Puerto Rican culture is a vivid tapestry of Taíno, Spanish, and African heritage — and nowhere does that richness come alive more beautifully than at a wedding. Whether you're a couple with Puerto Rican roots honoring your heritage or a mainland couple wanting to weave island traditions into your destination wedding, these customs add depth, meaning, and unforgettable energy to your celebration. Here are the traditions worth knowing — and how to incorporate them with respect and authenticity.
La Hora Loca — 'The Crazy Hour'
If you attend only one Puerto Rican wedding tradition, this is the one that will stay with you forever. La Hora Loca is a burst of uninhibited, joyful chaos that erupts during the reception — usually late in the evening when the dance floor might otherwise start thinning out. The lights change. The music shifts to high-energy Latin rhythms. And suddenly, props appear everywhere: glowing necklaces, sequined masks, feather boas, oversized sunglasses, maracas, cowbells, noisemakers, and confetti. The goal is pure, unfiltered celebration. There's no choreography, no structure — just unbridled joy.
Some couples hire stilt-walkers, LED dancers, or traditional drummers to lead La Hora Loca. Others simply provide the props and let their guests take over. Either way, it is the single most photographed and talked-about moment of any Puerto Rican wedding. Guests who were sitting down are suddenly on the dance floor. The shyest person in the room is wearing a giant hat and shaking a maraca. It is magic.
✦Planning tip: La Hora Loca works best when it's a surprise. Have the props hidden and brought out all at once. The element of surprise is what creates the explosion of energy.
Las Arras — The Thirteen Coins
During the ceremony, the couple exchanges thirteen decorative coins — las arras — as a symbol of trust, shared responsibility, and their commitment to building a life together. Traditionally, the groom presents the coins to the bride, though modern couples often exchange them mutually. The thirteen coins represent Jesus and his twelve apostles in Catholic tradition, but the broader symbolism is universal: a promise to share everything, to trust completely, and to build together. The coins are often presented in an ornate box and kept as a cherished keepsake. Many couples use heirloom arras passed down through family, while others have them custom-made with engraved initials or meaningful dates.
El Lazo — The Wedding Lasso
After the vows, a decorative ribbon or rosary — el lazo — is draped around the couple in a figure-eight pattern (the symbol for infinity), binding them together as a visual representation of their eternal union. The lazo is often placed by the padrinos (godparents) or parents of the couple, adding a layer of family blessing to the ritual. Traditional lazos are made of white satin or floral rope, but modern couples customize them with island flowers, beads, hand-made lace (mundillo), or meaningful charms. The figure-eight shape symbolizes not just unity but the intertwining of two families, two histories, and two futures.
Capias — Keepsake Ribbon Favors
Capias are small, decorative ribbon strips printed or embroidered with the couple's names and wedding date. They are pinned to each guest's clothing during the reception — a simple but meaningful gesture that gives everyone a personal keepsake of the day. Guests often keep capias for years, pinning them to bulletin boards, tucking them into wallets, or adding them to scrapbooks. For destination wedding guests who traveled to celebrate with you, a capia is a tangible, beautiful memento of the journey they made.
The Dollar Dance (La Danza del Dólar)
During a special dance — often a romantic bolero or bachata — guests line up to dance with the bride or groom and pin money to their clothing or place it in a decorative bag. It's a lighthearted, joyful tradition that honors the guests' investment in the couple's future. The dollar dance is interactive, festive, and often produces wonderful candid photographs as guests take their turn on the floor with the newlyweds.
Danza Criolla — The First Dance
While many couples choose their own first dance song, the traditional Puerto Rican first dance is a danza criolla — an elegant, romantic waltz-like dance form that originated on the island in the 19th century. The danza combines European waltz structure with Caribbean rhythm and emotion. Even couples who don't perform a formal danza often incorporate Puerto Rican romantic music — boleros, salsa romántica, or bachata — into their first dance or parent dances as a nod to island culture.
The Bride's Fan (Abanico)
Puerto Rican brides traditionally carry a hand-painted or lace fan — an abanico — that matches their gown. Beyond its beauty, it's deeply practical in the Caribbean heat. Some brides carry heirloom fans passed down through generations; others commission custom fans as a bridal accessory. The abanico appears throughout the ceremony and reception, often used during formal portraits for an iconic Puerto Rican bridal image.
Mundillo Lace
Mundillo is a handmade bobbin lace technique unique to Puerto Rico, recognized as part of the island's intangible cultural heritage. Traditional Puerto Rican brides incorporate mundillo into their veils, dress accents, or accessories. Commissioning mundillo for your wedding is a way to directly support local artisans and carry a piece of Puerto Rico's craft tradition into your celebration.
The Food: A Celebration in Itself
Puerto Rican wedding receptions are known for extraordinary food — and lots of it. Traditional wedding menus feature pernil (slow-roasted pork), arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), mofongo, tostones, carne guisada, and an array of tropical sides. Farm-to-table venues take this further with locally sourced, seasonal menus that honor island agriculture. And no Puerto Rican celebration is complete without coquito — a rich, creamy coconut and rum drink that is the island's answer to eggnog, served cold and often homemade by a family member.
How to Incorporate Traditions Respectfully
If you are not Puerto Rican but want to honor these traditions at your destination wedding, the key is intention. Work with your venue team or a local coordinator who can guide you on what feels authentic versus performative. Most Puerto Rican wedding professionals are thrilled to share their culture with couples who approach it with genuine respect and curiosity. You don't need to include every tradition — choose the ones that resonate with your story and let them become part of your celebration naturally.
✦Your venue team is your best resource. Many all-inclusive venues in Puerto Rico build cultural elements into their packages — from traditional cuisine to ceremony rituals — and can guide you on what works for your specific celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
La Hora Loca ('the crazy hour') is a high-energy celebration that erupts during the reception, usually late in the evening. Props like glowing necklaces, sequined masks, feather boas, maracas, and noisemakers are distributed to guests, and the music shifts to high-energy Latin rhythms. It's designed to get everyone on the dance floor for a burst of uninhibited, joyful celebration.
Las Arras are thirteen decorative coins exchanged during the ceremony as a symbol of trust, shared responsibility, and commitment to building a life together. They are often presented in an ornate box and kept as a keepsake. Many couples use heirloom arras or have them custom-made.
Capias are decorative ribbon strips printed or embroidered with the couple's names and wedding date. They are pinned to each guest's clothing during the reception as a personal keepsake of the celebration. Guests often keep them for years.
Absolutely. Most Puerto Rican wedding professionals welcome couples who want to honor local traditions with genuine respect. Work with your venue team or a local coordinator to choose traditions that resonate with your story and incorporate them authentically.