diamond jewel or some other expensive stone.
A simple gold band is the standard. Also, both the groom and bride will exchange engagement rings, as opposed to the US where it’s typical for just the bride to receive an engagement ring.
2. Wedding Dress Charms
Instead of throwing the bouquet to all the single ladies, typical to many Western style weddings, Brazilian brides will have names sewn into the hem of their wedding dress. On the day of the wedding, expectant single ladies will lift up the dress, hoping to find their names stitched to the inside.
3. Madrinhas and Padrinhos
Much like bridesmaids and groomsmen, los madrinhas y padrinhos are the couples special witnesses on wedding day. Typically, the couple chooses up to three couples to serve this role, but they don’t have to necessarily be romantic pairs. They can also just be friends that fill this role.
4. Different Styles of Clothing
One very unique aspect of the Brazilian wedding tradition is that guests to the wedding are requested to wear different outfit styles. They might share one common outfit theme such as the same color of tie; however, it’s considered bad luck if two people are wearing the same suit or dress.
5. Grand Entrances
In Brazil, there’s a large emphasis on pompous entrances of the different wedding parties. First, the groom arrives accompanied by his mother or a close relative. A few minutes later the bride will arrive in a fancy car. She’ll be preceded by small children carrying small bouquets of flowers, or sprinkling petals on the ground.
6. Unity Ceremony
Usually there is a special ceremony using at least one of the three natural elements of water, sand or fire. The couple will exchange vows during this part of the ceremony. Water, which represents purification and starting anew, can be used by the wedding officiant to bless the couple. Fire, a symbol of love’s burning power can be demonstrated in a unity candle lighting ceremony. Lastly, a sand unity ceremony can be included where the couple mixes sand together to represent the joining of two different lives.
7. Throwing Rice
Throwing rice is not only associated with Brazilian wedding traditions. Also common in some Eastern weddings, the custom of throwing rice at the newlyweds is meant to wish a long life of success and happiness to the couple.
8. Destroying the Groom’s Tie
After the wedding, it’s customary for the groom’s tie to be cut into small pieces and auctioned off to the wedding guests. The funds collected can be used to sponsor the couple’s honeymoon or a special wedding gift. One of the padrinhos is typically in charge of leading this event.
9. Food and Drink at the Brazilian Wedding Reception
As you can imagine, Brazilian weddings are jam-packed with delicious treats. Make sure to come with a good appetite and don’t expect to leave the wedding party hungry. Beans, rice and meat dishes, or a tasty ‘feijoada’ stew are likely to be on the menu. “Dawn snacks” or a late night treat consisting of foods like burgers, milkshakes and fries should satisfy even the largest appetite.
As far as drinks are concerned, you can expect to find the caipirinha somewhere on the menu. Popular for being Brazil’s national cocktail, this delicious mixed drink comes with a tasty mix of rum, sugar and lime. Otherwise, Moscow mules, gin and tonics and whiskey cola’s are also popular drinks at Brazilian weddings.
10. Party All Night
Don’t expect to be going home a couple hours after the wedding. On the contrary, you better get ready to dance all night and possibly even through the next day. Live attractions such as samba dancers, or other types of entertainers might add excitement to the night’s activiites.
Officiate a Brazilian-American Wedding Ceremony
Don’t miss the opportunity to officiate a Brazilian-American wedding ceremony for one of your friends or family. You can get ordained online for free with a number of online organizations by just filling out a simple form that only takes a couple minutes to complete. We highly suggest getting ordained with American Marriage Ministries. Once ordained, you’ll have access to a library of information to help you learn all the aspects of wedding from writing your speech to filling out the marriage license. Ordination with AMM is only valid for officiating weddings within the U.S. so if you plan on officiating a wedding internationally, you’ll have to look into local laws.
– Bernard Paul