Aruba Local Customs
Aruba is a beautiful destination wedding location that features a variety of options for your ceremony and reception. To give your wedding a unique, local flair that sets it apart from every other Caribbean wedding, consider adding local cultural customs to your ceremony and reception.
Because of Aruba’s diverse population that includes people from South America, Asia, Europe, and other islands in the Caribbean, Aruban culture is rich and unique. There are many interesting traditions and customs followed by Aruban people that can be incorporated into your destination wedding ceremony and reception.
Caribbean Wedding Customs
Some Caribbean wedding customs practiced in Aruba and other islands in the region include ringing church bells to notify everyone in the vicinity that a wedding is taking place. You can request this if you are planning a church wedding. The villagers hear the bells ringing and align the streets to view the bride and groom. If you are planning a destination wedding at a church in Aruba, you can follow this tradition to include the local community in your wedding ceremony. It is custom for all of the onlookers to comment on the bride and groom’s clothes so make sure you are dressed impeccably for the occasion!
Destination wedding receptions in Aruba and other parts of the Caribbean traditionally last all night. Things you can do to make your destination wedding unique and give it an Aruban twist include serving a rum cake instead of a typical chocolate or vanilla cake. Traditional Aruban foods that can be served at your destination wedding ceremony include stoba, a lamb and goat stew, sopi di pisca, a fish chowder, and ayacas, which are meat rolls wrapped in leaves. Consider having an Aruban band perform at your destination wedding reception. Aruban music is a mix of African, European, and Latin influences. Popular styles of music in Aruba include calypso, tumba, and brass band. Your destination wedding guests are bound to get on the dance floor if Aruban music is played at your destination wedding ceremony and reception.
Some Aruban drinks that can be served at your Aruban destination wedding reception include the award-winning Balashi beer and Balashi malta, a sweet non-alcoholic drink perfect for younger guests. Sea grape wine is a unique drink made from the sea grape trees in Aruba. It is locally known as “druif” and is only served during special occasions. A distinctive kind of Aruban rum that can be used for mixed drinks is Palmera rum. Coecoeci is a unique type of local liquor with a dramatic red color. Coecoeci is made from the sap of the agave plant. The recipe for Coecoeci liquor has been passed down for generations and is believed to be a traditional recipe of the island’s native inhabitants.
Caribbean Wedding Favors
No destination wedding reception is complete without wedding favors. By planning a destination wedding ceremony and reception in Aruba, there are plenty of unique local gifts available to you that can serve as memorable wedding favors for your guests. Sweet local candies such as the coconut candy know as cocada makes for great wedding favors, particularly if you are on a budget. Tamarind balls are another delicious and popular sweet snack in Aruba. Dutch and Belgian chocolates are also widely available on the island. Local crafts include pottery decorated with local scenes, miniature artwork, and cigars made with Aruban tobacco.
Culturally and historically rich, Aruba makes for a unique destination wedding location. You can include local customs and traditions in your destination wedding ceremony and reception to give the local economy a boost and give your wedding an exotic, local flair. From the diverse, delicious foods available to the rhythmic local music that could get even the most stationary of your destination wedding guests on the dance floor, Aruba offers a diverse range of options for anyone who wants to plan a distinctive Caribbean wedding. |
