If you’re curious about who pays for the wedding in Mexico, you should be familiar with Los Padrinos y Madrinas, which are Hispanic godparents. We will discuss these essential people and why they’re often the sponsors in Mexican weddings below.
Feel free also to read our blog for other etiquette and expectations regarding wedding expenses. For example, do you know who pays for a second wedding?

Who Pays For The Wedding In Mexican Culture?
In a traditional Mexican wedding, the Los Padrinos y Madrinas pay for most if not all of the wedding expenses. This is because they are the Mexican wedding sponsors, but it’s not unlikely for the couple’s parents, relatives, and friends to contribute to the total wedding budget.
However, please note that your Padrino and Madrina should not be and feel obligated to make your dream wedding come true. Therefore, be considerate of their capacities and remain grateful even if they can only sponsor specific aspects of your wedding.
As your godparents, they are more than just sponsors but also witnesses to your marriage and guidance to the married life after. If the budget for the wedding is an issue, consider reusing some elements from your parents’ wedding, such as heirlooms, or why not read how to pay for a wedding to know tips to afford your dream event?
What are Padrinos and Madrinas?
In Mexican wedding ceremonies and significant life events like quinceaneras and baptisms, people are chosen to accompany the people being celebrated. They are the Padrinos and Madrinas or Mexican godparents.
Usually, the Padrinos also contribute to the expenses and payments, including those in the ceremony and event. However, the family of the person being celebrated, or being married, can also pay for the ceremony itself, and the Padrinos will offer monetary gifts instead.
And more than financial support, note that Hispanic godparents, like any other godparent, are there to support the bride and groom or future wife and husband in whatever aspect. This can mean giving them advice and nurturing them emotionally.
Who can be a Padrino or Madrina?
The Padrino or Madrina can be anyone close to the person being celebrated or people getting married. But, more often, they are part of the family or a close friend, and it’s considered a great honor to become one as it’s a lifetime commitment.
How many wedding sponsors can you have at a Mexican wedding?
A couple can have as many Padrinos and Madrinas as they want. However, it’s more likely to have one to two godparents only because they are people specifically chosen by the couple and know that they are ready to commit to the roles as wedding sponsors, not just with gifts but also as a role model.
Types of wedding sponsors
-
Role model sponsors
Your Padrino or Madrina can be your role model sponsors, especially if they are a successfully married couple. They’re often a couple that you and your partner admire and hope to be the wedding witnesses as well.
-
Gift-giving sponsors
As discussed earlier, the Mexican godparents or Padrinos and Madrinas typically help pay for the wedding in Mexico. However, they can also sponsor items used in the wedding ceremony such as the flowers, catering, photography, or the tie-the-knot and lucky coins sponsor called the Padrinos de los lazos and Padrinos de arras, respectively.
How Do Mexican Weddings Work?
Besides knowing who pays for the wedding in Mexico, it’s also interesting to learn about Mexican wedding traditions.
- The procession for the Mexican wedding ceremony starts with the couples and their family walking down from their homes to show the public that their children are getting married
- The wedding itself is usually held in a Roman Catholic church, which involves a mass; the elements in a Catholic Mexican wedding have similarities with other Catholic weddings
- The godparents of the couple will present them a prayer book, rosary, and kneeling pillow
- Another popular tradition practiced in a Mexican wedding is the Lazo, which is a rope placed around the couple’s necks in an infinity symbol after the vow exchange; learn how to make a wedding lasso with our separate tutorial
- There is also the Las Arras ritual where the groom presents 13 gold coins to his bride to represent Jesus and the 12 apostles
- The Mexican wedding reception can last for two days; it is typically composed of the first dance, money dance, Mariachi, and other traditional elements on other types of weddings like the seat-down meal, cake, and drinks
- The Mexicans also typically celebrate a party after the wedding called the La Tornaboda; it is a smaller celebration with only the couple’s close family and friends, so they’ll have a more intimate gathering since the wedding reception is bigger and sometimes even an open invitation event
Conclusion
And that’s it! To recap who pays for the wedding in Mexico, it is usually the Mexican godparents or the Padrinos and Madrinas
However, please understand that you shouldn’t force anyone, regardless if they’re traditionally expected to pay for the wedding. Instead, be grateful for what they can offer and help you with, as it’s even more common nowadays to pay for your own wedding, regardless of your cultural background.