The Second WEE - Peru visits México

Written by: Rosa Amelia Bou

I am a member of ABC (Association of Bridal Consultants), the association has existed since 1981 and is dedicated to bringing together all the professionals who are dedicated to attending weddings. In November of last year at the ABC Annual Congress, I met an extraordinary Mexican colleague Lucia Ramírez Lombana , wedding planner of her own company “Eventos E3” , we hit it off a lot....so much so that after this congress, we talked about the possibility of doing a cultural exchange, to be able to learn and enrich our knowledge, participating in weddings in other countries and so you can have innovative ideas after this experience. I am very grateful for the opportunity that Lucia Ramírez Lombana from Eventos E3 gave me for this wonderful experience of being able to participate in a traditional Mexican wedding. Here I give you several ideas that our Mexican brothers produce in their marriages and I think they would be a hit if we do it here in Lima Peru!

1. Wedding Venues In Mexico City they have intelligently taken advantage of historic venues , such as former convents to take them as alternative venues for events , it is an initiative that we should imitate since these types of venues are an architectural jewel that endures over time , they also give a setting super chic at weddings.

2. The decoration of the wedding table This incredibly differentiated from the rest of the tables, it has a very leading position and is distinguished by the spectacular assembly that they give it.

3. The floral design plays a lot with fantasy effects The presence of crystal chandeliers in Mexico is also fashionable, only that flower arrangements are much more important than here. In the marriage that I attended they had 4 types of arrangements and all of them had much larger dimensions than those that we normally use in Peru. This item gives an incredible fantasy theme to the setting of the space.

4. Entertainment during the wedding I also have several items to take into account, The groom throws the bride's garter, to all his friends...but the difference is that all the groom's friends get together, jump and shout...they fight over the garter...because it means he could be the next to get married!!! ....YES....the boyfriend's friends are very happy when they get the garter...and they don't put it on any girl...it all ends there...when there is a lucky one who gets it!

5. There is an invitation called "AFTER" Which is for groups of friends who go after dinner, and don't have an assigned seat. They just go to the party; which seemed like an interesting alternative, since here in Lima, we only have the extremes, we invite you to the party or not.

6. The food refill Like us, our Mexican neighbors also at a certain time of the night pass a dish that is a delight called chilaquiles (which would be like our little leg of smoked ham with rolls at midnight). Only that tradition dictates that after they are served it is time to retire....custom that fascinates me, since here normally some guests wait until the last song is finished or the lights are turned off!

7. Wedding Gift Acknowledgments They are given after dinner is over YES people who do not buy a gift are embarrassed (or “el oso”, as they say over there) of not receiving the thank you envelope from the bride and groom, in this way all the guests, knowing this tradition, are obliged to bring the gift BEFORE the wedding. I think several of my clients would love this custom....hahahaha...

8. Gift for wedding guests They hand out slippers as a souvenir, a memory that is super useful and that all the women at the party are very grateful for after spending many hours in heels! , excellent idea, all the guests want their slippers!

9. Supplier table In an area completely separated from the room where the guests are, they set up a table for the suppliers, who have only requested refreshments under contract within their working conditions, I was delighted to see this as catering, since I plan to start implementing this work system... .suppliers do not have the same service as guests, nor are they authorized to access them, as this generates a high cost for customers.

10. Courtship of the bride and groom They have quite a different dynamic in the preparation of the wedding, which is fascinating, many friends and relatives participate in the courtship of the bride and groom. At this wedding, I was present in a procession of 20 people, where they had wake godparents, godparents of arras, etc; they live the experience and the preparations with their closest friends and their relatives, interesting if you want a wedding with a lot of participation from the people closest to you, this is the ideal role for them!

Please tell me what you think? Are you encouraged to make some of these marriage traditions fashionable in Lima – Peru?