Mexican Engagement Traditions

Mexican engagement ring styles trend towards the ornate and showy. Wider, more intricate settings with large diamonds cut in the princess or round brilliant style. Photo ©2019 EraGem Jewelry.   Mexican engagement transforms dating and courtship into a deeper level of commitment. As I mentioned in this article on Mexican courtship, couples in Mexico take their time in these early phases of a relationship. Particularly in smaller villages, young lovers follow many important traditions prior to marriage.  

Pedir

The father is the head of a Latin American family. As such, he holds final veto rights for every major decision relating to his daughter. Therefore, when a young man wishes to propose to his sweetheart, he must approach her father for permission. The Spanish word for 'request' is pedir. Oftentimes, the young man must ask not only the girl's father, but also her grandfather. Sometimes the young man's parents accompany him to the pedir. This gives the families an opportunity to meet each other and discuss the particulars of their engagement.  

Plans and Preparations

Provided that the girl's father agrees to the proposal, the families work together to determine a date for the wedding. During this meeting, the girl's father also expresses his wishes for how his future son-in-law will treat his daughter. Though men serve as heads of house, women represent the heart of the home. As such, they deserve respect, tenderness, and love from their husbands. A girl's father wants assurances from the beginning that her husband will treat her like a queen in her new home. A few months before the wedding, the couple meets with their priest for premarital counseling. At this time, the church office posts a notice of intent to marry with a photograph of the couple on a prominent bulletin board. This custom proves similar to the European custom of posting the banns. It affords community members the opportunity to report any legitimate reasons the couple should not be allowed to marry. For example, if one or the other is already married to someone else, or if one of them has entered an engagement agreement with another person.  

Mexican Engagement Rings

Of course, Mexican brides-to-be enjoy the custom of wearing an engagement ring. In keeping with their colorful, vibrant culture, Mexican women opt for ornate, showy diamond rings. Like the diamond engagement ring featured above, Mexican engagement rings trend toward a wider profile with intricate engravings along the band. Often they feature openwork and milgrain, as well. Preferring larger, showy cuts, Mexican couples often choose large round brilliant diamonds or princess cuts. Often, the men wear matching wedding bands, sometimes even during the engagement period. Again, these trend toward wider, more ornate bands. Often men's bands incorporate either bezel- or channel-set diamonds within the design. At EraGem, our most intricate and ornate jewels fall within our antique and vintage selections. We invite you to browse our antique engagement rings today. ~Angela Magnotti Andrews