An Inside Look at Dominican Wedding Traditions

If you are reading this post it’s likely you’ve already chosen the Dominican Republic as your primary wedding destination or are in the process of selecting a place to tie the knot. Maybe you feel a connection with the country and just want to add a taste of its culture to your upcoming event.

The white sandy beaches, turquoise sea, diverse landscapes, well-connected airports, and abundance of accommodation options make the Dominican Republic an ideal place to get married. Its rich culture, a combination of Spanish and African heritage, will give you the necessary inspiration to make your day unforgettable. We may be biased, but it is just because we know Punta Cana inside out and can easily picture your beautiful wedding with its impeccable backdrop. A good Punta Cana wedding photographer can help you create and capture your romantic memories in a stunning wedding album.

Whether your dream is to plan an authentic Dominican wedding or just spice things up a little with a few Dominican wedding traditions, here are a few customs for you to consider.

Dominican Wedding Traditions

Arras

A symbolic ritual for the bride and the groom where they show their willingness to provide for each other and to share everything they have. A young attendant, usually a little boy, passes a tray with 13 coins to the priest. Then the priest blesses the coins and gives it to the groom and he in turn presents it to the bride.

A Small Bridal Party

Dominican wedding parties are usually pretty small. Sometimes it consists of a flower girl, a ring bearer, the “coin boy” from the Arras ceremony, a bible carrier for the religious nuptial, and the godparents (padrinos/madrinas). The godparents are the witnesses and are normally the bride’s father and the groom’s mother. Keeping it so small is very convenient. Since you’ve chosen a destination wedding, your guest list may be shorter than you’d like.  If so, don’t let it get you down, but rather think of it as a Dominican wedding tradition. Also, since having witnesses is a requirement to get officially married in the Dominican Republic, the tradition of “padrinos/madrinas” comes in handy.

A Relaxed Approach

Unlike in other cultures in the Dominican Republic, it is ok for the bride and the groom to see each other before the ceremony. Following this tradition can save you time by having the photo session before the ceremony.  The church is not divided into the groom’s and the bride’s sides – your guests can sit wherever they want.

The Religious Way

If this is the approach you opt for, you may like to offer a bouquet to the Virgin of La Altagracia. The Virgin of La Altagracia is the patron saint of the island who has protected it since the 16th century – she is the most important saint for Dominicans. Just be sure to let the priest know about your intentions beforehand so that they are able to allocate time for the ritual when you would present the flowers to her image.

Cantada Ceremony

Perhaps, this is the most fascinating tradition. The guests sing throughout the wedding instead of relying on background music or a band. If you and your guests are fans of karaoke you are guaranteed to create a lot of amusing memories together.

Merengue

No merengue, no Dominican wedding! It is that simple. You cannot ignore the official dance of the Dominican Republic and you wouldn’t want to because it is really fun.

Local Flavors

• Mini desserts are very popular and you can find them in any little sweet shop in the Dominican Republic. Traditional sweets include dulce de leche, dulce de coco, tropical fruits in syrup, etc.
• Pasteles en hoja are similar to Mexican tamales, but vary in ingredients.  They are usually made with platano leaves and the filling can include either beef, chicken, or pork.
• And here comes the king of all dishes from the Caribbean – El arroz, habichuelas, y carne (rice, beans and steak).

Interesting facts:

• The guests don’t wait outside the church for the marrying couple. After the ceremony, they proceed directly to the reception.
• The invitees don’t carry their gifts to the reception, they take the goodies to the bride’s house before the wedding day.

Check out these other posts for more on destination weddings in The Dominican Republic:

• Gorgeous real destination weddings in the Dominican Republic, that we’ve published here on DWD.
• Your Dominican Republic Wedding Guide