A Cinco de Mayo Theme Wedding
I can't seem to find any ideas for a Mexican themed wedding, not even Spanish-themed ideas. My wedding's on the fifth of May (Cinco de Mayo) and I really wanted to plan my wedding around that theme. Any ideas for centerpieces, especially?
— Lori
As luck (or fate!) would have it, I just spoke to TV personality and leading Baltimore wedding planner Linnyette Richardson — and she let on that she's planning precisely this kind of wedding for one adventurous couple. And as usual, she overflowed with ideas.
"They're not a Mexican or Latin couple,"she explains. "They're just having their wedding on May 5, and wanted to go with the theme." That's all it took for Lynnette's imagination to go into overdrive. Here are a few of the highlights:
- Colors: Sage and Coral. Not only does it speak to the theme, it's tremendously contemporary. "We're having a lighting company really work up the environment, creating a really warm, ambient light that folds everyone in. We'll avoid too much green light, since it's not too flattering. It'll be more of a peachy amber shade — just gorgeous."
- La Vida Loca. A giant dance floor's being brought in. The couple plans to wow their guests by performing a smoky tango for the First Dance. Afterward, pro dancers will rile the crowd with a high-energy routine, then split up to lead onlookers through basic salsa lessons.
- Southern Comfort. "The menu's got a definite southwest flavor,"says Lynnyette. "We'll be serving Coronas, some Baja wines, and the food will be buffet-style so guests can mix it up." Plus, she says, she's planning a sweet and salty treat bar, featuring crowd-pleasers like chocolate-dipped pretzels and potato chips, and ample quantities of her secret weapon (slash-guilty-pleasure): Dale & Thomas' cheddar-chipotle popcorn.
- Femme Vitale. "Of course, in this case the bride's not going to wear anything fooffy," she points out. Instead, she'll don a sleek gown, a chic chignon, a luxurious bloom in the hair, like gardenia — and dramatic red lipstick.
- Beat a Retreat. The couple will do that literally: they're planning a grand exit that stars a giant, custom-designed piñata. One talented stick-wielder will crack it open to reveal a variety of tasty treats, plus individual iPods for 10 (count them!) lucky guests.
Want a few more ideas for a southwestern twang? Borrow a page from our libro:
Terra Cotta Containers. Serve chips and dips in footed bowls; place larger urns in the corners of the room and wrap the necks in thick twine. Brightly-colored Alebrije figurines on the tables will add south-of-the-border whimsy to the staidest of floral arrangements.
Striped Rag Rugs. Lay these colorful accents under chairs and tables in your cocktail corner.
Mmmm, Good. Grilled shrimp with fresh-squeezed lime and sea salt. A taquitos bar with all the trimmings. Fresh and tangy mojitos. Feeling the love?
Fabuloso Favors. Custom-labeled hot sauce — or mini-bottles of tequila — won't be left behind.
Tip-Top Treatments. A few sure winners: desert pods plus white orchids. Curly willow plus those fiery mini callas known as orange/rust (they deepen to gorgeous red at the edges). Sassy red sunflowers and anything. Glass vases filled with cut oranges and limes. Large clear cylinders filled with glossy chilis (red or green, your choice).
Don't forget to load down your tables with flickering pillar candles and votives.
The Final Touch. Give your creation an extra dimension: lightly scent the room with sprays or fragrant candles. Combine several for something citrusy and fresh: cilantro and orange, or lemon verbena.
What touches are you adding to your Latin-inspired or cinco de mayo wedding? Let us know below.
i love this wedding theme its really pretty.
brides, i found a beautiful board and link thought i would share!! enjoy!
*Mexican Wedding
Where can I find the same terra cotta pots that are in the picture above?
Where can I order the custom-labeled hot sauce and the mini-bottles of tequila?
hi carol, yes just google search wedding hot sauce and check out beau-coup and My Wedding Favors then search mini tequila bottles wedding though most are from the uk.
if this is note what you like then think about just shot glasses. which i found in abundance on a google search of “shot glasses wedding favor” which you can scoop up at a mere 95 cents a glass, at favor favor. and just have tequila at the reception . consider this i know you like the hot sauce idea take, stick a bottle of hot sauce, a small bag of mexican wedding cookies, and a personalized shot glass in mexican style bags. and wrap with fake hot peppers on twine and a little card that reads just for you. or some catchy little phrase.
I just added a comment, I forgot to say, one idea is rolled up cervilletas (beautiful cervilletas), common in michoacan, and tie them up w/ a liston. a colorful liston. it would be nice as a favor for people to take.
I am looking for good favor ideas. My wedding is still a while from now, but i would like to start planning, so i dont get stressed out at the last minute. My wedding will take place in Michoacan, Mexico on December 20th, 2008. I will have PLENTY of space at the reception place, so I want to make this a good one and something for all my guests to remember and enjoy. Any ideas on favors or decorations would be good for me to start off with. Thanks for the ideas in advance!
elsa, hi google image mexican wedding inspiration board. check out first pic (Snippet & Ink). also google image mexican wedding decorations. all brides wanting this theme should google image cinco de mayo wedding. there are ideas there.
i know you are all in a dilemma. i saw on a google image search tiisue paper balls wedding and martha stewart tissue paper wedding. how fun is that!! and it doesnt look cheap, it actually looks fantastic!! i also love the idea of balloons in reception with satin ribbons hanging.also check out on google image wedding ribbons decor for ribbons in trees. and for even more info, google search mexican wedding theme there are lots of links!! good luck!!
I have a good favor idea, but I’m still working on making it happen. My wedding is in an old spanish house in Florida. I’m going to try to get decorative tiles, like Talavera Tiles, and turn them into coasters. I’ve found some tile suppliers and I got a few tiles to try out my idea. I plan to get a stamp to print our names and date on the back, and get rubber or felt feet to put in the corners. Talavera tiles come in hundreds of colors and designs, so you can use them in your decor, and match them to your colors. I’m having difficulty with some of them because they are raw terracota on the back, I’d prefer more like a hard white ceramic, but they are cheap, so I will try to make it work. Good luck!
Does anyone have more ideas about wedding favors? I’m trying to have our theme a mixture of Mexican and Peruvian.
i think little pinatas is a good give away favor!
If anyone has any ideas for locations, please e-mail me. I’m looking for a mexican theme.
we went with the bright tones of Mexico, as opposed to red,white and green(boring)I have a small wedding party. One bridesmaid will be in fuschia, one in dark turquoise, maid of honor purple. The groomsman and best man will match their vests,ties, etc to the girls. The ring bearer will be an azure blue, the flower girl will match, wearing a colorful wreath of flowers I found online. She will carry a basket of mutli colored petals. I am wearing a simple cream gown(no train, no veil)with a vibrant bouquet, my husband to be will be wearing cream. Not sure yet on his vest color.
Reception is at a Mexican resturaunt that caters for wedding receptions. Favors are mini mexican pottery painted in vibrant hues and mini maraca keychains also painted in vibrant hues with tags attached in vibrant colors that have our names/wedding dates. Centerpieces will be colorful GORGEOUS CREPE paper flowers(I have a friend making mine but you can find on line expensive!)in terra cotta pots, as well as floating colorful candles in short containers. Tables are white linen strewn with vibrant flower petals. Wedding table is much the same,only with a colorful sarape style runner in our wedding colors. We will also have clear chapaigne flutes on the tables with colored napkins inside. With a corresponding colorful ribbon tied to the flute.
Dinner is buffet style REAL MEXICAN food, green chile/meat, red chile/meat, rice, beans, salsa, chips and tortillas. Music is not salsa (that is not MEXICAN)but a true mix of Mexican Banda music, Tejano, and also top 40. We are having Mariachis for the dinner hour.
p.s. also have a mexican bakery make my cake, they are beautiful and inexpensive for the amount of servings! I am going with a Tres Leches cake……YUM. Also platters of Mexican wedding cookies.