The Guadalajaran Royal Wedding

The reason I traveled to Mexico was to join in the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony of my Cruise Angel and her hubby.  Last year Guadalajara met Ecuador on the Ave Maria Singles Cruise and the rest is as they say history.  After disembarking the floating retreat they both knew something special was happening between the two.  Throughout the year they both made the decision to cultivate their relationship becoming great friends, boyfriend and girlfriend, then he proposed in the presence of our Lord at the parish they would marry and a few months later they celebrated their union in company of close friends and family.  When they picked me up from the airport last Wednesday, they shared that ultimately love is a choice and they had both made the choice to love one another.  Sure they are super attracted & admire qualities in each other, but the foundation of their relationship is their mutual choice.  This choice they strengthen with God through prayer, participating in the Sacraments and living a life of faith together.  They made a choice and asked God to help them love one another as He loves.  The distance between the two (New York and Guadalajara) didn’t impede their love from growing.  God gave me the blessing to witness this love story unfold (and to pray for and with them) from the beginning and while I don’t have the rights to speak in detail of their courtship- I do have their permission to speak of their wedding- in fact they asked me to do a two part post!

The couple is a very romantic duo- they chose to get married on a weekday to commemorate the one year anniversary of their first date.  Yes, they are super cheesy and I love it!  Because it was a weekday they were able to reserve the church in which they often met for Mass or prayer before their dates.  It was also the location in which he proposed to her.  El Tempo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento is absolutely beautiful (my favorite in Guadalajara) the altar homes a giant monstrance that holds the Body of Christ and is exposed perpetually.  It has beautiful stained glass windows and neo-Gothic architecture - in my opinion it's more majestic than the Cathedral…

The dress was hand-made by the bride’s mom!  Guadalajara’s mom is a seamstress and has sown the wedding dresses for each of her three daughters.  My friend designed the dress and her mom custom made it along with the long veil.  This wedding had so many sentimental touches – so neat!

The rest of this post will be dedicated to the first celebration- the religious ceremony & part two will focus on the reception.  The Eucharistic celebration had stamps of originality which made it extremely personal and unforgettable.  

 Groom proclaims First Reading.

 Bride proclaims Second Reading.

I had never seen the bride and groom read their selected readings during the Mass, but these two did just that!  He read the first reading, she the second and Psalm 23 was sung beautifully by a choir member.  The priest who was also a friend of the couple gave a very sweet homily.  After the vows, the rituals typical to Mexican weddings took place. 

Beginning with the groom's siblings presenting las arras, they are thirteen gold coins that the couple interchanges as a sign to share and care for their future goods together and also as a sign of abundance in their union.  It’s similar to the throwing rice tradition (which in Mexico is no longer followed because the priests see it as a waste of food and also it’s bad for the pigeons). 

Then the bride’s siblings presented the Bible and rosary as a sign to have God, Mary & prayer actively involved in their marriage and family. 

Finally, the parents of both presented el lazo which resembles a giant number eight (the infinity symbol) and is joined by a cross to symbolize everlasting union with God.  It’s also a sign of their infinite bond with one another, with God and a vow to keep their relationship strong during adversity and face life together courageously. 

After the bride and groom usually present a bouquet of flowers to our Lady of Guadalupe asking for her continual intercession during the marriage.  However, since our Lord is perpetually exposed at this parish - these two left the bouquet at the altar.

This concludes the Mass with the procession of the new Mr. and Mrs., then outside we give hugs and exchange congratulatory sentiments.            

Part II The reception to follow... The Guadalajaran Royal Wedding: Part II