The three traditions couples ask about most in a Hispanic Catholic wedding are las arras (13 coins), el lazo (the wedding lasso), and the unity candle. The arras and the lazo are both included as optional blessings in the Order of Celebrating Matrimony, the wedding rite used in dioceses across the United States since December 30, 2016. The unity candle is a lovely custom, but it is not part of the official Catholic rite, so many parishes ask couples to save it for the reception. Here is what each one means and when it happens.
Hispanic Catholic wedding traditions in the United States
Catholic weddings in the United States are increasingly shaped by the beauty of Hispanic and Filipino custom. When the bishops approved the second edition of the marriage rite, they included the arras and the lazo as approved options precisely because so many families carry these traditions in their hearts.
Each of these customs turns an invisible truth into something you can see and hold: coins you can count, a cord you can feel on your shoulders, a Bible you will keep for life. They do not replace the vows. They surround the vows with tender, tangible signs of what the couple is promising.
Las arras: the 13 wedding coins
Las arras, sometimes called the arras matrimoniales, are 13 coins that the groom gives to the bride, and in many celebrations the bride returns them to the groom. In the rite, the priest or deacon blesses the coins, and the couple exchanges them as a pledge of God's blessing and a sign of the good gifts they will share.
The heart of the custom is shared life. As one diocesan Catholic newspaper explains, the coins are "a way of saying that everything they have is going to be shared from now on between them." Nothing is held back. What belongs to one belongs to both.
Why 13 and not 12? A common explanation is that the 12 coins stand for the 12 months of the year, and the 13th is added as a sign of generosity, of giving beyond what is expected. Interpretations vary from family to family, and some connect the number to charity toward others, but the spirit is always the same: abundance and self giving.
The coins are usually kept in a small box or chest, the cofre de arras, which a set of padrinos carries forward at the right moment. Sets are often gold plated, silver, or crystal, and many families keep the box afterward as a memento. The priest blesses the coins, the groom lets them fall gently into the bride's cupped hands, and in many celebrations she returns them, so the giving flows both ways.
In the ceremony, the blessing and giving of the arras comes right after the exchange of rings. You can read a fuller reflection on their history and meaning in our Spanish language guide to the meaning of the 13 wedding arras.
El lazo: the wedding lasso
El lazo, the wedding lasso, is a cord or a large double rosary that is placed over the shoulders of the bride and groom together, forming the shape of a figure eight. That shape is the key to its meaning. Laid on its side, the number eight is a symbol of infinity, a sign that the couple will share one everlasting union.
The lazo is usually placed after the couple has exchanged their vows, before or around the nuptial blessing, so that the two are joined under one cord as the priest prays over their marriage. In many families the padrinos, the godparents or sponsors of the couple, step forward to place the lazo, while in others the priest or deacon does so. When it is lifted at the end, the couple is understood to carry that bond out into their shared life.
A lazo is often kept as an heirloom and passed to the next couple in the family. You can see our handcrafted options in the wedding lasso collection, made by Mexican artisans with an eye for detail that holds up over the years.
The unity candle: a beautiful custom, not part of the rite
The unity candle is a familiar sight at American weddings: two outer candles, often lit by the mothers of the bride and groom, and one larger center candle that the couple lights together to show two lives becoming one.
It is worth being honest here, because couples ask us this often. The unity candle is a popular custom, but it is not part of the Catholic wedding liturgy. For Your Marriage, a ministry of the United States bishops, notes plainly that "in many Catholic churches, the Unity Candle is discouraged or prohibited. It isn't part of our wedding ritual." The reason is gentle, not harsh: at a Nuptial Mass, the Church already gives the couple the deepest possible sign of unity in the Eucharist.
So what should a couple do? Ask your parish. Many priests welcome the unity candle at the reception, at the rehearsal dinner, or at home as a family keepsake, even when it is not used during the ceremony itself. Used that way, it becomes a warm memory rather than a point of confusion. If a unity candle speaks to your family, our premium wedding unity candle set is made to be lit and then treasured.
The padrinos: sponsors for the arras, lazo, Bible and rosary
One of the most beautiful parts of a Hispanic Catholic wedding is the padrinos system. Padrinos and madrinas are sponsors, often married couples the bride and groom love and admire, who accompany them into marriage. Each set of padrinos may sponsor and present one of the sacred elements of the wedding.
- Padrinos de arras present the 13 coins.
- Padrinos de lazo place the wedding lasso over the couple.
- Padrinos de biblia y rosario present a Bible and rosary, a sign that the couple will build their home on prayer and the word of God.
Being a padrino is more than a title for the day. It is a promise to walk with the couple, to pray for them, and to be there in the years to come. The Bible presented by the padrinos often becomes a family keepsake, and many couples choose a special edition for it. Our gold accented wedding Bible with Our Lady of Guadalupe is made for exactly this moment.
Other Hispanic wedding customs you may see
A few more traditions often appear alongside the arras and the lazo, especially in Mexican celebrations:
- Ofrenda a la Virgen. After Communion, the couple brings flowers to an image of Our Lady, often Our Lady of Guadalupe, entrusting their marriage to her care.
- El cojín. A pair of small kneeling pillows for the couple during the ceremony.
- Los anillos y las arras de los padrinos. Different sponsors carry the rings, the coins, and the lazo forward at the right moments.
- Los recuerdos. Small keepsakes given to guests so they carry home a memory of the day.
None of these are required, and every family blends them differently. Choose the ones that carry meaning for you, and confirm the details with your priest or deacon.
A simple timeline: when each tradition happens
Every parish has its own customs, so always confirm the order with your priest or deacon. That said, here is how a Nuptial Mass with these traditions usually unfolds:
- Procession and entrance. The wedding party enters. In some families the couple carries flowers to Our Lady after Communion.
- Liturgy of the Word. Readings chosen by the couple, often proclaimed by loved ones.
- The consent (the vows). The couple exchanges their promises. This is the heart of the sacrament.
- Blessing and exchange of rings.
- Blessing and giving of the arras. The 13 coins are blessed and exchanged, right after the rings.
- The lazo. The cord is placed over the couple, usually before the nuptial blessing.
- The nuptial blessing. The priest prays over the newly married couple.
- Liturgy of the Eucharist (at a Nuptial Mass), the couple's first Communion as husband and wife.
If a couple wishes to include a unity candle, it most often finds its place outside this liturgical order, at the reception or in the home.
Choosing quality sets you will keep
These are not decorations you use once and throw away. The arras and the lazo are keepsakes, often handed down. When you choose a set, quality is worth the small difference in price.
- Arras: look for a complete set of 13 coins with a presentation box or chest. Gold plated and crystal finishes hold up well and photograph beautifully.
- Lazo: a well made cord or double rosary with secure beads and a comfortable length that drapes easily over two sets of shoulders.
- Wedding Bible: a durable cover, a gift box, and a design your family will be proud to keep for a generation.
- Presentation: a gift box turns each piece into something the padrinos can hand over with dignity, and something the couple can store safely afterward.
At Nuestra Fe, these pieces are handcrafted by Mexican artisans, many near La Villa de Guadalupe, with the care that heirlooms deserve. You can browse the full wedding arras collection to find a set that fits your celebration.
Frequently asked questions about Catholic wedding traditions
What do the 13 coins mean in a Catholic wedding?
The 13 arras are coins the groom gives the bride, and often the bride returns, as a sign that everything they own will be shared in marriage. A common explanation is that 12 coins stand for the months of the year and the 13th is added as a sign of generosity. The priest blesses them, and they are exchanged after the rings.
Is the unity candle part of the Catholic wedding ceremony?
No. The unity candle is a popular custom, but it is not part of the official Catholic wedding rite, and many parishes discourage it during the liturgy because the Eucharist is already the Church's sign of unity. Ask your priest. Many welcome the unity candle at the reception or at home instead, where it becomes a warm family keepsake.
Who places the lazo on the couple?
The lazo, or wedding lasso, is usually placed over the shoulders of the bride and groom by the padrinos del lazo, the sponsoring couple, or by the priest or deacon. It goes on after the vows, forming a figure eight around the couple as a sign of their everlasting union, and is lifted off after the nuptial blessing.
What do the padrinos do in a Hispanic wedding?
Padrinos and madrinas are sponsors who accompany the couple into marriage. Different padrinos may present the arras, place the lazo, or give the Bible and rosary, and some help with elements of the celebration. Beyond the wedding day, they promise to pray for the couple and support their marriage in the years ahead.
What is the difference between the arras and the lazo?
The arras are 13 coins the couple exchanges as a sign that they will share everything in marriage. The lazo is a cord or double rosary placed over both their shoulders in a figure eight, a sign of their everlasting union. The arras come right after the rings, while the lazo is placed around the time of the nuptial blessing. Both are optional, so couples may include one, both, or neither.
What are some Catholic wedding traditions?
In Hispanic Catholic weddings, the customs couples ask about most are las arras, the 13 coins the couple exchanges; el lazo, a cord placed over their shoulders in a figure eight; and the unity candle, a popular custom often kept for the reception. Others include the ofrenda to Our Lady, the padrinos who sponsor each element, and small recuerdos for guests.
What are the Catholic wedding traditions during the Mass?
At a Nuptial Mass the couple first exchange their consent, the heart of the sacrament, followed by the blessing and exchange of rings. The arras, the 13 coins, come right after the rings. The lazo is then placed over the couple around the nuptial blessing, and the celebration continues into the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Always confirm the order with your parish.
What are traditional Catholic wedding gifts?
The most treasured gifts are the sacred signs the padrinos present: the arras, or 13 coins; a wedding Bible and rosary, a sign the couple will build their home on prayer; and, in many families, the lazo. These are kept as heirlooms and often handed down. Guests frequently receive small recuerdos as a keepsake of the day.
What are the rules for a Catholic wedding?
Usually at least one partner is a baptized Catholic, both are free to marry with no prior bond, and both give free consent. Couples complete a marriage preparation program with their parish, and the wedding is normally celebrated in a Catholic church before a priest or deacon and two witnesses. Your parish will walk you through the details, so ask early.
Traditions made to be handed down
A wedding lasts a day, but these signs can last for generations. When you are planning your celebration, take a quiet look at our handcrafted arras and wedding lasso collections, made by artisan hands to be blessed on your wedding day and kept for the years that follow.