- Thread starter lexi
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Dominican Republic Wedding Traditions
My experience with this has been that the madrina pays for the cake and the padrino pays for the drinks.
I think one of them is supposed to pay for the honeymoon too! I knew someone was supposed to pay for something. Neither of mine paid for anything, but my padrino bought me a microwave and my (his) madrina, my best mate from England, dragged my husband to be away from setting up the wedding to change into his suit to be ready for the wedding.
My husband (Dominican) and I (Canadian) got married in his town just outside of POP. I can't think of any major differences to weddings in Canada other than we did tons of pictures with the cake (which of course was huge and very decorated with flowers, etc.) but we did not serve the cake at the reception as my husband's family said the tradition was to serve it the next day at the house so that the guests come by the day after the wedding to visit and that is when we thank everyone for coming and we serve them cake in gratitude. It was nice to see everyone again and something different that I enjoyed since I didn't get a chance to see or talk to everyone at the wedding. As others have mentioned - we had no RSVP and there were lots of townsfolk who were not invited to who stood at the door and watched the whole thing and wanted to come in and eat and drink. Also, we ate very late as I was told everyone would leave once we ate and all the alcohol was gone - which they did! Too funny. One other thing we had that was a bit different was before dinner we had little plates of pastellitos served to the guests but I guess this is like an appetizer.
i have been to two weddings here. both had one thing in common, everyone was late including the groom - whom we picked up at 7:05 for his 7pm wedding - his sister just washed her hair so she showed up more or less at the time when the could exchanged vows.
wedding #1 was extremely lavish and expensive with ruby perez singing for the guests. asked for whiskey waiter brought me a glass FULL to the brim. huge screen showing pics from bride and grooms life was on all the time. i did not even eat as i just came from europe a day before and i was jet lagged, i left after midnight and no food in sight.
wedding #2 - great fun in the church when the priest exclaimed: "the groom could have found a prettier girl but he chose this one" - hilarious.
yes to huge, heavily decorated cake, i understand most of it is actually fake (sometimes all). i have also been told that serving a cake = "go home". under all decorations and flowers the cake is still this this typical horribly sweet dominican production. maybe it's a part of the tradition because minovio's mum almost had a heart attack when i said my cake will be european-style. oh, well...
wedding #1 was extremely lavish and expensive with ruby perez singing for the guests. asked for whiskey waiter brought me a glass FULL to the brim. huge screen showing pics from bride and grooms life was on all the time. i did not even eat as i just came from europe a day before and i was jet lagged, i left after midnight and no food in sight.
wedding #2 - great fun in the church when the priest exclaimed: "the groom could have found a prettier girl but he chose this one" - hilarious.
yes to huge, heavily decorated cake, i understand most of it is actually fake (sometimes all). i have also been told that serving a cake = "go home". under all decorations and flowers the cake is still this this typical horribly sweet dominican production. maybe it's a part of the tradition because minovio's mum almost had a heart attack when i said my cake will be european-style. oh, well...
I was a "madrina" at the wedding of a cousin (en el campo).
A judge came to the home of the bride to perform the civil ceremony.
I paid for the bride's dress and the cake. The Godfather paid for the drinks.
The cake: This cake was beautiful and delicious. The frosting was made from egg whites. The entire top layer was given to me to take home - I was told that that portion of the cake always belongs to the madrina.
A judge came to the home of the bride to perform the civil ceremony.
I paid for the bride's dress and the cake. The Godfather paid for the drinks.
The cake: This cake was beautiful and delicious. The frosting was made from egg whites. The entire top layer was given to me to take home - I was told that that portion of the cake always belongs to the madrina.
My Wedding
I am getting married this coming February in NYC, I want to say that 75% of the guests are Dominicans. My fiance and I don't know what to do with the RSVP, We are trying to keep it small but I know that a lot of my family will get offended because:
1. It will be an adult reception (There is no way I'm paying for "carajitos" to be running around like wild animals)
2. We are also limiting the number of people by including the names of all invited individuals in the RSVP Card (is this of bad taste???)
3. We are also letting it be known by word of mouth that uninvited guests are not welcome.
Are there any Dominican traditions to include in the ceremony???
I am getting married this coming February in NYC, I want to say that 75% of the guests are Dominicans. My fiance and I don't know what to do with the RSVP, We are trying to keep it small but I know that a lot of my family will get offended because:
1. It will be an adult reception (There is no way I'm paying for "carajitos" to be running around like wild animals)
2. We are also limiting the number of people by including the names of all invited individuals in the RSVP Card (is this of bad taste???)
3. We are also letting it be known by word of mouth that uninvited guests are not welcome.
Are there any Dominican traditions to include in the ceremony???
Go to link right here from DR1. Hopefully it might be helpful especially our own Matilda's top 9...she should know, she is married to a Dominican.
Dominican Wedding Traditions - DR1 Dominican Republic Forums
Dominican Wedding Traditions - DR1 Dominican Republic Forums
thanks everyone, great advice, made me chuckle a little, got a better idea now, thanks again. Happy about only having to throw one flower, as I'm wanting to keep my bouquet.
Windeguy, thanks, honesty was what I was after, I like a little humour too so no worries.
Windeguy, thanks, honesty was what I was after, I like a little humour too so no worries.
My Wedding
My future sister in law who is dominican has told me to address each invitation to each specific person (not by family) and that the invitation MUST be presented at the door. She says this will ensure we only have the people invited. My fiance's family has also suggested someone at the door to make sure, at least until after dinner, we are also only supply alcohol for 2 hours and then everyone must pay. We think a lot will leave but are not too worried as the people we really are close to plan to stay for a long time and party....lol
I guess time will tell if her solution will work. I hope so
My future sister in law who is dominican has told me to address each invitation to each specific person (not by family) and that the invitation MUST be presented at the door. She says this will ensure we only have the people invited. My fiance's family has also suggested someone at the door to make sure, at least until after dinner, we are also only supply alcohol for 2 hours and then everyone must pay. We think a lot will leave but are not too worried as the people we really are close to plan to stay for a long time and party....lol
I guess time will tell if her solution will work. I hope so
Dont know or care really, if his family is alright with it so am I. I am Canadian and we normally just have a cash bar but my fiance wanted to buy some of the drinks for his family but We don't have the money to feed half the town, nor do we care to get them all drunk for 12 hours so this was our solution. Our closest friends and family are fine and that is all we worry about.