Several kinds of wedding ceremonies can be performed by a Mayan shaman, ranging from a simple ritual ceremony to a very elaborate wedding service.

Planning a Mayan Wedding

First, contact the wedding planner with the names and birthdays of the wedding couple. After getting this basic information, the shaman will let us know if he can perform the ceremony.

A simple Maya wedding ritual requires 1 week of advanced notice.

A more elaborate service, which includes handmade wedding clothes for the couple, made according to tradition, requires 1 1/2 months of preparation.

The Maya Wedding Ritual

The ceremony is led by a Mayan shaman and will be held in Maya. The service follows the actual traditions used by Maya in this region.

Two souls will be connected forever.

An altar is made with flowers at four points with an arch and offerings on top. Four candles are lit on the arch. Four candles will also be lit on the four corners of the table and one candle stands in the table's center.

The candles represent the four cardinal points (north, south, east and west) and the four gods that sustain the Mayan cosmology. The central flame is dedicated to man and god (Mother Earth and cosmos). The priest has the privilege of lighting this 5th flame, but can decide to let somebody else do it.

The couple will give each other symbolic gifts. The groom will give corn and cacao seeds. In return, the bride will give tortillas and powder of cacao. Symbolically, a woman will turn the raw material given by her future husband into food.

Mayan music with pre-Hispanic instruments can be performed before and during the ceremony at an extra cost.

Participants and guests can wear their own clothes, but they should dress in white or cream colors. Ties and traditional western wedding clothing are not suitable for the wedding couple, just simple dress in a simple style. Shoes will not be worn by the wedding couple during the ceremony and are optional for guests who want to fully receive the ceremony's energy. Being barefoot let's you have close contact with Mother Earth.

Please Note

• Couples who have a wedding performed by a priest, or minister in Mexico do not receive a marriage license unless they also register with the justice of the peace.
• All fees quoted are estimates and subject to change. All prices are quoted in US dollars.

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