Traditions...Traditions...Traditions...

Real Wedding

Raynara X Bruno

Brazil - Bahia 07.12.08

For the last few weeks I’ve being willing to post about this friend of mine’s wedding and finally got the opportunity to do so.

Raynara is a friend I met back in Brazil. Unfortunately I've never got the opportunity to meet her hubby personally … some day, who knows?!
Being a Brazilian (have I mentioned that before over here?), I thought it would be interesting to share some similarities and differences between both cultures.
By the way, if you by any chance have heard or read online, as I had, about a Brazilian tradition where the groom has to wrestle a donkey to the ground before the ceremony, and only if he manages it, he gets the girl !!! PLEASE… that's more like folklore, nothing to do with a real wedding. I can guarantee that during my whole existence, I have never attended a wedding in Brazil where that was necessary or even known of.

Brazilian weddings are very similar to American ones when it comes to dresses, ceremony, foods, reception, guests to invite or “not to” invite.
Bridesmaids and groomsmen on the other hand, are chosen differently. Usually three couples (or more) represent each side, and they are actually called what I would translate “Wedding’s Godmothers and Godfathers”.
It is also not very often that you are going to find seating cards with your table already pre-established. Most of the time, there will be tables reserved for the parents and closest family members only. All the other guests are free to choose their own seat. And don’t be surprised if a friend decides to invite a friend, or a friend of a friend... Depending on the type of the reception you are planning, "unexpected” guests many times are kind of “expected”…

A crucifix is used by many brides around the bouquet for the religious ceremony. This one specifically I thought was gooooooorgeous.
It is also a tradition to have all your single friends who are attending the wedding, write down their names on a piece of paper and then have it attached under the bride’s dress so they can have luck “finding the love of their lives” just as the bride did.
The garter on this picture, she wore only for fun and for the matter of having the “something blue”. Brazilian brides don’t really wear garters, none the less have it tossed.

Lilies, calla lilies, orchids and lisianthus were Raynara’s flower choices. Absolutely beautiful !!

Using the color scheme blue and purple, she set up a goodie candy table, which was a success among the guests. Really cute!
The favors were the famous Brazilian “ bem casados”. The traditional small cake with two layers representing the groom and bride, filled with dulce de leche, which represents the union between both sides. Simply Delicious!!! You will find those in pretty much every wedding. And pretty much every guest expects to take two or three home. They can be wrapped in many different ways or placed inside little boxes to match your wedding theme… If I could only find those around here tasting exactly the same… it would be aaaawwwwesome!!!

Love, love, love... much love for both of you!!

All images: Dea Lago