International weddings are no longer rare these days. Those couples who represent different nationalities must always find an answer to the question of which country to celebrate their wedding and which traditions to follow, integrating the diversity of both cultures. There are various ways to make guests of both nationalities feel special and show respect to their roots.
LĪGAVĀM offers Madara and Alan's story. Both young people have been living in Mexico for several years, but they chose to say their first names in Madara's homeland - Latvia.
What do ancient Latvians have in common with Mayans and Aztecs?
Madara and Alan got married this summer. Although the basic idea of the wedding was not to mix Latvian and Mexican elements, in the end there was no lack of them.
"When planning our wedding, we were more guided by the idea - a modern wedding with a Latvian touch, because my husband also really wanted a Latvian, not a traditional Mexican wedding.
It was important for us that if we celebrate the wedding in Latvia, then we should also observe Latvian traditions. And it should be mentioned that dancing accompanied by the folklore group Delve was the most anticipated event for her husband, which he will be proud of all his life - he says that he felt like he was in a real episode of the TV series Game Of Thrones with ancient music, costumes, fire, plants and nature," said Madara.
The guests from Mexico are also said to have been excited by what they saw and experienced. "When we asked them if they understood the whole idea, because we couldn't translate the whole delicate process for them, they admitted that they understood everything, because the ancient Mayans and Aztecs, who are the basis of Mexican culture, had very similar traditions and rituals like this, and emotions in any part of the world speak the same language," recounts Madara.
Mexican piñata handmade by a Latvian hostess
Madara and Alan's wedding included several more Mexico-related activities and attractions. For example, the conductors had prepared a surprise for both of them and made a piñata, which is so common in Mexico.
"In Mexico, the piñata tradition is most popular at Christmas time, when a cardboard-based and brightly decorated figure (traditionally a star with 7 rays, which symbolizes the 7 deadly sins) is set up inside or outside the room, filled with sweets. Children and adults then take the bell and, blindfolded, the person is cut and slightly "intoxicated" and tries to hit it so that sweets would spill out, and everyone could take them home
.
Our piñata was handmade by the hostess, in the shape of a giant diamond. It was installed in the yard of the wedding venue. We beat it to destroy all vices, bad things that could be encountered in married life. While the piñata was being hit, our Mexi family taught the other guests a verse in Spanish, which is part of the piñata tradition," recalls the bride.
Bingo Mexican Version
T_41_ also at the wedding of Madara and Alan, the guests played a version of the popular game Loteria specially adapted for both weddings . Loteria uses picture cards instead of numbers. Our presenters, inspired by this idea, had prepared our wedding Bingo with various questions about and around me and my husband and life in general, which we all played together with the guests,” says Madara.
Tequila from Mexico - a matter of honor!
Of course, when marrying a Mexican, you must take into account that a wedding without tequila will be unthinkable. "A very important part of the wedding bar was tequila imported from Mexico in suitcases, because it is a matter of honor for the husband and the father-in-law - there must be real and good tequila at the wedding!
Our bartender perfectly adapted it into various cocktails that were very popular among the guests. On the other hand, for various activities, as gifts for the winners, we had brought special shot glasses from Mexico, which are most typically used in Mexico for drinking tequila. They are made of ceramics, handmade and traditionally painted, including our wedding logo," says Madara about the special wedding details.
Beer – chocolate cake
Although the wedding meal was not designed in a Mexican mood, the caterers had thought about the details and included chili peppers in the table decoration, without which, of course, Mexican cuisine is unimaginable.
Another special element of Madara and Alan's wedding was the wedding cake. It was a beer-chocolate cake created by cake master Anna Panna . "When my husband and I thought about what kind of cake we wanted to eat on our wedding day, we had many options in our heads - cheesecake, chocolate, vanilla, carrot, honey, but they all seemed too common and standard options. When I asked Anna about the options, she sent me a list of cake flavors. I read in front of my husband... The moment he heard "beer-chocolate cake", he exclaimed - yes, this!
It should be mentioned that my husband is a big beer lover. And I, on the other hand, am a big chocolate lover. We thought for a long time how this cake would taste, but in the end it was delicious, a little unusual, but extremely memorable. It should be added that the husband was delighted and boasted to everyone that he had a beer-chocolate cake at his wedding. Even the wedding guests still praise it, admitting that it was one of the most delicious cakes ever eaten," said Madara.
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