Wedding Crasher Provides Glimpse Into Brazil’s Wedding Scene

Tonia Adleta, PBC™, Aribella Events, Philadlelphia  Photos by Wender Borges of Mega Studio FotografiasWith the approach of the 2014 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup finals and the 2016 Olympics, all eyes are on Brazil—and with good reason, as it has the fifth fastest-growing economy in the world. As a delegate with Rotary International, I spent several weeks in the capital city of Brasilia and surrounding Distrito Federal region. In addition to getting an insider’s look at the far-reaching humanitarian programs Rotarians have implemented, I was able to “crash” a wedding as the guest of Wender Borges, of MegaStudios, Anápolis, one of the premier photographers in the area. Borges invited me to one of his client’s weddings at the historic St. Anne, the first church in Anápolis, founded in 1692. In addition to experiencing Brazilian hospitality, I now had a constant source of bits and pieces of information on customs, traditions, and trends from an experienced professional.Better late than neverEven though churches often carry heavy fines for a bride arriving late to her own wedding, says Borges, most choose to pay it in order to make a grand entrance. Our bride did not disappoint, arriving roughly an hour after the scheduled ceremony time.Couples Choose Godparents 
to Guide Them In CommunityThe custom of padrinhas y padrinos (godmothers and godfathers) was a pleasant surprise and one of the most beautiful in weddings I’ve studied around the world. The bride and groom each invite several couples to stand with them as godparents, not just for the ceremony itself but to play an integral role in their married lives, one of community. Another surprise was the fact that all formal family portraits are taken during the ceremony, itself, with the guests seated and watching.Music, food, flowers 
compete for attentionWith a nod to the stereotype of Brazilian culture, music, food, and flowers compete for the top priority in most weddings. It is common practice to have a full orchestra for the ceremony, followed by a DJ for the reception. The orchestra provides a breathtaking musical backdrop to the processional and elevates the experience for all involved.One of the highlights of the reception is the dessert table, often all in white. Artfully arranged platters and towers of cookies and candies flank the multi-tiered wedding cake. Most wedding receptions last long into the evening and include a café station for the guests to enjoy the delicious coffee for which Brazil is famous, along with the traditional send-off of bem casados, small, individually wrapped cakes that literally mean “marry well.”The décor of both the ceremony and reception sites often incorporate faux walls, draping, and an abundance of lush flowers, even on modest budgets. Oversized high-fashion style images of the couple’s engagement shoot are also displayed. One of the most popular venues in the area features a two-story antebellum staircase, that provides the perfect backdrop for nearly floor-to-ceiling sized images, one each of the bride and groom, on either side of the staircase, and one of them together in the center.Wedding Attire takes cue 
from American fashionRegarding the fashion of the event, the ring bearer and flower girl, often in their young teens, complement the bride and groom, much like the typical American bridal party in which the couple has designated the color and/or style of dress. The padrinhas wear formal attire of their own choosing and their padrinho counterparts wear complementing ties and dark suits. While Brazilian fashion is coming into its own, most of the wedding-related attire for women is imported and, therefore, much more expensive, hence the reason padrinhas often rent their gowns. Engagements are typically long enough to include a trip to the United States for the couple to purchase supplies for their wedding and their new home as a result of the high cost of imported goods.So many stories to tellAs wedding professionals, we all know that each wedding tells a story, not just the love story of the couple themselves, but also their heritage, culture, and families. My only regret in my first, and possibly only, experience as a “wedding crasher” is that there is so much more to the love stories of Brazil that one wedding couldn’t possibly tell it all. Lucky for me, the Brazilian visa is good for 14 years and there are more stories to be told.