TRADITIONS · SOUTH FLORIDA
El lazo, las arras, los padrinos, mariachi and the tornaboda. A photographer’s guide to the Mexican wedding day.
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The ceremony
El lazo
The wedding lasso is the defining image of a Mexican wedding. During the vows, the madrinas and padrinos place a cord in a figure-eight over the couple’s shoulders, binding them together. The figure eight is read as infinity, and as a new beginning.
The lazo itself may be an oversized rosary, a silk cord or a flower garland, and it is frequently joined at the center by a crucifix. It stays in place through a portion of the ceremony and is removed ceremonially.
Las arras
Thirteen gold coins, blessed by the priest and presented to the couple in a decorative box, representing the groom’s promise to provide for the family and the couple’s shared material life.
Los padrinos y madrinas
Usually married couples chosen as sponsors, functioning as mentors through the wedding process and into married life. They frequently sponsor specific elements: the Bible, the lazo, the arras, the cake. They may give readings during the mass.
There are often several sets of padrinos, each attached to a different element.
This is a list worth obtaining in writing before the day.
Mariachi
Live musicians are commonly hired for the hymns and religious music during mass, and again at points through the day and into the reception.
The reception
Mariachi frequently opens the reception before a DJ or band takes over. Food, dancing and toasts run long, and the guest list is traditionally generous.
La tornaboda
The after-party, and one of the loveliest customs in any wedding tradition. After the main reception ends, a smaller gathering continues at a family member’s home with only the closest people.
The custom exists for a practical reason. Traditionally a Mexican wedding was effectively an open invitation and a reception might run to hundreds of guests, so the tornaboda gave the couple a way to actually spend time with the people closest to them. It is smaller, quieter, and completely unguarded.
What this means for your photographer
Shoot the lazo from three-quarters, not straight on
Head on, the figure eight flattens into a single loop and the whole symbol is lost. From a three-quarter angle, or slightly elevated, the shape reads clearly.
Also photograph the padrinos placing it and the moment it is lifted off, both of which carry more feeling than the wearing.
The arras box is a detail shot
Photograph the box before the ceremony while it is still closed and undisturbed, then the coins in hand during. Two frames, both easy, both frequently missed.
Get the padrino list in advance
With multiple sets of sponsors each attached to a different object, a photographer without a list will not know who to photograph or when they matter. Ask for names and roles during planning. This single request will mark you as someone who has done this before.
Mariachi are a lighting and framing problem
A full mariachi is eight or more people in matching traje, frequently in a church with restricted flash or outdoors in hard sun. Photograph them as a group deliberately, and get tight frames of hands on the vihuela and guitarrón. They are usually hired at real expense and usually under-photographed.
Propose covering the tornaboda
An hour at the after-party, in a house, with twenty people who have known the couple their whole lives, produces the most honest photographs of the entire wedding. It is easy to add and almost nobody offers it.
Common questions
What is el lazo?
A cord, oversized rosary or flower garland placed in a figure eight over the couple’s shoulders during the vows, symbolizing their union and a new beginning.
What are las arras?
Thirteen gold coins, blessed by the priest and presented in a decorative box, representing the promise to provide and shared material life.
What do padrinos do?
They act as sponsors and mentors, frequently funding specific elements of the wedding and taking part in the mass.
What is la tornaboda?
A smaller after-party held after the main reception, usually at a family home, for the couple’s closest people.
Is mariachi played during the ceremony?
Frequently yes, for hymns and religious music during the mass, and again later in the day.
Photographing these weddings in South Florida
I am Woody Henry, an editorial wedding photographer working across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Knowing the order of a day, and which moments happen only once, is most of the job.
A limited number of bridal sessions are complimentary for 2026: ninety minutes, twenty high-resolution edits, delivered within fourteen days. Full rates are on the pricing page.
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