Chilean culture is a mix of rich tradition, influenced by the many different geographical regions and a mix of Spanish Catholic tradition and the native ‘huasco’ culture. From looming mountain ranges, lush tundra regions, rocky coastlines and clear sparkling lakes, nature is one of the most impressive features of Chile. Whether you are planning a destination wedding in Chile, or you would like to honor your Chilean heritage with some customs, this article is for you.
Because Chile is such a large country that stretches over 2,653 miles from North to South, there’s many different traditions within Chilean tradition. Some regions have a stronger huasco influence, while others lean toward Spanish Catholic traditions. Since legalizing same-sex marriage in 2022, and experiencing a number of economical successes, Chile is one of the most westernized countries in South America.
City Hall Weddings
Some Chilean couples decide to go to the City Hall to legally officialize their marriage. This typically happens a few weeks before the wedding ceremony.
Engagement Rings
Similar to Western wedding traditions, Chilean couples will exchange engagement rings. Often they will then use these same rings as wedding rings and simply switch the hand on which the ring is worn.
Wedding Attire
Chilean couples will also dress in typical western attire: white wedding dresses and dark coloured tuxedos are a popular choice. In traditional ‘huaso’ weddings, grooms might choose to wear a colorful poncho style outfit, cowboy boots and a straw hat.
The Wedding Ceremony
Over 50% of the Chilean population identifies as Catholic. Christian couples’ wedding ceremonies take place in the local chapel, complete with mass, communion and other Catholic rituals. A non-religious wedding might take place in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Los Padrinos y Madrinas
Like in many other Latin and South American cultures the role of los padrinos y madrinas is an important part of the wedding celebrations. An appointed couple is responsible for arranging certain aspects of the ceremony from sponsoring the food to organizing the reception. They also serve as close mentors to the couple for the rest of their married lives.
Chilean Wedding Receptions
It’s not uncommon for a Chilean wedding to have between 300-400 guests in attendance. Following the wedding ceremony there will be a long night of eating, drinking and dancing. Typical dishes include some type of meat, either beef, chicken or seafood, some sort of potato dish and a side of pastelera (sweet corn paste). There will also most likely be some type of dessert; either pies cakes or fruits.
Pisco is a traditional Chilean drink which is a distilled grape liquor. Lemon juice, eggs, and syrup are mixed into the drink, to make a delicious sour cocktail. Chile is also a large producer of wine, so Cabernets and Carménères will most likely be on the menu.
Wedding parties will commonly last into the early hours of the morning and possibly even well into the following day.
Officiate a Chilean-American Wedding Ceremony
Don’t miss the opportunity to officiate a Chilean-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.
Well, that’s all the Chilean wedding traditions we have for now. Good luck with the celebration. Salud!
– Bernard Paul