Marriage Etiquette

Weddings in Peru are exciting gatherings that honor one of the most important moments in the lives of two individuals. They are typically rich with customs peculiar to the couple's native nation, culture, or area. The wedding gowns, for example, are bright and vivid, with geometric motifs. Women usually wear numerous layers of colorful skirts, while men dress casually in ponchos and sandals. The bride and groom both had a one-of-a-kind poncho and skirt created for their wedding day.

The ritual aims to remind the pair of their marriage obligations as well as to bestow blessings on the couple. The party begins soon after the wedding. These gatherings can go until late at night, with a band or orchestra performing folk or other music. In Peruvian tradition, there is also a rite devoted to Pachamama, the Earth Goddess. They bury small bride and groom figurines wrapped in cocoa leaves with a seed in the ground. It is said to bring the bride and husband good fortune.

Throughout the occasion, there is laughing and food. A cake pull is a wedding ritual in which an inexpensive ring or charm is tied to a ribbon and then affixed to the base of the wedding cake. There are multiple ribbons available, and the single ladies all gather to pull the ribbon before cutting the cake. The lady who receives the ring will most likely marry next.

Another idea is for the single girls to try to steal the groom's boutonniere. He may deliver it to the lady he feels should marry next, but he must keep it secure from prospective robbers in the interim! The pair wears their wedding bands on their right hand rather than their left. Wearing any ring on your right ring finger before getting married is considered unlucky.