This sunny, South American country full of vibrance and culture has some beautiful wedding traditions. Maybe you are trying to honor your South American roots or maybe you’re planning a destination wedding in Rio de Janeiro. Regardless of the reason, we’re excited to talk about what makes Argentinian wedding traditions unique and hopefully inspire you to include some traditions in your own wedding!
First of all, Argentina is a Spanish speaking country where many of the traditions stem from Spanish immigration and Roman Catholic tradition.
Bachelor(ette) Parties
A few days before the wedding, family and friends of the couple take part in the Argentinian version of a Bachelor or Bachelorette party. Known as Despedida De Soltero, this event involves people dressing up in sexy clothes, getting drunk and playing kinky games.
What is traditional Argentinian Wedding Attire?
Argentinian wedding attire is in most cases very similar to traditional Western culture. Brides wear long white dresses while men wear dark coloured suits. Formal wedding attire is quite common in Argentina, but just be sure to ask about the dress code and make sure you can comply.
Argentinian Church Weddings
More than 60% of Argentians are of Roman Catholic faith and have their weddings in a large church, complete with stained glass windows and ornate architecture. Before the wedding, the room is decorated with flowers and ribbons.
A typical ceremony will include the exchange of vows and rings, a special blessing from the priest, and possibly a couple poems or special readings. As family is a very important aspect of Argentinian culture, the parents of the bride and groom will sit up next to the altar for the duration of the ceremony.
What Are Some Argentinian Wedding Reception Traditions?
The Ceremonial First Dance
Although Tango is the most popular dance in Argentina and many of the dances throughout the wedding night will be Tango tunes, the first dance is typically a Waltz. The father will begin the evening’s festivities by taking his newly wedded daughter out on the dance floor and perform a waltz. After this, she’ll be given back to the groom.
Argentinian Wedding Cake
Instead of tossing the bouquet, the single ladies take part in a fun little game to compete for the next bride-to-be. Ribbons are placed between the layers of the wedding cake which are then pulled out. The lady that pulls out the ribbon with a lucky charm attached to it is the winner!
Food and Drink
From juicy steaks to marinated ribs and fried fish you can expect to see a lot of meat on the menu – especially beef. There will also most likely be plenty of sweet food such as fresh baked cakes and cookies.
Wine is a staple of Argentinian culture as well, with much of it coming from local wineries. From Merlot and Cabernet to Sauvignon Blanc, and Mendoza – you’ll have plenty of different kinds to choose from
Just make sure you come to the wedding on an empty stomach. If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed, it’s that you won’t go to bed hungry.
Party All Night Long
Yup, there’s no going home on wedding night. It’s typical for guests to dance and drink until the morning. Some parties even have a breakfast planned for the next day before everyone goes home to sleep.
Officiate an Argentinian-American Wedding Ceremony
Don’t miss the opportunity to officiate an Argentinian-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.
-Bernard Paul