Everyday Runway

20 Latino-Inspired Wedding Ideas You’ll Love

By September 14, 2018 at 6:03 pm

If you’re planning a wedding or just want some inspiration for your big day, the best way to make it unforgettable is by adding themes that speak to you, your partner, and your guests. By adding a few personal touches and nostalgic pieces to your decorations, your wedding is sure to be a favorite.

To help you with wedding decor ideas, we rounded up 20 Latino-inspired ideas. It will add flair and personality to your ceremony and reception. From a tequila bar to Lotería table card decorations, we’ve got you and your family covered.

1. Talavera Tile Table Numbers

Credit: @artfullywed  / Instagram

Spice up your decorations by adding cute talavera tile table numbers. Instead of using cardstock paper to print out each number, write it down on the handmade Mexican tile. It will add charm and personality to your decor. Your family members will definitely want to take these centerpieces home.

2. Agua Fresca Stand

Credit: @fresa_weddings / Instagram

Since most weddings now offer a cocktail hour (this usually takes place during the bride and groom’s portraits), why not throw in an agua fresca stand for your guests? It’s perfect for kids and adults who don’t want to party too hard.

3. Churro Bar

Credit: @irenechenpai / Instagram

Set up a churro bar next to your cake or have it displayed during cocktail hour. Guests can mingle while enjoying the beloved dessert. Trust us, if you have a churro bar at your wedding, it will go down in history.

4. Tequila Bar

Credit: @fresa_weddings / Instagram

Would this list be complete without offering a tequila bar? We don’t think so. During cocktail hour, have a specific stand to display all of the glorious tequilas. You can make it more personalized by having your bartender create signature drinks for the bride and groom. Blushing bride, anyone?

5. Used Cans As Table Setting

Credit: @vivaioarimondo / Instagram

If your wedding has a chic, rustic vibe, you’ll love this idea. Instead of having glass vases, put your bouquets in used cans like our abuelitas used to do. Yes, really. Similar to the mason jar trend, you can put flowers or succulents into used bottles and cans, like Tapatio, El Pato, etc. They can be part of your table decorations.

6. Cafecito Wedding Favors

Credit: @thepapershoppe / Instagram

Coffee is life, that’s just a fact, but that rings even truer in the Latinx community. For your guests, hand out coffee beans wrapped in burlap sacks as a party favor. You can even throw in a cute note, something cheesy like, “our love is brewing” or “I love you a latte.” Your guests will eat it up — or shall we say, drink it up.

7. Colorful Fiesta Wedding Cake

Credit: @artfullywed / Instagram

If you don’t want to get too crazy with your decorations, have a little fun with your cake. Throw in a fiesta-themed design to make it unique and special to you and your heritage. Since most of your guests will eat the cake, you don’t have to worry about it messing with the rest of your wedding decor.

8. Piñata

Credit: @folkandwayfarer / Instagram

Piñatas are a birthday party essential, but this doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the happiest day of your life with one. There are different wedding styles that exist, you can even have one made to look like a cake topper. Fill it with candy or party favors. You decide.

9. Loteria Cards Table Decoration

Credit: @mexibrandco / Instagram

Up your game, quite literally, and add Loteria cards to each table as a fun decoration. You can use this idea three ways. First, add a Loteria game card to each seat that way your guests can play while they wait for the bride and groom to finish up their portraits. Second, use the cards as the table seating chart. If you’re having your girlfriends sit together, then your guests can look for the “La Dama” card. Lastly, use the Loteria cards as a fun centerpiece. Throw it in your flowers or succulents to add some flair.

10. Latina-Inspired Wedding Dress

Credit:  @aguilar_artfolk / Instagram

For brides, you can easily celebrate your heritage by wearing a bridal dress that captures the essence of your culture. Whether your dress features bold prints, big ruffles, special embroidery or a pop of color, you can show your Latino pride with your gown.

11. Day of the Dead-Themed Wedding

Credit: @letsmakeamemory / Instagram

Literally, make the themed for your wedding Day of the Dead. Especially if you plan to get married in the fall, this theme will hit the nail on the coffin (we had to). It’s a unique way to incorporate your culture into your wedding.

12. Mariachi-Inspired Suit

Credit: @jron_samayoa / Instagram

Like the bride, the groom can honor his roots by wearing a suit that highlights his roots. You can dress like Mr. Worldwide in a sleek suit that resembles the singer, throw on a Mariachi suit to show off your Mexican roots, or throw it way back and rock a Zoot suit. Even for the groom, the options are endless.

13. Maracas Send-Off Party Favors

Credit: Instagram @fresa_weddings

Instead of guests sending off the bride and groom with sparklers or white rice, give them maracas to shake. Get creative and personalize each one that way your guests can have a cute keepsake. Even better? Write a little note letting your guests know when to shake them.

14.  Wedding Card Box

Credit: @beautycoutureinc / Instagram

It’s inevitable that you’ll receive a bunch of cards (filled with honeymoon money, we hope), but instead of having them scattered on a table, make your guests drop them in a Latino-inspired wedding card box. For example, Jennette Zitani created a Havana-themed card box, and it’s truly remarkable. Something like this will add character and charm to your gift table.

15. Candy Bar

Credit: @izk415 / Instagram

In the south, groom’s cakes are popular. The groom gets to pick their own cake aside from the main one. It’s usually something sporty or geeky. But we digress. Rather than having a groom’s cake, create a candy bar that includes your childhood favorites. We’re talking Rebanditas watermelon lollipops, De la Rosa caramel candy, Bocaditos de Ajonjoli, etc.

16. Cigar Bar

Credit: @horizons_conference_center / Instagram

Add some recreational activities to your cocktail hour with a cigar bar. This will be the highlight of your tíos and abuelitos night. Trust us, a cigar bar will be their favorite part of your wedding (jk, kind of). Either way, guests can relax, mingle, and enjoy each other’s company while the bride and groom take romantic pictures.

17. Cuban-Inspired Dessert Table

Credit: Magnolia Studios. Digital Image. Swooned Magazine. June 5, 2014.

Similar to the candy bar, you can offer guests Cuban-inspired desserts during or after the cake is served. This will not only be a sweet treat, but your guests will appreciate the sentiment and meaningful gesture.

18. Arroz Con Leche

Credit: Instagram @anaguiisbelFollow

When you serve the cake, throw in an arroz con leche option as well. Especially if you plan on having a fall or winter wedding, your guests will appreciate (and enjoy!) this delicious dessert.

19. Succulent Wall

Credit: Instagram @jessiewalkerphoto

More recently, brides and grooms are opting for photo walls rather than photobooth. Instead of copying every other theme with a flower background, make it a succulent wall. It’s a subtle nod to your background yet it’s totally on-trend. Succulents are all the rage right now, so you can make your wedding modern but with a Latino twist.

20. Mariachi Band

Credit: Instagram / @pawel_paparazzo

If you’re Mexican, this is usually a standard thing to see or to have at a wedding. But if you’re unfamiliar and want to incorporate “gritos” and have some drunk, we mean, romantic music played during the reception, a Mariachi band is the way to go.

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I Chose To Keep My Last Name When I Got Married Because I Wanted To Hold Onto The Latinidad My Own Name Gives Me

identities

I Chose To Keep My Last Name When I Got Married Because I Wanted To Hold Onto The Latinidad My Own Name Gives Me

By October 11, 2018 at 3:41 pm
BY  | October 11, 2018 AT 3:41 pm

When people first look at me, they don’t think I’m Mexican, let alone Latina.

Because I am white-passing, I make it a point to let everyone know that I am, in fact, not white. When people first meet me, our conversations usually go like this: “Can I ask what you are?” and “You must be half, right?” “Oh, you’re Latina! I had no idea.” Even if people are unsure of “what I am,” I let them know real quick by the way I say my last name.

So imagine my dilemma when I was getting married to a white man. I know that sounds bad, but hear me out. I started worrying about whether or not I would change my last name. Instead of freaking out over which flowers my bouquet would have or what food we’d serve, I was stressed about changing my last name.

“Would I get rid of my last name completely or would I hyphenate it,” I thought. Even as I dabbled with the idea of hyphenating my last name with his, it didn’t sit right with me. Thankfully, it didn’t sit right with my partner either.

If I took my husband’s last name, not only would people assume that I’m 100% white, because as I mentioned before, that’s already something I have to deal with, but now people wouldn’t question it. They would hear my name and question nothing. I’d rather people inquire about my identity than not at all.

For me, everything that I knew about my identity and what I was most proud of would disappear as soon as I introduced myself. The thought of not being able to say my last name after marriage was nerve-racking. I couldn’t sleep thinking about it. How would I introduce myself? Would I awkwardly plug that fun fact into my conversation? These were the questions raced through my head at night.

While I was stressing out about my possible name change, my partner is the one who actually suggested I keep my last name. He reminded me that we could do whatever we wanted. We didn’t have to follow an outdated tradition because it was our marriage, after all.

Credit: @alyssawritesxo / Instagram / @delanieandco

If you haven’t noticed by now, my last name means everything to me. In the same way that people strongly identify with their hair, that’s how I feel when it comes to my last name. It’s who I am and it’s what makes me, me. I’m proud of it.

My last name isn’t that common either, so I’ve always loved how unique it is. My grandfather from my dad’s side always said his last name with pride, and I like to think that he instilled that in me. He grew up in a time when Latinos weren’t allowed to speak Spanish, but the one way he rebelled was by the way he pronounced his name. Because of that, I’ve never pronounced my last name “white-sounding.” By that, I mean that I actually pronounce my name in Spanish, the way my grandfather taught me to say it.

It doesn’t matter who I’m talking to, I’ll never change the way I prounounce it. I could be at the DMV, introducing myself to new coworkers, or confirming my attendance at a bougie event, I don’t care, I’m introducing myself in Spanish. Me vale.

You will never catch me saying my last name in an English way in order for non-Latinos to understand it. If anything, I make it a point to say it con fuerte. I emphasize each letter, drag out each syllable, and say it loudly for the people in the back. Another thing I do is that I always roll the “r” in my last name, and sometimes, I even let it linger. I want it to sink in, so people know that I’m Latina. To some, my skin color might tell a different story, but my last name does not.

 Credit: @alyssawritesxo / Instagram

Once I realized that I was in control of keeping my last name and that my husband was on board with my decision, I felt at peace. I didn’t have to worry about losing my identity or the one thing that matters to me the most.

Just because I was getting married didn’t mean I had to change who I was. I didn’t have to lose my last name because of some old tradition or because of what seems like the normal thing to do.

Keeping my last name was the best decision I’ve ever had to make, like ever. This was the one time when I really listened to my intuition, and if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been happy—and that’s not how I would want my marriage to start. On that note, I know that I’m lucky to have a husband who was completely okay with my choice. Although, even if he wasn’t fully on board with me keeping my last name, it wouldn’t have been his decision to make.

Credit: @alyssawritesxo /  Instagram / @delanieandco

Losing a huge part of myself would hurt too much, and deep in my heart, I would not feel like myself. I would get rid of the single most important thing that makes me who I am.

Tossing away my last name would completely strip me of my identity, and it would make me feel like I erased my Mexican ancestry. Like I said before, no one would think twice about my ethnicity, and I’d rather have people confused as to what I might be than to assume I’m nothing at all.

For me, my last name is what ties me to my roots. It’s also a reminder that I’m privileged. I can say my last name in Spanish. Unlike me, my grandfather didn’t always have that luxury. He said our last name with defiance. Because of that history, I’m able to say my name with honor.

Credit: Alyssa Morin

My last name is what reminds me—and everyone else—of my heritage.


Read: She Struggled To Pay For College Because She Was Undocumented, So This Latina Created An App To Make The Process Easier For The Next Generation

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