This past Sunday I attended a wedding in a mountain community about an hour away from the city of Oaxaca. It was actually a double wedding. Two brothers were marrying their novias (girlfriends). Immediately after our arrival, we were escorted to the bride's house where everyone was having hot chocolate and sweet bread. About an hour after the wedding was scheduled to begin, people began walking with the bride and groom to the church. Along the way, more people joined in until by the time we reached the church, the entire town was there.
This parade was led by a brass band which continued to play throughout the day. The wedding was held in a church that was being built by the community. The cement block walls were up and a tarp served as the roof to protect us from the sun. By the time everyone arrived, it was apparent that there was seating for only about 1/3 of the people. We were urged to take turns sitting down.
The two couples entered the church and proceeded to the front of the church. There are chairs behind each couple since the wedding ceremony took two hours! The mothers of the brides and grooms stood behind them during the entire ceremony.
Wedding vows very similar to wedding vows in the U.S. were exchanged
and the wedding ceremony ended with a traditional kiss. There the similarities between a U.S. style wedding and a Oaxacan mountain style wedding ended. You will have to wait until my next blog to see some of the amazing differences.
This past Sunday I attended a wedding in a mountain community about an hour away from the city of Oaxaca. It was actually a double wedding. Two brothers were marrying their novias (girlfriends). Immediately after our arrival, we were escorted to the bride's house where everyone was having hot chocolate and sweet bread. About an hour after the wedding was scheduled to begin, people began walking with the bride and groom to the church. Along the way, more people joined in until by the time we reached the church, the entire town was there.
This parade was led by a brass band which continued to play throughout the day. The wedding was held in a church that was being built by the community. The cement block walls were up and a tarp served as the roof to protect us from the sun. By the time everyone arrived, it was apparent that there was seating for only about 1/3 of the people. We were urged to take turns sitting down.
The two couples entered the church and proceeded to the front of the church. There are chairs behind each couple since the wedding ceremony took two hours! The mothers of the brides and grooms stood behind them during the entire ceremony.
Wedding vows very similar to wedding vows in the U.S. were exchanged
and the wedding ceremony ended with a traditional kiss. There the similarities between a U.S. style wedding and a Oaxacan mountain style wedding ended. You will have to wait until my next blog to see some of the amazing differences.
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