Last weekend, I went to my first wedding in Mexico. Not only was a guest at the wedding, but also a bridesmaid. The whole thing was a new cultural experience for me. A few weeks ago, we had the bachelorette party. It was an evening full of games, snacks, and fun. One of the games we played was giving the bride a make over, but it wasn't a good make over. We put guacamole on her face, used a lot of bright make up, and painted her nails some pretty hideous colors. After being made over, the bride got to choose 3 people to make over and Sandra chose me. The following picture is the result of our make overs:
Thankfully, we looked a little bit better on the day of the wedding! Sandra had 3 bridesmaids -2 girls from my house and myself. The whole
bridesmaid experience was way different from when I was a bridesmaid in the States. We went shopping for our dresses a month before the wedding. The woman who made our dresses told us they would be ready a week in advance and they were ready the day before the wedding (girls are you freaking out yet?!). The day of the wedding, we were supposed to be at Sandra's house to get ready by 2:00 and we arrived at 2:45. She was running late too. Once us bridesmaids were all ready, we headed to the room they had rented for the wedding (only catholic weddings are held in churches). The ceremony started about an hour and a half late. 5 minutes before the ceremony began, we were discussing how to walk in. There's no rehersal here in Mexico - you just do it. Crazy right? During the ceremony, the bridal party doesn't
have to stand up and neither do the bride and groom. Much like a quincinera (a 15th birthday party), gifts are given during the ceremony - a Bible, pillows, a rope to symbolize the union of the couple, and of course the rings. Once the ceremony was over, people formed a line to give gifts and congratulate the couple. Dinner was served and then the dancing began. Sandra and her dad did the typical daddy/daughter dance
and the Sandra and her husband peformed a choreographed dance. It was really well done! The guests liked it so much that they performed it one more time. After these dances, the dance floor was opened for the guests and they played salsa and merengue music. I enjoyed watching people dance and vowed that someday I will learn to dance to this kind of music ... It was really special to be a part of Sandra's wedding and was a good way for me to learn more about Mexican culture. However, I think I'll be a little more organized when it's my time : )
bridesmaid experience was way different from when I was a bridesmaid in the States. We went shopping for our dresses a month before the wedding. The woman who made our dresses told us they would be ready a week in advance and they were ready the day before the wedding (girls are you freaking out yet?!). The day of the wedding, we were supposed to be at Sandra's house to get ready by 2:00 and we arrived at 2:45. She was running late too. Once us bridesmaids were all ready, we headed to the room they had rented for the wedding (only catholic weddings are held in churches). The ceremony started about an hour and a half late. 5 minutes before the ceremony began, we were discussing how to walk in. There's no rehersal here in Mexico - you just do it. Crazy right? During the ceremony, the bridal party doesn't 
have to stand up and neither do the bride and groom. Much like a quincinera (a 15th birthday party), gifts are given during the ceremony - a Bible, pillows, a rope to symbolize the union of the couple, and of course the rings. Once the ceremony was over, people formed a line to give gifts and congratulate the couple. Dinner was served and then the dancing began. Sandra and her dad did the typical daddy/daughter dance 
and the Sandra and her husband peformed a choreographed dance. It was really well done! The guests liked it so much that they performed it one more time. After these dances, the dance floor was opened for the guests and they played salsa and merengue music. I enjoyed watching people dance and vowed that someday I will learn to dance to this kind of music ... It was really special to be a part of Sandra's wedding and was a good way for me to learn more about Mexican culture. However, I think I'll be a little more organized when it's my time : )
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