Gringa at a Mexican Wedding

Hair and nails done!

Let’s preface this post with the fact that I’m not known for getting gussied up very often. You can usually find me in leggings, a T-shirt and flip flops. That said, here’s my first experience at a wedding in Mexico.

I’ve been to my fair share of weddings across the Midwest, from outdoor ceremonies at parks, to church services, to event centers and banquet halls. I get it together with a nice dress, attempt to do my hair, and slap on some make up. Typically, I focus less about getting ready and more about the upcoming event with friends and family.

With Nicole

Last summer, one of my good Minnesotan friends here in Guadalajara got engaged to her Mexican boyfriend. Subsequently we were all invited to celebrate with the bride and groom this past weekend. Hurray!

This wedding turned into a whole learning experience for me about how to attend a wedding in Mexico. I can’t speak for all Mexican weddings, obviously this is my first one and it’s both Mexican and American, but here we go….

First, the wedding planner texted updates to all the guests. She messaged to confirm our rsvp, but also to let us know what to wear. Did you know that red was a no-no for weddings? I hadn’t planned on it but she was clear on that one. She also texted that we should all be in long dresses,…uh oh, I don’t own a long dress…

Here’s one of the blunders

So, in search of a long dress, I texted a handful of friends around my size. They had some options but also opened my eyes to a whole industry I was unaware of. Did you know you can rent fancy dresses for a weekend? I browsed a few fashion shops near my house, checking out their wedding rentals. At one store, Polka Dot, the lady was so extremely helpful. She helped me find dresses that fit the requirements for the event and were more flattering for my figure. There were a few blunders on the rack, but eventually I booked a long cobalt blue. Turns out they even hem it to your length with the heels you’ll be wearing at the event (ahhem, short girl problems).

Then, I was telling two Mexican friends about the upcoming wedding. They insisted that I also book an appointment to get my nails and hair done. I occasionally get a manicures but the idea of going to a hair salon was totally foreign. Thank goodness for May, who runs a small salon out of her house around the corner from where I live. I sent her some pictures and she did my hair that morning. With a braided crown and some light curls, I was looking gorgeous!

The event was absolutely beautiful. The official ceremony was only for family and took place before our arrival. Guests arrived for the cocktail hour. They served three cocktails, “His,” “Hers,” and “Ours.” I enjoyed the crispy, cool cucumber and gin spritzer, labeled “hers.” The location was beautiful, trees and umbrellas provided shade and heavenly plants and flowers surrounded the garden.

Dinner was delicious with an appetizer of chamorro on jicama tostones, a main course of vacio steak and potatoes, with a chocolate volcano cake for dessert. And just after the meal, the dancing began…

Once the bride and groom kicked off the first song, the dancing didn’t stop. Everyone was on the dance floor with cumbia, reggaeton, with some classics in English for the Midwestern folks. The party did not stop as everyone danced into the evening. Two carts rolled through the dance floor with shots of festive adult beverages.

Cheers!

Don’t let go!

The most unique activity was certainly the carnival wheel. Guests played an electricity shock game, holding hands to see who can endure the charge the longest. Whoever let go first, spins the wheel, or maybe anyone that wanted also spun the wheel, it’s all a bit fuzzy. Depending where the spinner stopped, you’d get one of several mystery shots with a spicy chili rim, a jalepeño, or fried cockroach. I held on tight to avoid suffering the jalepeños.

Mariachis

The dancing continued and the drinks flowed until the mariachi arrived. The violins, trumpets and vocalists performed classic mariachi jams as the guests downed tequila and rested their feet.

The wedding festivities were an absolute blast. Everyone was dressed up beautifully and looked stunning. Wishing the happy couple all the best in their new marriage…