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 optional blessings that can be part of your Catholic ceremony, while many parishes ask you to save the unity candle for the reception. If you are planning your wedding and want these Catholic wedding traditions in it, start by asking your priest or deacon which ones you can include; then choose your padrinos and your sets.
Las arras: the 13 wedding coins
Las arras, also called arras matrimoniales, are 13 coins that the groom gives to the bride. In many weddings, the bride then gives them back to him. During the ceremony, the priest or deacon blesses the coins. As the couple exchanges them, the groom, and the bride if she gives them back, says a short line from the rite: the arras are a pledge of God's blessing and a sign of the good gifts they will share. Your priest will give you the exact words.
The meaning is simple: from now on, everything they have is shared. 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 more than what is expected. Some families connect the number to helping others, and the meaning changes a little from home to home. But the spirit is always the same: abundance and giving yourself to the other.
The coins usually come in a small box or chest, the cofre de arras, and the padrinos de arras carry it forward at the right moment. Sets are often gold plated, silver, or crystal, and many families keep the box as a keepsake. When the moment comes, the groom gently lets the coins fall into the bride's cupped hands.
When does it happen? Right after the exchange of rings. If you want to go deeper into their history and meaning, read our guide to wedding arras and what the 13 coins mean, or 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 placed over the shoulders of the bride and groom together. It forms a figure eight, and that shape is the key to its meaning. Turned on its side, an eight is the sign for infinity: the couple will share one union that lasts forever.
It usually goes on after the vows and the arras, just before the nuptial blessing, so the two of you are joined under one cord while the priest prays over your marriage. In many families, the padrinos (the couple's godparents or sponsors) step forward to place it. In others, the priest or deacon does it. When it is lifted off at the end, it means you now carry that bond into your life together. For the step by step, see our wedding lasso ceremony guide.
Many families keep the lazo and pass it on to the next couple in the family who gets married. You can see our options in the wedding lasso collection, made in our own factory with attention to detail that lasts for years.
The unity candle: a beautiful custom, but not part of the Catholic ceremony
You have probably seen the unity candle at American weddings. There are two candles on the sides, often lit by the mothers of the bride and groom, and one bigger candle in the center. The couple lights the center candle together to show two lives becoming one.
Couples ask us about this a lot, so here is the honest answer. The unity candle is a popular custom, but it is not part of the Catholic wedding ceremony. Many parishes ask couples to leave it out of the church ceremony, and that's okay. At a wedding Mass, Communion is already the deepest sign of your unity.
So what should you do? Ask your parish. Many priests are happy for you to light the unity candle at the reception, at the rehearsal dinner, or at home as a family keepsake, even if it is not used in the ceremony. That way it becomes a warm memory instead of a worry. If a unity candle means something to your family, our premium wedding unity candle set is made to be lit on your day and treasured after.
The padrinos: sponsors for the arras, lazo, Bible and rosary
One of the most beautiful parts of a Hispanic Catholic wedding is the role of the padrinos. Padrinos and madrinas are sponsors, often married couples you love and look up to, who walk with you into marriage. Each pair of padrinos can sponsor and bring one of the sacred items of the wedding.
- Padrinos de arras bring the 13 coins.
- Padrinos de lazo place the wedding lasso over the couple.
- Padrinos de biblia y rosario bring a Bible and rosary, a sign that you will build your home on prayer and God's word.
So if you include all three, have these ready: a set of 13 arras with its box, a lazo, and a Bible and rosary.
Being a padrino is more than a title for the day. It is a promise to walk with the couple, pray for them, and be there in the years to come. The Bible the padrinos bring 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 show up alongside the arras and the lazo, especially in Mexican weddings:
- Ofrenda a la Virgen. After Communion, the couple takes flowers to an image of Our Lady, often Our Lady of Guadalupe, and places their marriage in her care.
- El cojín. Two small pillows for the couple to kneel on during the ceremony.
- Padrinos de anillos. Another pair of padrinos brings the wedding rings.
- Los recuerdos. Small keepsakes for your guests, so they take home a memory of the day.
None of these are required, and every family mixes them in its own way. Pick the ones that mean something to you, and check the details with your priest or deacon.
A simple timeline: when each tradition happens
Every parish does things a little differently, so always check the order with your priest or deacon. Here is how a wedding Mass (Nuptial Mass) with these traditions usually goes:
- Procession and entrance. The wedding party walks in.
- The readings. Bible readings chosen by the couple, often read by family or friends.
- The vows (the consent). The couple makes their promises to each other. 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 says a special prayer over the newly married couple.
- The Eucharist. At a wedding Mass, the Mass continues and the couple receives their first Communion as husband and wife. In some families, they then take flowers to Our Lady.
If you want a unity candle, it usually fits best outside the ceremony, at the reception or at home.
Choosing quality sets you will keep
These are not decorations you use once and throw away. The arras and the lazo are keepsakes, and families often hand them 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 box or chest to present them. Gold plated and crystal finishes hold up well and look beautiful in photos.
- Lazo: a well made cord or double rosary with secure beads, long enough to rest comfortably over both of your shoulders.
- Wedding Bible: a strong cover, a gift box, and a design your family will be proud to keep for a generation.
- Presentation: a gift box lets the padrinos hand over each piece with dignity, and helps you store it safely afterward.
At Nuestra Fe, these pieces are made in Mexico, with the care that family heirlooms deserve. Browse the full wedding arras collection to find a set that fits your celebration.
Hispanic Catholic wedding traditions in the United States
More and more Catholic weddings in the United States carry the beauty of Hispanic and Filipino traditions. Today the Catholic wedding ceremony used across the United States includes the arras and the lazo as optional blessings, so you can ask your priest to include them. The bishops added them because so many families carry these traditions in their hearts.
Each of these customs turns something you can't see 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 don't replace the vows. They surround your vows with simple signs of what you are promising each other.
Arras, lazo and Bible for your wedding day
The 13 coins, a lazo for the couple, a Bible for the padrinos and a unity candle set for your celebration.
Arrives in 2 to 4 days. Free shipping on orders over $35.
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 she often gives them back. They are a sign that everything you own will be shared in marriage. A common explanation is that 12 coins stand for the months of the year and the 13th is a sign of generosity. The priest blesses them, and they are exchanged right 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 Catholic wedding ceremony, and many parishes ask couples not to use it in church. Ask your priest: many are happy for you to light it at the reception or at home, where it becomes a warm family keepsake.
Who places the lazo on the couple?
Usually the padrinos de lazo, the sponsoring couple, place it over the shoulders of the bride and groom. In some weddings, the priest or deacon does it. It goes on after the vows, forming a figure eight as a sign of a union that lasts forever, and comes off after the nuptial blessing.
What do the padrinos do in a Hispanic wedding?
Padrinos and madrinas are sponsors who walk with the couple into marriage. Different padrinos may bring the arras, place the lazo, or give the Bible and rosary, and some help with other parts of the celebration. After 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. The lazo is a cord or double rosary placed over both their shoulders in a figure eight, a sign of a union that lasts forever. The arras come right after the rings, and the lazo goes on just before the nuptial blessing. Both are optional, so you can include one, both, or neither.
What are some Catholic wedding traditions?
In Hispanic Catholic weddings, couples ask most about las arras (the 13 coins they exchange), el lazo (a cord placed over their shoulders in a figure eight), and the unity candle. The unity candle is a popular custom that is often saved for the reception. Others include the ofrenda to Our Lady, the padrinos who sponsor each item, and small recuerdos for guests.
What are the Catholic wedding traditions during the Mass?
At a wedding Mass, the couple first makes their vows, the heart of the sacrament, and then the rings are blessed and exchanged. The arras, the 13 coins, come right after the rings, and the lazo goes on just before the nuptial blessing. Then the Mass continues, and the couple receives Communion together. Always check the order with your parish.
What are traditional Catholic wedding gifts?
The most treasured gifts are the sacred items the padrinos bring: 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. Families keep them and often hand them down. Guests often receive small recuerdos as a keepsake of the day.
What are the rules for a Catholic wedding?
Usually at least one of you is a baptized Catholic, both of you are free to marry with no earlier marriage bond, and both of you say yes freely. You will also complete a marriage preparation program with your parish. The wedding is normally held 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. As you plan your celebration, take a look at our arras and wedding lasso collections, made in our own factory to be blessed on your wedding day and kept for years to come.
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