TRADITIONAL WEDDING CEREMONY

I. Announcement of the ceremony

Today is a day of great blessing for the two groom and bride, Alejandro Alderete and Estrella Choi
and a day of great happiness for the two families of the couple and for our town of Hemi.
We wish that this marriage ceremony will be a beautiful memory for all those present and
we thank you all for your assistance and for bringing more happiness on this occasion.

II. Goose Rite

Act that symbolizes the promise of a continuous love between the bride and the groom who will
spend a life together like the couples of geese do.

• The groom leaves a wooden goose on a table which looks to the East
• The groom makes a bow as commitment to the marriage union
• The mother-in-law takes the table with the wooden goose and carries it away.

III. Rite of bows

It represents the promise of commitment between the bride and groom, in ancient times it was
actually the first time that the bride and the groom met.

• The groom stands on the east side of the table and the bride on the west side.
• The bride makes two bows, 2 being the number associated with the yin (female energy)
• The groom bows, 1 being the number associated with the yang (masculine energy)
• The bride makes two bows again
• The groom bows once again

IV. Rite of drinks

Rite in which the bride and groom drink three types of drink, the first to honor the ancestors and the
divine, the second as a symbol of blessing to the bride and groom and the third to consolidate the
marriage union.

• The groom bows and both the bride and groom sit down
• Attendees prepare the first drink and garnishes.
• The bride and groom lift the drink to the sky as to honor the ancestors and the divine
• The second drink is prepared
• The groom and bride drink of this drink to wish each other a good marriage
• The third drink is prepared and served in gourd cups that symbolize the two halves that the couple
are
• The couple drink from their respective gourd cup in order to consolidate the marriage union

V. Bows to the guests

Bows are made to the gest in order to finally formalize the wedding.