A Traditional Bolivian Wedding: Rituals, Customs, And More

Bolivian weddings are a blend of European and Andean culture, with traditions that differ from those in the West. Most weddings in Bolivia begin with a religious ceremony in a church, followed by a civil ceremony. The religious ceremony includes vows and a priest's blessing, as well as a unique tradition where godparents place a chain around each newlywed's neck, and they pull on it to determine who will be the boss in the marriage. After the formalities, the real festivities begin in the evening, with a lot of drinking and dancing.

The ceremony

After the church ceremony, the couple signs the government papers to verify their marriage in the eyes of the state. In La Paz, it is customary for the newlyweds to then cross the Puente de las Americas, a bridge connecting two central neighbourhoods, to symbolise the end of single life and the beginning of a new chapter.

The wedding festivities begin in the evening, with the bride and groom traditionally performing an opening waltz. The couple's first dance can be comical, as the bride may struggle to perform all her dance moves on a slippery floor.

The reception

The wedding festivities begin late in the evening, with aunts, uncles, and extended family hitting the dance floor. It is customary to offer alcoholic drinks to Pachamama (Mother Nature) by pouring drinks on the ground. This can make the dance floor slippery, adding a comical element to the bride and groom's obligatory opening waltz.

Alcohol plays a significant role in Bolivian weddings, with guests expected to bring several crates of beer as gifts for the newlyweds. The first crate is shared among the guests and the couple, and the rest are kept and sold later to help cover wedding expenses. This creates a complex "beer economy," where guests are expected to bring an equal amount of beer to future weddings to balance the exchange.

The wedding cake is a significant part of the celebration, often decorated with ribbons and ornaments. A ring is hidden inside the cake, and the girl who finds it in her slice is believed to be the next to marry. The bouquet toss is also a common tradition, sometimes accompanied by the groom tossing an "azar" (a boutonniere) for the single men to catch.

Traditions and customs

Bolivian weddings are a mix of European and Andean culture, with interesting customs that differ from those in the West. Most weddings begin with a religious ceremony in a church, as Bolivia is a predominantly Catholic country. During the ceremony, godparents place a fine chain around each newlywed's neck. Each partner then pulls on their end of the chain and whoever pulls the hardest is believed to become the head of the marriage.

Following the church ceremony, there is a state ceremony where the couple signs the legal papers to validate their marriage. This is the only recognised legal marriage in Bolivia and must be completed for the marriage to be considered valid.

After the formalities, the real festivities begin in the evening with Latin American music and dancing. The bride and groom are expected to greet guests at the entrance of the reception and not socialise too much. The guests bring several crates of beer, the first of which is shared among themselves and the newlyweds. The leftover beer is kept by the couple and later sold to cover wedding expenses.

Before drinking, guests perform a challa (offering) to pachamama (mother nature) by pouring a portion of their beer into a crate. It is customary for the newlyweds to cross the Puente de las Americas in La Paz, a bridge that connects two central neighbourhoods, symbolising the end of single life and the beginning of a new phase.

Bolivian weddings involve a lot of drinking and dancing, with guests drinking and dancing through the night. Refusing a drink is considered offensive. The wedding cake is decorated with ribbons and ornaments, and sometimes a ring. The girl who gets the piece of cake with the ring is believed to be the next to marry.

Food and drink

Bolivian weddings are known for their drinking and dancing. Alcoholic beverages are served in abundance and it is considered offensive to refuse a drink. The drinks pacena and chuflay are typically served, and guests are expected to bring several crates of beer. The first crate is shared with the newlyweds, and the rest are kept and sold by the couple to help cover wedding expenses.

Before drinking, a challa (offering) is made to pachamama (Mother Nature). A portion of beer is poured out to appease her.

Food is not mentioned in detail in the sources, but we do know that hot dogs and potato chips are served to guests while they wait for the wedding party to arrive. A "fancy dinner" is served later in the evening.

The wedding cake is an important part of the celebration. It is decorated with ribbons and ornaments, and a ring is baked inside. The girl who finds the ring in her slice of cake is predicted to be the next to marry.

Music and dance

Bolivian weddings feature a mix of traditional and modern music. While Latin American music, such as folklore and salsa, is commonly played, DJs also play a variety of interesting Western music. Live bands are also popular at Bolivian weddings, with one playing rock and Latin pop covers and another playing traditional Bolivian music.

Dancing at a Bolivian wedding is done in lines, with couples dancing side by side. This is in contrast to the US, where people tend to dance in groups forming small circles.

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