Pre-Hispanic Wedding Ceremony in Oaxaca: A Cultural and Spiritual Union

Happy couple posing on their wedding day with beautiful smiles

All wedding ceremonies are not alike, and it can be difficult to choose what ceremony is right for you. This couple decided to honor the bride's roots with a pre-Hispanic ceremony in her grandmother's original hometown in Oaxaca. A cultural ceremony is a great way to recognize your family and where you've come from on your special day. It is also a great way to exchange traditions with your spouse and their family, seeing as many couples come from different cultural backgrounds.

Events Weddings Mexico understood this couple's desire to have an authentic experience for their ceremony and made sure that all of the details were just right. They found just the right venue in Hotel Huayapam Yuu. The gorgeous terracotta tiled rooftop and the epic mountain views simply can't be beat. Lovely florals by D'khanos graced the canopy that surrounded the couple as they exchanged their vows. Ramos Y Garcia took traditional couple's portraits as well as close-up photos of this unique ceremony and we are living for all the details. You can see all the photos from this magical elopement in the full gallery. Keep reading to hear more from Events Weddings Mexico about everything that goes into a pre-Hispanic wedding ceremony and the story behind all the symbolism.

Bride holding a photo locket with wedding bouquet and rings

Elegant white and green floral arrangement, wedding bouquet

Incense burner with smoke, creating a relaxing and aromatic environment

Elegant bride in a lace wedding dress poses by a window

Bride in wedding dress smiling at a rustic house entrance

Man in white outfit smiles while sitting on wooden chair outdoors

Man in white attire performing a spiritual ceremony with smoke and drum

Newlyweds smiling on their wedding day, holding a beautiful bouquet

COMBINING TRADITIONS

Outdoor wedding ceremony with draped canopy and floral decor

Nathaly lives in the United States with her partner Ronald, her biggest dream was to get married in Oaxaca, Mexico because her grandmother was originally from these lands. We were able to make this dream come true along with a traditional pre-Hispanic wedding ceremony in the Hotel Huayapam Yuu, with the help of wonderful vendors. Nathaly did her makeup on her own and we asked for help from La Beautyque for her hair; her dress was by StylishBrideAcc’s shop on Etsy. Ronald's ensemble is a traditional one imported from India, the dress name is Kurta. Ramos Y Garcia helped us with a wonderful wedding video and pictures that tell the story of the day.

Wedding arch with white flowers and pampas grass against a scenic backdrop

Seashells and rose petals on a blue cloth with feathers

AN ELEMENTAL CEREMONY

Wedding ceremony with ritual smoke, bride, and musician outdoors

Nathaly & Ronald chose a pre-Hispanic ceremony to be close to the bride’s roots, and the spiritual path of the groom. In this kind of ceremony, we ask blessings to the four directions and the four elements that made us (earth, water, fire, and air), to the heart of the sky, and our dear Mother Earth, and from our hearts so that the paths and energies of this couple can unite and consolidate under the designs of the Universe. In this traditional ceremony, the couple decides to unite their souls, joining their lives in a shared path. At the foot of the hills and with a beautiful view, we celebrated this union, in the land of Nathaly's grandmother.

Mexican musicians perform with guitar and vocals outdoors

People in traditional garb conducting a cultural ceremony outdoors

At first, the bride and groom sit on the mat, turning their backs, unable to see each other. He has his eyes covered, as a symbol that at the beginning of the relationship they do not really see each other, they do not know each other in-depth. And for this reason, at the beginning of the ceremony, they turn their backs. This symbolizes that they came from different paths and then joined. The mat on which they are sitting symbolizes the energies of heaven and earth. Love happens here on Earth, we can feel it in our bodies, while we know that it comes from something greater, from something that exceeds us, that we do not see, a superior energy. After listening to words and advice on the responsibilities that this soulful step entails, the Elder invites the couple to look at each other, now with other eyes, with an open heart, and to say a few words. We unite her shawl, with his tilma, in a symbolic act of consolidating their souls, their paths. This is the central moment of the wedding, where the union manifests.

A couple in white outfits participate in a spiritual ceremony outdoors

Couple holding hands during a cultural wedding ceremony with focus on love

Traditional wedding ceremony with bride and groom in white attire

Wedding ceremony with diverse couple on a decorated altar outside

As the tradition, to celebrate, bride and groom share food and drinks from these lands; they fed each other, tied together, united. After the ceremony the couple had a private meal under the gazebo, they didn’t want a cake as they are following a special kind of diet. The ceremony was harmoniously accompanied by songs in Zapotec language (typical of these lands) and the guitarist went on singing during the meal, blues style. The Union of their souls has been consecrated. Nathaly and Ronald have joined their lives and will walk together, and we are extremely happy to have helped them on this special day.

Romantic wedding couple kissing under a floral arch in outdoor setting