Once a couple decides to get married, the first thing they have to do is apply to their city office to have a marriage certificate issued. They have to bring the necessary documents to the city office thirty days prior to their scheduled wedding date along with two people to serve as witnesses. A small ceremony is held at the city office on the day the marriage certificate is issued. If the bride and groom want to, they can hold the ceremony in a church or at a party venue. The cost is different in each case. The small ceremony at the city office is held in a quiet room, maybe with a violin playing. The couple exchange rings, and someone from the city office hands them the marriage certificate. There is room for around ten people to attend, and the whole thing only takes about 30 minutes—but it’s quite moving. On this day the birth certificate becomes invalid, and the couple use the marriage certificate instead. The two are officially husband and wife under national law.
Brazilians hold their wedding ceremonies in Catholic churches. I’m sure there are plenty of women who dream of their fathers walking them down the aisle. This is when the bride wears the white dress and the couple promises before God to be a good wife or husband for the rest of their lives. Both the bride and groom have to be baptized in order to be married in a Catholic church ceremony. There is a sermon about what it means to be husband and wife, and the two go to church before the ceremony to recommit to Catholic teachings. Wedding ceremonies held in churches are incredibly beautiful, and sometimes musicians or a chorus is hired to perform live music and make the whole thing even more spectacular. The more traditional and popular the church is, the more expensive the flower decorations and everything else is. The church in the picture has gorgeous paintings on the ceiling, so they place mirrors on the aisle on the days when wedding ceremonies are held.
Ceremonies held in churches last about an hour. Once they’re finished, everyone heads to the party venue where dinner and a reception are held. There are a lot of ways to do it, but typically the groom gives a speech and everyone makes a champagne toast. A song plays as the bride and groom share their first dance together. In the past, it was common for people to dance a waltz, but these days the couple choose their own song. Typically a buffet-style dinner is served, and the guests can freely walk around the venue. Relatives and friends reunite and the conversations get lively. Once they cut the cake, they begin dancing into the night.
A live band takes the stage and sparks up the crowd. Women in high heels change into beach sandals so that they can dance the night away without hurting their feet. The place gets so packed with people dancing that it feels like a nightclub. You don’t have to have any dancing experience, either—you just find your own rhythm and enjoy. The more people get into dancing, the more lively the party gets.
People dress up, eat, drink, and dance to celebrate.
Everyone has a great time together—a classic Brazilian wedding.
