Traveling can be stressful, especially when your luggage is not seen in the luggage bands and in your luggage is the dress you are going to wear as a bridesmaid. I arrived to Guadalajara International Airport at 6:30 in the morning with my family and we stood by the luggage bands, grabbing our belongings. The bands were emptying and my luggage did not appear and I began to worry. Unfortunately, I was one of the four who had their luggage missing. I asked staff what I could do if it did not appear and they told me it would be sent to me and I would receive it in around a week. “A week?” I asked.
It was a day away from my cousin’s wedding, but as a bridesmaid, I needed my dress. The staff informed me that the luggage didn’t fit in my flight but arriving in the next flight. I was furious. After waiting, with anxiety, for two hours, my luggage appeared.
Arriving in my parent’s hometown, Jalostotitlan, Jalisco, was pleasant. It was Wednesday around 10 a.m. and I was delighted to see most of my family. Thursday was the big day; my cousin Jessica was getting married.
In Mexico, it doesn’t have to be the weekend to get married; it is common to get married on weekdays. By 10 a.m. the house was chaos with five families in one house, kids playing around, clothes being ironed, eating breakfast, showering, getting ready. I can only imagine how my cousin, Jessica’s house was.
By 12:40 p.m. we walked to the church. It was a sunny day with good weather, birds chirped and the bells rang as we waited for the bride. My uncles teased the groom that my cousin left to Europe, causing him more anxiety. Of course that did not happen. She then arrived in a white horse carriage looking very beautiful in her white dress.
The priest stood at the entrance and began entering with the groom and bride following them. Behind them the bridesmaids followed and the guests sat down. After the priest said his words, cords were placed on the couple, coins were taken, rings were given, vows were said, and they became husband and wife. Once everyone was outside of church, everyone congratulated the newlyweds and enjoyed the happiness.
The reception was next, and took place in “Campestre Jalos”, a place with a big patio, stage, and grass area with trees and a fountain. We had salad, with a choice of chicken or steak prepared with mushrooms and a special sauce for dinner. As people ate, the “mariachi” played for three hours. Mariachi originated in Guadalajara, consisting of five to ten men in charro suits playing violins, guitars, harps, and trumpets.
After we enjoyed the music, the Banda arrived. Banda originated in the state of Sinaloa, and is very famous in Jalisco. Banda is a bigger group of musicians with a variety of instruments such as sousaphone clarinets, trumpets, drums, trombones, bongos, a voice and others. It also incorporates a variety of styles. First the bride and groom have their dance and after a song the parents dance with them, the godfathers, godmothers, bridesmaids, and the rest of guests. But as you go dance with the groom if you’re a girl or the bride if you’re a boy, you pin money to their clothing. Some like to add some horns on their heads or a tail in their lower back.
Once we enjoyed that for two hours, everyone raised their glasses and gave a toast. Cutting the cake was next. Unfortunately part of the cake was knocked over, but enough was left for all. The Banda took a break and ate as the cake was being cut, taking advantage of the break because they had three more hours to go.
Next, my cousin and I got two chairs for the dance of “la vivora de la mar”, or “the snake from the ocean” which happens before the bride troughs her bouquet. In this dance, my cousin and her husband stood and held their hands forming a bridge. Us single women lined up and held hands as the first person led the way in any pace they liked to the song. It was very intense since most of us had heels on and you try to go fast, but with the others behind, they hold you back and as you turn you almost fly out of place. I cut to go in the front; I did not want to fall.
Once the song was over, us girls got in the middle of the dance floor so that the bride can through “el ramo”, her mini bouquet of flowers. All the single ladies got together and waited for the bouquet. “Una, dos, y… nada una, dos, y tres!” the banda singer said. My cousin Rocio was the one who caught the bouquet. Now it was the guys turn to do the vivora de la mar. The guys’ version was little more painful. As they were turning, one of the guys flew and ran into a table. But this didn’t stop the dance it kept going after the laughter.
When the song was over, the groom went through “la liga”, a cloth-like rubber band, but first he had to remove it from the bride’s leg. All the single men got together and the one who caught it was a family member of my new cousin-in- law. They say the ones who catch la liga and ramo are the next to get married. My cousin and the guy both had to dance a song together. After their dance, everyone continued the dancing until the clock hit one.
The wedding was a success and brought the family together to celebrate the start of another family. Traditions can take place anywhere in the world and it doesn’t have to be where they were formed. But it sure does feel better to be in your hometown and spend time with your family.