Dreaming of a Big Fat New Mexico Style Wedding

Well folks I gave it my best shot, trying to get Clint and Natalie to buy into the old fashioned weddings of Natalie’s “people”.

Some highlights of such weddings in our past include:

1. La Marcha

Is there anything cooler than going to a wedding reception and watching the unfolding of La Marcha? La Marcha is a wedding march danced by couples who separate into lines, circle around and come back together in a kind of tunnel made by raising and holding hands for the newlyweds to pass through. I tried to explain this to Clint, using the “Virginia Reel” as an example. He was not impressed.

2. The dollar dance also known as pin the dollar on the bride.

Wonder if inflation would apply to this tradition, Five dollar dance anyone?

3. Paper Flower Decorations

Hours spent making these flowers to decorate the church hall, the basketball hoop and not to mention all the cars. These cars pulled away from the church honking and honking all the way to the reception hall!

4. Kidnapping the Bride

I think my niece JulieAnn was the last bride I remember getting kidnapped. To those of you unaccustomed to this strange tradition, it is an important duty of the maid of honor to not allow your bride to be taken. Usually some jokester from the family finds a way to lure the bride away. He then calls in the “ransom” to the groom. I have seen poor grooms walking around with a hat begging for ransom money for his bride. Good Times or a possible felony? naaw

5. Real Food

For my wedding my mom and sisters spent several weekends cooking: Tamales, enchiladas, frijoles, chili verde, yummy. I have been to a wedding where, and I am not making this up, the reception included: sliced bread in the bag, a bottle of mayo, and a package of lunch meat! Also quite a few with brownies and rootbeer. Ahh, remembering the good ol’days – my tummy’s growling.

6. Kick-ass Band

One that can blast the Mexican national anthem, La Bamba!

7. A Drunken Uncle

This tradition may not be dead, as Cassandra can testify due to Uncle Tim’s behavior at her wedding.

8. A Fight

It can’t really be declared a great event unless some family members get in a fight! The joys of a BIG FAT NEW MEXICAN wedding……come on Clint and Natalie it’s not too late!