In a traditional Dominican wedding (boda), the man proposes to the woman he wants to marry. Should they choose to have the marriage ceremony in a church followed by a reception, the planning is usually done by the bride’s family.
Wedding ceremonies can be expensive, so many couples decide to have a smaller gathering or get married in civil court. They would get married in a Civil Court before having a big ceremony in a church so that all their papers would be legal. The civil union normally takes place earlier in the day or the day before the church wedding. This is particularly true in case you decide not to get married in a Catholic service.
Bridesmaids as well as huge wedding receptions are not pictures of the Dominican flag. But a flower girl and also a ring bearer are part of the wedding ceremonies. It has long been established in Dominican weddings to have “padrinos y madrinas” or godparents. Often it is the father of the bride and the mother of the groom who act as witnesses. Along with the newlyweds, the godparents also sign the marriage certificate.
Another wedding custom is for a child to bring the coins or “arras” on a silver tray. It is normally made up of 13 10-cent pieces that are given to the priest at some point during the wedding. It will be given to the groom and then to the bride. This symbolizes that they promise to take care of each other and that everything is shared equally.
