The Wedding Lasso Ceremony: When It Happens, Who Places It and What to Say

In a Catholic wedding in the US, the wedding lasso ceremony comes right after the Our Father, just before the nuptial blessing. The priest blesses the lazo, and two people you choose, often your padrinos de lazo, place it over your shoulders while you kneel. Many Hispanic parishes place it earlier, as soon as the rings and arras are done, so ask yours today; the sample script for your guests is at the end.

14k gold-plated wedding arras, 13 coinsThe arras come right after the rings, before the lazo: 13 coins and a tray, 14k gold-plated, with Our Lady of Guadalupe, in a gift box.See the wedding arras

When the lasso goes on in a Catholic wedding

Here is where the wedding lasso ceremony falls in a wedding Mass. Parishes adjust the order a little, so confirm yours at the rehearsal.

  1. The readings and the homily. Our guide helps you choose your Catholic wedding readings.
  2. Your vows. If you are still preparing them, read our guide to Catholic wedding vows.
  3. The blessing and giving of the rings.
  4. The arras, if you have them, right after the rings.
  5. The Prayer of the Faithful.
  6. The Eucharistic Prayer, then the Our Father.
  7. The lazo. You kneel at your places, and your padrinos place it over your shoulders.
  8. The nuptial blessing, prayed over you while you wear the lazo.
  9. The sign of peace and Communion.

Without Mass, the order is shorter. After the vows, rings, arras and Prayer of the Faithful, everyone prays the Our Father. Then comes the lazo, and right after it, the nuptial blessing.

In many Hispanic parishes, the lazo goes on earlier, as soon as the rings and arras are done, once you kneel. Both ways are fine, so just ask your parish: “When do you place the lazo, and when does it come off?”

Who places the lasso and how they do it

Two people place the lazo, one on each side of you. They can be family members or friends. In Hispanic families, they are usually your padrinos de lazo: a couple you admire, your godparents, or one padrino from each family. In some parishes, the priest places it himself, so ask yours.

Step by step:

  1. Before the ceremony, one of them keeps the lazo in its box at their seat, near the front and on the aisle.
  2. When the priest invites them, usually right after the Our Father, they walk up together and open the lazo between them.
  3. The priest blesses it with a short prayer while you stay on your knees.
  4. They stand behind you, one on each side. Each one lowers a loop gently over one of your heads until it rests on your shoulders.
  5. They center it, so the cross or center piece hangs between you and the lazo makes a figure eight around you both.
  6. They go back to their seats, or wait nearby if they will take it off right after the blessing.

The most common lazo is a double rosary with two loops. If that is the style you want, read what a wedding lasso rosary is.

What the priest says and what the lasso means

You and your padrinos don't have to say anything. The priest, or the deacon if he is marrying you, says a short blessing over the lazo. In English it begins: “Bless, O Lord, this lazo”. He asks God to bless it as a sign of the lifelong union you have just made with God's help.

The lazo is optional. When you choose it, everyone can see the promise you just made, wrapped around you both.

Is your Mass bilingual? Ask which language the priest will use for this blessing, so your program matches.

How to practice the lasso at your rehearsal

It all happens in a few quiet moments, so practice it once or twice with everyone in place.

  • Bring the real lazo, in its box. A ribbon or a borrowed rosary won't show you how yours falls over a veil or a jacket.
  • Decide who holds it before. One padrino keeps the box at their seat, ready the moment the priest invites them.
  • Practice on your knees. Check that both loops rest on your shoulders without pulling you together.
  • Mind the veil, the hair and any headpiece. Lift each loop wide and lower it slowly, so nothing catches.
  • Practice taking it off. Lift each loop up and back, one at a time, and fold the lazo into its box.
  • Padrinos flying in? If one lives far away and misses the rehearsal, send a short video so they know where to stand.
  • Tell your photographer. Ask them to be in place before the lazo goes on.

After the rehearsal, send your padrinos a short message, for example: “Thank you for being our padrinos de lazo! Please bring the lazo in its box on Saturday. When Father invites you, walk up together, and he will tell you when to place it.”

Still choosing your lazo? Read how to choose a Catholic wedding lasso, see the crystal and pearl designs in our wedding lasso collection, or see how to buy a matching lazo and arras set.

Gold-plated crystal wedding lazo$79.95Crystal beads, a crucifix and images of Jesus and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Made in Mexico, in a gift box ready for your padrinos.See the gold crystal lazo

When the lasso comes off and who removes it

When the lazo comes off depends on your priest. You'll usually see one of two ways:

  • Right after the nuptial blessing. Your padrinos lift it off as soon as the blessing ends.
  • After Communion. Some priests leave it on, so you receive Communion still wrapped in the lazo.

Either way, plan for whoever placed it to lift it off, one loop at a time, and fold it into its box. Ask your priest which way he prefers, and tell your padrinos at the rehearsal.

How the lasso fits with the arras, veil and unity candle

If you're combining traditions, this is where each one falls:

  • Arras. They come right after the rings, before the lazo. Your padrinos de arras go up first, and your padrinos de lazo come up when the priest invites them. See what the 13 wedding arras mean.
  • Veil. Some couples use a veil instead of the lazo, or with it. It goes over the bride's head and the groom's shoulders, and the lazo on top helps hold it in place. In Cuba and Puerto Rico, the custom is a mantilla over both of you instead of a lazo.
  • Unity candle. It isn't part of the Catholic rite. Some parishes allow it in the church, and others prefer you light it at your reception, so ask yours. See who lights the unity candle and when.
Wedding unity candle set$64.95A center pillar and two side candles, made in Mexico, for the church if your parish allows it, or for your reception.See the unity candle set

A sample wedding lasso ceremony script for your guests

If some guests have never seen the Mexican wedding lasso tradition, a few words help them follow along. Print a sample in your program, or ask your priest if a coordinator may read one. We wrote these to explain the custom. They are not part of the ceremony's prayers, and they never replace the priest's blessing.

For your program (sample):

“El lazo. The lazo is a much loved wedding tradition in Mexican, Filipino and other Hispanic families. During the ceremony, two people dear to the couple place a large double rosary over their shoulders, in the shape of a figure eight. It's a sign that, from today on, they walk through life as one, with God's help. Our padrinos de lazo are [names].”

To read aloud (sample for a coordinator or officiant):

“[Names] have just promised to love each other for life. Now their padrinos, [names], will place the lazo over their shoulders. Its two loops form one figure eight: two lives joined as one, from this day on.”

For grandparents who pray in Spanish, add one line: “El lazo es signo de la unión de los novios para toda la vida.”

At a non-Catholic or civil ceremony, ask your officiant if and when the lazo fits. The sample to read aloud works there too, because it only explains the custom.

What your padrinos will bring to the altar

The lazo your padrinos will place, the 13-coin arras and a Bible for your new home, all made in Mexico.

Arrives in 2 to 4 days. Free shipping on orders over $35.

14k gold-plated wedding arras13 coins with Our Lady of Guadalupe$79.95
Gold-plated crystal wedding lazoJesus and Our Lady of Guadalupe$79.95
Pearl wedding lazoJesus and Guadalupe medallions$79.95
Catholic wedding Bible in SpanishMetallic cover, Our Lady of Guadalupe$59.95
Catholic Bible in Spanish, large printMetallic Our Lady of Guadalupe cover$59.95
Silver-plated crystal wedding lazoGift box with a Guadalupe lithograph$79.95

Frequently asked questions

When does the lasso go on during a Catholic wedding?

In the US, right after the Our Father, just before the nuptial blessing. In many Hispanic parishes it goes on earlier, as soon as the rings and arras are done. Ask your parish which way they do it.

Who places the wedding lasso?

Two people you choose, one on each side of you, usually your padrinos de lazo. They can be a couple, your godparents, or one person from each family. In some parishes the priest places it himself, so ask, and bring your padrinos to the rehearsal.

What does the priest say during the lasso?

He says a short blessing over the lazo, a sign of the lifelong union you have made with God's help. You and your padrinos don't say anything. To explain the custom to your guests, print a sample like the one above.

Can you do a lasso ceremony at a non-Catholic wedding?

Yes, if your officiant agrees, so ask how and when it fits. The sample to read aloud works at any ceremony, because it only explains the custom. In a Catholic church, the lazo is an option even if only one of you is Catholic.

Who takes the lasso off and when?

Whoever placed it, usually your padrinos. Some parishes take it off right after the nuptial blessing, and others after Communion. Ask your priest which one he prefers.

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