Colombian Wedding & Aguardienete Recipe

Hello! I am best man at my friend`s wedding (in 5 days!). He is from Colombia and she is from the US. I`ve read about the Colombian candle ceremony, but I wondered if you`ve gotten other replies on any other traditions? I`m going to make the toast half in english, half in spanish, but any other input would be greatly and gratefully appreciated. Thanks! Frank.

Hi, it`s me again. Did you ever a recipe for aguardientete? Please pass it along if you did. Thanks again! frank.

Hey i was born in Colombia you would probably have to buy aguardiente it depends on where u live ...i know they seel it here in houston its not that expensive compared to other things but it would probably be easier to buy it

I am from Colombia but I am adopted. I too am going to get married and need to know some Colombian traditions. What is aguardienete???

Aguardiente, at least the one I`m familiar with is a colombian liquor, similar to Sambuca (black licorice). Aguardiente is very popular in Colombia and is included in all types of festivities. But if anyone actually knows about a special mixed drink recipe for weddings please post it.

Hi Tracie
I am Puerto Rican and have some Coloumbian friends. Maybe I could held you call me.

Visit our page for more info: A Royal Affair

Hi I`m Colombian and I am planning on getting married Fall 2003. I was born in the USA and I too would like to know of any Colombian traditions. I know Aguardiente is a very popular Colombian liquor. The best brand that I know of is Crystal. Its pretty strong so they`re usual taken in shots w/lime and salt on that side. Some Aguardiente w/Ballenatos playing in the back ground would make for a very interesting and fantastic party! Good luck on your wedding and please pass along any tips!

Ok, ummm, i dunno how i got here, but i`m colombian, i could give ya all sortos of tips:
1) you most definately will not be able to find a recipe for homemade aguardiente, best thing for you is to but it, best brand is called "Nectar"
2) in weddings, we usually first eat, then the parents of the people getting maried (sometimes also the best man) say some words, when they finish everybody toast with champaigne (not aguardiente).
3) as soon as they are over with the toast usually comes the partyy woohooo wich extends for long, and in wich aguardiente is served.
4) the party is the most amazing, and probably the kost important for colombians (i`m not kidding), so you should dance around and sing some vallenatos, we colombians are very happy people and we love celebrations.
5) the party goes on until there`s everyone decides to leave ( this act is usuallly inspired beacuse the music stops playing and everybody sits around for some talk)
6) never ever say no to a drink

Guess thats it :-) e-mail me if ya got questions, cause i`ll probably wont ever again land on this page *lol* bye bye good luck
Ps:colombians rule! wooohoooo

I am Colombian. The Colombian weddings are not different from U.S. Weddings. There is only 3 major things for the Colombians.
1. Food
2. Drinks
3. Music (mostly Vallenatos)
One cannot survive without the others. Juan Carrillo (posted 9/1/02) is right. Champange for the toast and then Aguardiente for the rest of the evening. No, you cannot make Aguardiente. It is a slightly sweet liquor made of the Anise Seed. Watch out! if you are not use to drinking it, it will creat a serious hangover. And it sneaks up on you. You cannot tell you have drunk too much until it`s too late.
But you can look up traditions in other hispanic countries and borrow from them. Like from I think El Salvador the bride is in the middle of the dance floor and them the Men guest are suppose to pay a dollar to dance a small portion of a song. They usually start with her father first, then her father in law, uncles, best man and then any other men guest.
The Maid of Honor is there too collecting the money. The best man is the anouncing the dance and encouraging men to get up and dance.

Besides the candle lighting, and details of the party afterwards, is there any customs actually during the ceremony that sets traditional Colombian weddings apart from U.S. Weddings? Thanks**anna**

I just stumbled upon this page. It`s wonderful. I am American, but getting married in October 2003 to a Colombian man. I too have been looking for a tradition to incorporate. I will check back here for more ideas.

I am also marring a Colombian man and it is very hard to find any traditions. Aguardiente is very good, but I found out from some of his family that they do not use it for toasts. I would also like to know of any traditions please e-mail me if you know of any
Or if you just want to talk about our colombian men
Greenmmcoco@hotmail.com

Allright IM too young to know these things but I do know Aguardiente you cant really get a recipe for it, depending on what part of colombia the person is from you can get different dishes recipes, I know ajiaco and tamales and a lot of other oens appetizers everything its actually simple but delicious

Agua Ardiente is an alcoholic beverage. Kind of like Sambuca. A name brand that makes this drink if you`re interested is Crystal. There is no recipe just go buy it at the liquor store.

Hey there!
Well, I´ve read all that you wrote and I must say that what people have said about aguardiente is correct. I am too getting married in November with an American guy and I am looking fordwards to a very traditional Colombian ceremony.
The Catholic ceremony is usually the same as in The States or any other Catholic rituals, that won´t change much.
I heard of a woman who decided to use traditional Colombian music instruments for the music inside the church, of course it was a wonderful experience. Traditional Colombian music from the coast in the church? I think I will try that too.
You can do whatever you want but there´s a recipe for an aguardiente drink which is very traditional in Bogotá and may welcome your guests into the celebration...that is something called CANELAZO, hot aguardiante with AGUADEPANELA and cinnamon, served in clay cups and with some traditional cookies or PANDEYUCAS or almojabanas on the side. You can look up for those words in the net or contact me.
I was a couple of times in Mexican markets and everything you need could be found in there. There is also Hot cocoa with cheese or tamales, etc.
If you need any more tips just contact me.
Good luck on your wedding!

First, allow me to congratulate all those who are marrying a Colombian.... Excellent choice ;)

As far as Colombian wedding traditions, the candle lighting during the ceremony is the most common. Not much to add with regards to the ceremony.

Let`s talk food. EMPANADAS are one the most typical of Colombian dishes. Simply a meat turnover made various ways... Depending on what part of Colombia you`re from. Yummmmeeeee! Your guests will thank you for them. Also, PLATANOS FRITOS (fried plantains) are a side dish to look for. The riper they are, the tastier they will be after they`re fried. YUCCA (kinda like a patato, but more fiberous) is another side dish Colombians like to see on their plate. As you can see, I like to cook for my American girl, and she digs the Colombian cuisine. Look up those foods on the web for various recipes and you`ll definitely impress the inlaws ;)

Hey everyone! Here are some ideas for a unforgetable "paranda":
1.Lot`s of aguardiente
2.Carlos Vives y valenatos!
3. Cumbias galore!! (even if you do not know how to dance!)
4. Good Food!! How about Empanadas, arepas y chorisos for appetizers.
5. Father/daughter song can be a fun "cumbia"

I was born here in the U.S but I`m entire family is from Colombia and I absolutely love every thing about mi Patria!! I`m getting married in October to a nice Irish boy and would like to incorporate both cultures myself.

Wow! I didn`t know there were so many available Colombian men in America! I too am marry a Colombian guy in December. Most of the stuff you all have been talking about my fiance has shared with me. Although I do not know what the candle lighting ceremony is about. Is that the same as lighting the unity candle? Since most Colombians are Catholic the ceremony is basically the same. My fiance is having his father bring over special bottles of Scotch that we are going to put on the table for every one to drink. What you must remember is that Colombians LOVE to party. Any chance they get they will celebrate. They are used to drinking by the bottle not by the glass. Having to pay for their own liquor at the wedding is a very unnatural concept according to my fiance and his brothers. A tradition that you all my like is dance the waltz with all the important men. This is the first dance of the evening according to my fiance. The bride begins the waltz with her father, then any brothers, uncles, grandfathers from the brides side. After the bride has danced with all the important men on her side she then will dance with all the important men on the grooms side...Her brother in laws, father in law, etc. The last one she dances the waltz with is of course her new Colombian husband!! I wish you all good luck with your new Colombians!! They are great!

I was wondering if belly dancing was a big colombian custom. If you know any other customs please tell me!

Ok, whoever started this is probably already married (congrats), but as we Colombians can be found anywhere and are always having partys a few things.

I was born in the US but am 100% Colombian (literaly) and first and formost - for any kind of party that you plan to invite colombians, you better have good music and good alcohol (not nesassarly colombian but agua ardente is best).

But music is usually more inportant. It is EXTREMLY important to have SOME kind of music on at some time. If not THEY WILL LEAVE.

As for alcohol, (those of us who drink) we aren`t terrably picky but don`t be surprised if each family or person brings there own "Just In Case" bottle of agua ardente. For a wedding find out the family`s favorite brand (this usually depends on what part of Colombia they are from).

And I noticed that none of these messages say to play Reggeton. You are going to HAVE to play it, seriously, HAVE to play it. It`s not just for the teenagers anymore. Adults, small children, even people who don`t understand spanish love it. If you don`t know what it is it is sort of like a mixture of R&B, rap, hip-hop, and old fashioned salsa, cumbia, among others.

Reggeton varise greatly, but simply stated - It is a kind of danceable spanish rapping music. Some music Colombians will enjoy are artists such as Daddy Yankee, Shakira, Luny Tunes, Don Omar, and Juannes (think I spelled his name wrong).

I recently went to a Colombian/White wedding and I (not to offend) noticed that hispanic and black DJs understand the music colombians like better. And if renting a place rent it for a LONG time, if the party is over before midnight, it is a bit of an insult. And like someone before me had said, if the party is good - when the music stops, there should be some socialising until eventually everyone fiters out on there own.

(PS - Oh, and if someone offers your underaged kid alcohol, don`t freak out, at least in my crew it is custumary that if you are underaged you can drink, but not get drunk)

(PPS - We sometimes do anyway) LATINOS RULE!

I`m Colombian - I just got married to an American - this is what I had at my wedding:
Good music of course - mix - some Salsa, Merengue, Boleros, and American music.
For the bouquet - (this is a tradition from Cali) all the single women put their right shoe under my dress - then my husband blind folded pick one, two, and the third one won the bouquet :)
Have fun.

Ok, I was looking for a link on where to buy an accordion an I landed here. I`m Colombian and I play the accordion. So i have been in many colombian wedding and let me tell you. I have seen the ones that you go and eat chorizos and arepas. And they drink aguardiente. But I also have been to some that drink whisky and eat pastas. I guess the food and drinks are your choices. Usually on the celebration after the dinner theres a dance where the two start to dance then the father in law dances with her and he dances with his mother in law; then everyone else start to join until everyone has dance with the just married. Then there are too things very peculiar. The girl should trhow their flowers over their head and the guy should trow their ribbon among the other single men.. Then whoever men got the ribbon is supposed to dance with the girl which got the flowers meaning that they are the next in line to get married. By the way the best aguardiente is ANTIOQUEÑO you can easily find it in any liquor store. And RON MEDELLIN together with coke and lime make the perfect drink.

Hope everypne is not marrying the same colombian man..lol

Ok even though the original post for this topic is 5 years old, I still found it interesting and, if your reading this, then so did you if you got this far. As for a drink recipe that includes aguardiente as an ingredient, try this: Traditional margarita - tequila + aguardiente = happy juice. Let me know how it works out for you. P.S. I`m american and my gfriend is Colombian. She`s awesome.