How to Talk About Your Wedding in Spanish: A Vocabulary Guide (2024)

April 13, 2021 by Olga Put Spanish Vocabulary 0 comments

I’m so excited to talk to you today about your wedding in Spanish. Who doesn’t like chatting and gossiping about this exciting ceremony?

Even if you’re not planning to get married soon in a Spanish-speaking country, learning these words and expressions will boost your Spanish vocabulary.

I’ve prepared a long list of words, useful sentences, and idiomatic expressions that are useful to talk about any wedding in Spanish. If you think that I missed something, please let me know in the comments.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

Your Wedding in Spanish: Vocabulary and Expressions

I’ve chosen for you some useful vocabulary that you may need whether you’re getting married in a Spanish-speaking country, going to attend one, or simply reading about it in a wedding magazine or a romantic novel.

How to Talk About Your Wedding in Spanish: A Vocabulary Guide (2)

Preparation Time

Spanish	English
la manicura	manicure
el maquillaje	make-up
el papeleo	paperwork
el peluquero	hairdresser
la prueba del vestido	dress fitting

People

Spanish	English
la novia	bride
el novio	groom
el marido	husband
la mujer	wife
el esposo	husband
la esposa	wife
el pastor	pastor
el maestro / la maestra de ceremonias	master / mistress of ceremonies
el cura	priest
el padre	father
el sacerdote	priest
el reverendo	reverend
el invitado / la invitada	guest
la dama de honor	maid of honor
el padrino	best man
la madrina	godmother
la pareja	couple
la familia política	in-laws
comprometido/a	engaged
apalabrado/a	betrothes
el prometido	friancé
la prometida	fiancée
el suegro	father-in-law
la suegra	mother-in-law
el cuñado	brother-in-law
la cuñada	sister-in-law
el yerno	son-in-law
la nuera	daughter-in-law
la dama de honor	maid of honor
el paje	ring-bearer
la paje	flower-girl
los recién casados	newlyweds
el coordinador / la coordinadora de bodas	wedding planner
el fotógrafo / la fotógrafa	photographer

Actions at Your Wedding in Spanish

Spanish	English
casarse con alguien	to marry someone
mandar las invitaciones	to send invitations
leer un discurso	to read a speech
organizar la boda	to organize the wedding
besar la novia	to kiss the bride
intercambiar los votos	to exchange vows
pedir la mano	to ask for the bride’s hand
firmar el acta de matrimonio	to sign the marriage certificate

Wedding Concepts in Spanish

Spanish	English
la boda	wedding
el matrimonio	marriage
el noviazgo	engagement
la boda religiosa	Religious wedding
la petición de mano	proposal
la propuesta	proposal
la boda civil	Civil wedding
la ceremonia	ceremony
el banquete	banquet
los discursos	speeches
la luna de miel	honeymoon
el voto	vow
la ceremonia de lazo / enlace	Wedding ceremony
nupcial	Bridal, nuptial
la sesión de fotos	Photo session

Objects at Your Wedding in Spanish

Spanish	English
el anillo	ring
el vestido de novia	Wedding ring
el traje do novio	Groom’s suit
el velo	veil
los regalos de boda	Wedding gifts
la alianza	Wedding ring
la tarta (Spain)	cake
el pastel (Lat. Am.)	cake
la invitación	invitation
el esmoquín	tuxedo
el anillo de compromiso	Engagement ring
la lista de regalos	gift list
el arroz	rice
el sobre con dinero	envelope with money

Wedding Venues in Spanish

Spanish	English
la iglesia	church
el registro civil	Civil registry
la playa	beach
el jardín	garden
el salón de bodas	Wedding hall
la tienda de novias	Bridal store

Phrases for Your Wedding in Spanish

¿Quieres casarte conmigo?
Will you marry me?

¿Te gustaría ser mi esposa?
Would you like to be my wife?

Te invitamos a nuestra boda el 1 de septiembre en la Catedral de Guadalajara.
We invite you to our wedding on September 1st in the Cathedral of Guadalajara.

Será una ceremonia muy íntima, con pocos invitados.
It will be a very intimate ceremony, with few guests.

La ceremonia tendrá lugar en la playa.
The ceremony will take place on the beach.

El banquete será en el Restaurante “El Evento.”
The banquet will be at El Evento Restaurant.

¡Qué hermosa se ve la novia!
How beautiful the bride looks!

El novio se ve algo nervioso.
The groom looks a little nervous.

Los declaro marido y mujer.
I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Puede besar a la novia.
You may kiss the bride.

¡Vivan los novios!
Long live the bride and the groom!

And here are the traditional Wedding vows for religious ceremonies:

Yo (nombre), te recibo a ti (nombre) para ser mi esposa/esposo, para tenerte y protegerte de hoy en adelante, para bien y para mal, en la riqueza y en la pobreza, en salud y en enfermedad, para amarte y cuidarte hasta que la muerte nos separe.
I (name) take thee (name), to be my wife/husband, to have and protect you from this day forward, for better and for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, till death do us part.

Idiomatic Expressions About Your Wedding in Spanish

Last but not least, I want to share with you some colloquial idiomatic expressions that are related to the topic. They are not all politically correct but it’s always good to know what they mean, and not to offend anybody.

1. Quedarse para vestir santos.

Literally, it means “to be left to dress saints.” This expression means to remain single, too long.

Si no te vuelves más social, te vas a quedar para vestir santos.
If you don’t become more social, you’ll remain single.

2. Pasarse el arroz.

If you say about somebody: se le pasó el arroz, it does not mean that they overcooked the meal but it means they got to the moment when having kids might be challenging.

Ya los dos tienen más de cincuenta años, creo que se les pasó el arroz.
They are both over fifty, I think they are past the prime.

3. Boda lluviosa, novia dichosa.

It simply means that if you get married on a rainy day, it will bring good luck to the bride.

4. Ser una solterona / ser un solterón

To be a spinster or to be a soletrón. It has a negative connotation.

Es una solterona por decisión propia.
She is a spinster by choice.

Practice Time

Do you feel like talking about your wedding in Spanish with somebody else? Whether you just want to chat about this exciting topic or you want to practice your newly acquired vocabulary and expressions, it’s always a good idea.

Remember that you can sign up for a free class and have a long conversation about any wedding in Spanish with one of our friendly and professional, Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala.

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Olga Put

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.