Your part:

My part:

I will take care of the rest!

Where ever you need to go to get married or engaged, whether it is in Miami, Paris, the Caribbean, the Amazon or the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, we will be there.

From calm classic to ultra modern with natural, candid, bridal images, we pride ourselves in utilizing the highest quality equipment available on the market worldwide.  

Personally, I prefer the photojournalistic wedding photography style.  I believe in doing much more than just taking pictures of your wedding, I feel that my job is to tell a story of your very special day.  Instead of trying to take total control of your wedding pictures and make you to pose for hours, I welcome any ideas and work closely with you and your fiancee, to ensure that we get great pictures, that are exactly what you have always wanted.  I shoot what you want, where you want, and when you want it. 

Our work has been published in magazines such as Architectural Digest.

We like to approach each wedding in a unique way, and always works with the bride and groom to achieve incredible fine art photographs that they will treasure forever. We are creative and know how to step out of the ordinary with a minimal intrusion into your wedding day. By blending a unique approach of traditional wedding photography, candid wedding photography and photojournalistic wedding photography, we are able to capture dynamic images of the wedding day, which convey true emotions and uncensored feelings. We truly captures the emotions moment by moment without disturbing the natural flow of this exceptional event. On this wedding photography website you can find galleries of photography, articles,  photography tips, and information on booking services. Our style is very candid, unique and photojournalistic.   

Phone: +1 786 444 9743, email: info@haringphotography.com

If you want to see our portfolio, please click on this link: Maimi Wedding Photography.

Below you will find our typical wedding photography shot list:

Bridal Preparation

Groom Preparation

Wedding Service

Wedding Reception

Wedding Detail Pictures

If you like his pictures and would like to place a link to him on your website, please follow this link.

Haring Photography is located in South Florida, in Miami. Haring Photography also has locations in Fort Lauderdale and Coral Gables. Otto shoots destination weddings and local weddings in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Port St. Lucie, Orlando, Sarasota, Daytona, Naples, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, Tampa, Key Largo, Islamorada, Key West, Punta Cana, all of these Caribbean Islands. Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Acapulco, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, St. Bart's, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands, Belize, Barbados, Antigua, Anguilla, Bermuda, St. Martin, and St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbuda, Dominica, Haiti, Isla Mujeres, Martinique, St. Croix, St. Johns, St. Thomas, St. Vincent, St. Martin, Tortola, Virgin Gorda. Otto also offers gay wedding photography services throughout the State of Florida, New York, Connecticut, Sothern California, Las Vegas, Arizona, Greenwich Connecticut, Long Island, Manhattan, New York City, San Diego, Tampa, The Hudson Valley, Westchester County, Hawaii, Europe, South Pacific, Mexico, South America, and all other states in the USA. We will travel to any destination in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Arctic and Antarctic if it is required. We have packages for all budgets and all images are delivered in DVDs.

Otto Haring specializes in Wedding Photojournalism (Classic Wedding Photography, Traditional Wedding Photography, Modern Wedding Photography, Natural and Candid Bridal Images), Engagement Photography, Trash the Dress Sessions, Family Portraits.

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 Traditional Jewish Weddings

I have recently photographed an Jewish wedding in Miami.  It was an amazing experience!  Probably the most enjoyable part of being a professional wedding photographer in Miami is that I learn so much about wedding cultures and traditions.

“Fill up my cup, Mazel Tov!” You’ve probably heard that line in the Black Eyed Peas latest hit song, “I gotta feelin’” But, do you know at what event where Mazel Tov can be heard the most? It’s at a Jewish wedding ceremony.

A Jewish wedding is full of rich tradition, including rituals that honor not only the bride and groom but also their obligations to the Jewish people. The wedding day is regarded as the happiest and holiest days of their lives, when all of the couple’s past mistakes are forgiven and they merge into a new and complete soul.

Prior to the wedding, it’s customary for the bride and groom to not see each other for the entire week prior to the ceremony. This helps to build the excitement of the big day. Fasting is also a large part of many Jewish holidays, and a wedding ceremony is not any different. The bride and groom fast for the day before the ceremony until the reception.

The actual wedding ceremony is relatively short, only lasting 20-30 minutes. Both the bride and groom walk down the aisle with both of their parents. The ceremony takes place under a Chuppah, a canopy on four poles that can decorated with flowers or draping. The Chuppah symbolizes that the bride and groom are starting a home together that will always be open to guests, which is a biblical tradition of the wedding of Abraham and Sarah.

Once the procession is complete, the couple signs the Ketupah, the wedding contract. This is an ornate and beautiful document that outlines the expectations and duties of the couple once they are married and is displayed in their new home.

Then, the bride circles the groom two times while blessings are recited over the wine that both the bride and groom drink. Following this is the giving of the rings, which are simple bands, with no details, no stones, and no engraving on them so there is nothing to distinguish the beginning from the end.

Since this is a religion rich with history, after the exchange of the wedding bands is one of the most important parts. The Sheva Berachot, or seven blessings, are recited over another glass of wine. A parent will wrap the couple in a Tallit, a prayer shall. The couple may invite seven friends or family members to recite each one of the blessings or have the blessings sung in traditional Hebrew. This is to recognize the intimacy and significance of the moment. The Sehva Brachot is the real heart of a traditional Jewish wedding. This liturgical part of the ceremony celebrates the themes of joy and celebration and the ongoing power of love. It’s not an accident that there are seven blessings as they relate to the seven days of creation.

After the wedding vows have been exchanged, the groom steps on a wine glass as family and friends yell “Mazel Tov” (literally meaning “good luck has occurred” and is used as a way of saying congratulations). The breaking of the glass has a few different interpretation. One symbolizes that human happiness is fragile, which is a staple of Jewish history. Another is that the marriage will last as long as the glass is broken. A third is that people need to remember those who are suffering even in this joyous moment. The bride and groom as also left alone together for a few moments right after the ceremony (called the Yichud).

The Sheva Berakhot is also recited again at the wedding reception following the Birkat Hamazon (grace after meals). This second time of the seven blessings gives the couples another time to honor their family and friends. At this time, the wine is divided into two cups, which represent the couple. After the bride and groom have taken a sip, the rest is poured into a third cup, which is shared by the community. This tradition shows how the couple is connected together as one and how their new life is intertwined and shared with the community.

The wedding reception is a joyful and fun event filled with singing and traditional dances. One such dance is called the Hora. This lively Israeli dance is when their guests lift the bride and groom into the air on chairs while they hold onto either end of a handkerchief. This dance allows the couple to be celebrated as king and queen of the night.

Another tradition celebrated at the reception is the Krenzl, which means crowning. This ritual honors the bride’s mother when her last daughter is wed. The mother is crowned with a wreath of flowers as all of her daughters dance around her. When parents whose last son has been married, they do the dance called Mizinke when the guests circle the parents and give them flowers and kisses.

In keeping with the Sheva Berakhot, the bride and groom are treated like royalty for the seven days following their wedding. While most couples are anxious to get away to a tropical spot for their honeymoon, Jewish couples spend time with the community to start their marriage on the right foot. For each of the seven nights, they are invited to dine at the home of a different friend or relative and following dinner, the seven blessings are recited again.  Back in the times when marriages were arranged, these meals served as a way for the couple to get support from the community and to get to know each other.

The Jewish people have a true passion for their religion, which is evident throughout all of their holidays. These traditions and rituals reign the most true when a wedding ceremony happens because it’s the joining of two hearts who become one within the community. To the people of Jerusalem, a marriage is considered to be the ideal state of existence because a man who doesn’t have a wife, or vice versa, is considered a life that is not complete.

Traditional Indian Weddings

I have recently photographed an Indian wedding in Miami.  Being a wedding photographer  in Miami has several advantages.  One of them is that you are exposed a huge variety of different wedding cultures. Guys, I will tell you a secret.  If you want to have real fun you have to go to an Indian wedding.  Get invited, crash one, marry an Indian woman/man, do anything to get in!  You won’t regret it!

Indian weddings are colorful and joyous events, which can last for several days depending on the bride and groom’s religious and cultural beliefs.  With a traditional Indian wedding, it is not purely about uniting two people, but about bringing together two families, as well as rituals, which emphasize the day in a stunning array of dance, music, food and celebrations.

Major Religious Groups in India

India is a gigantic country with many religions, including; Hinduism, Sikhism, Muslim, and also Buddhism.  With each of these religions there are different festivals that take place during the wedding ceremony.

Traditional Indian Wedding Venues

The venue of each wedding depends on the religious beliefs of the families.  A Hindu wedding takes place in a temple which can be a preferred temple of the bride’s family.  A Sikh wedding takes place either at the groom’s home or in a Gurudwara, which is a religious Sikh building.  A Muslim wedding is a grand affair and can either take place in the bride or groom’s family home or in a large banquet hall.  A Buddhist wedding is focused more on the social binding of two people, and can therefore take place in a licensed Buddhist temple or a court. Each of these venues are selected for their own religious significance.

Indian Wedding Costumes

In India the predominant traditional wedding dress among Hindu brides is called a Sari.  A sari is an uncut and unsown piece of cloth that is wrapped around the bride’s body, and is worn over a choli (tight-fitting blouse) and a chania (skirt petticoat).
Brides also wear a lahanga suit, or a salwar kameez. The lahanga suit is a full skirt, which is worn with a choli and odhani. Salwar kameez is a complete outfit which consists of trousers gathered at the ankle, and a three-quarter-length embroidered tunic with a dupatta shawl of red and gold.

Relatives of the bride will spend several hours dressing her so that she will look her best, thus ensuring her good luck and future prosperity. Wedding garments are generally made of materials such as silk and velvet, and are often embroidered and trimmed in gold thread, which is also believed to bring good fortune and prosperity.
Probably the most preferred color for the traditional wedding dress is red. The reason is that red symbolizes abundance, joy, life, energy and fertility. While red is considered the most auspicious color for weddings, it is totally up to the bride and groom to decide which colors they are going to wear. Most colors can be worn at an Indian wedding, however both black and white are considered inappropriate colors for a wedding. Pink, and maroon are popular colors for garments as well.

Hindu Wedding Dress

A Hindu wedding is a bright and joyful event; the bride’s sari is traditionally made from silk and decorated with crystals.  The color of the sari is often red and white, as it is believed that this symbolizes fertility and purity.  The overall effect of the bride’s sari is to make her look beautiful and elegant.

The groom traditionally wears a sherwani, which is knee length and looks like a coat with buttons up the front.  This is the paired with churidars, these are baggy around the legs but tight around the waist and ankles.  
 
Sikh Wedding Costume

After the engagement party, the groom’s mother presents the bride with a chunni or veil.  This veil is embroidered with a picture of Punjab to bless the wedding and marriage. They believe that this blessing will bring them prosperity along with a successful union. The Sikh grooms outfit is quite similar to the Hindu groom, as he also wears a sherwani and a pair of churidars.  

Muslim Wedding Outfit

The Muslim Indian bride traditionally wears a ghunghat, which is a veil that completely covers her face as well as a ghagra cholli and a chanlya choli.  The outfit is normally red in color and is decorated with gold thread, mirrors and pearls or crystals.  In addition to this, the bride wears gold jewelry and a garland.  Some Muslim brides wear a lahanga suit or salwar kameez. An Indian Muslim groom wears the traditionally Indian wedding attire; this as with Hindu’s and Sikh’s consists of, a sherwani and a pair of churidars.  Often, the wedding sherwani is decorated with crystals.

Buddhist Wedding Attire

A Buddhist wedding is a primarily a simple affair.  Nevertheless, the bride is always dressed beautifully by wearing a Bhaku, which is often made from silk.  
The Buddhist bride is the decorated with jewelry which is made from precious and semi precious stones, this jewelry is often worn around neck or her forehead.  To complete the outfit, the bride wears gold bangles on her arms. The groom also wears a Bhaku, but it is made with sleeves.  Along with that, he wears a waistcoat and a sash around his waist.

The Wedding Ceremony

The rituals leading up to a traditional Indian wedding can often last for several days or even weeks.  With each of the religions, there is a different timescale of events. However, keep in mind that each event is jubilant, filled with bright colors, and has plenty of music, dancing, and feasting.  Then when the wedding day arrives, it is time to mark the event with more rituals and celebrations.

Hindu Wedding Ceremony

The first part of a traditional Hindu wedding is called madhupaka, this is when the groom receives a gift from the bride’s father.  The groom then makes his way to an altar, where a holy fire burns in its centre.  Once his bride is next to him, the bride takes his hand and leads him around the fire four times to symbolize Hinduisms four goals, whilst they are walking they recite their vows to each other.  To finalize the marriage the priest offers blessings to the newlyweds.

Sikh Wedding Ceremony

When the bride and groom are next to each other in the Guru Granth Sahib Kirtan, the groom holds a sword in one hand and his bride’s hand in the other.  The groom must then lead his bride around the temple whilst the bhaiji recites hymns, these are then sung by the bride and groom.  Once the final hymns have been sung the ceremony is complete and they are united.

Muslim Marriage Service

The procession of the venue is one of fun and frivolity, with bands playing and minor pranks being played on guests.  The service is presided over by the Maulvi who reads selected verses from the Quran.  The marriage is then completed after the proposal and acceptance from the bride and groom.  The marriage contract is then signed and the ceremony is complete.

Buddhist Marriage Ceremony

A Buddhist wedding is one of the simplest wedding ceremonies in India, there is very little in the way of rituals, as it is intended to be seen as a social event to unite two people in common faith as one.  During the ceremony the bride and groom recite their vows and then light candles and incense sticks.  They are then asked to offer flowers to Buddha.

As you can see, each religious belief in India has their own unique way in celebrating marriages. These traditional Indian weddings are deeply rooted in their culture and are given uttermost importance. In these events, you will also see a display of the richness of their culture in terms of their rituals, clothing, and even the venue.

If you are familiar with Indian wedding traditions, please feel free to send me an email with any comments or details regarding this exciting and colorful cultural event!

Similarities and differences in Brazilian and North American Weddings

I have been the wedding photographer in real Brazilian wedding!  It was amazing!  People from Brazil are great and they know how to dance! I love being a wedding photographer in Florida because of the proximity of Latin America.  I truly love the variety of the South American wedding cultures.

In Brazil, a wedding is a grand event celebrated with samba dancing, lots of color, loud music and delicious food. Because the nation is a lively mix of many different cultures, there is a vast array of wedding traditions, some of which are the same that we may see here in the United States. Not seeing each other before the wedding, wearing something new and blue are some of the most common features. Albeit, weddings in this tropical country certainly have their own flavor and spice.

In the United States, the pre-wedding begins with a proposal: The groom gets on his knee and opens a box containing an engagement ring signifying he wants to spend the rest of his life with his fiance. Yet, in Brazil, there is a pre-wedding task that the man must accomplish in order to show his value and responsibility as a husband. Tradition has it that the groom has to tame an unruly donkey (called “Bumba-Meu-Boi) only after which, is he allowed to make a proposal to the daughter of the donkey owner. Newly engaged couples in Brazil also engage in large celebrations to mark the engagement.

In many countries, during a period of engagement, the bride wears a diamond ring on her left hand to signify that she is in a relationship. At the wedding ceremony, a bride will traditionally add a wedding band to this finger. Well, in Brazil, things are a bit different. The bride and groom both wear a gold band on their right hand which is inscribed with their wedding date. Next, at the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom exchange these same inscribed wedding bands but place them on their left hands. The couple is careful not to drop the rings, for it is believed that if your rings drop, your marriage will not last.

The Wedding Plans

While an American bride can take months finding that perfect dress, it’s the opposite in Brazil. Tuxedos and dresses are difficult to find in the country, so you won’t be seeing a bride in a traditional white gown.  Rather, anything formal goes for the big day. Most brides tend to rent their wedding dress but all brides wear gold shoes! In addition, you won’t find the groom wearing a boutonniere on his lapel, but rather a small Brazilian flag pin.

When it comes time for the big day, the bride gets dressed with something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. While a Brazilian bride will also take part in this tradition, she also has another custom to adhere to as well. We’ve seen it in the United States where during the reception the bride throws the bouquet and it’s said that whoever catches it is the next to get married. In Brazil, there’s a similar tradition with a new twist. The bride will write the names of unmarried friends onto scraps of paper and pin them to the inside hem of her dress. It’s believed that this will bring her pals good luck in the marriage department.

At the ceremony, there are no bridesmaids and groomsmen. Instead, guests in attendance who are married gather at the altar instead. Brides in Brazil must also be at least 10 minutes late to the ceremony. This tradition might have grooms in other countries getting a bit nervous when they don’t immediately see their bride walking down the aisle. But in Brazil, this is done simply because the bride cannot show up before the groom because it’s bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony. In addition to any wedding music used, the national anthem is also played to commemorate a true Brazilian marriage.

After the wedding comes its everyone’s favorite part, the reception.  Just as you would bring a gift for the bride and groom, it’s customary in Brazil to also bring a gift for both sets of parents to congratulate them on this momentous occasion. A quirky detail is that the reception tables are not numbered but are named after other cities in the country. Dancing is always a huge part of the reception. In Brazil you will see lots of samba dancing going on.

Wine is an integral part of a Brazilian wedding reception. There must be plenty of wine to go around because if it runs out, the parents of the newlyweds will have caused shame and embarrassment among family and friends. The end of the reception is signified by the consumption of the food …no doggy bags here for leftovers. Once the food is gone, guests leave.  At each wedding, the flavor is the same. Guests receive cookies called “casadinhos” which stand for “marry well.” Throughout the reception the bride can also choose to walk from table to table carrying a basket full of lembrancinchas” which are little objects that often serve as a souvenir of the event. To end the evening, as in many countries, the groom should carry his newlywed bride in his arms and enter the room with his right foot first.

Although Brazilian weddings tend to be some of the most expensive in the world, all that matters in the end is that the newly wed couple lives happily ever after.

Traditional Muslim Weddings

I have recently photographed a traditional Muslim wedding in Fort Lauderdale.  I have always been interested in different cultures and was very pleased to participate in a real Muslim wedding.  The wedding pictures will follow soon.  First let me share with you what I have found out about Muslim wedding traditions.

While Islamic weddings have been known to be multi-day festivities, the actual wedding ceremony is simple and to the point. The wedding is not restricted to just the ceremony and is instead divided into three ritual stages: pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding. 
 
Prior to the wedding, the pre-wedding stage, sweets and fruits are exchanged and family and friends visit the bride and groom's homes. This pre-wedding time increases the excitement among the families. Traditionally, the bride is not seen for forty days. Only family is allowed to see her as she rests at home in preparation for the wedding day.
 
The bride and groom may also choose to hold a “dhoki” (meaning drum) a few weeks before the wedding. This party is a time for singing, dancing and beating on a drum in anticipation of the big day.
 
When it comes time for the wedding, brides are decorated in beautiful and various ways for the wedding ceremony. One example is decorating the bride with lots of jewelry that can tend to be very expensive. Twenty-two karat gold bracelets, rings and necklaces often adorn the bride. Wedding photography + traditional wedding jewelry equals beautiful colors!

Another example, and perhaps the most well known, is the gorgeous henna that is painted onto their hands and feet the night before the wedding in a “mehendi” ceremony. This ceremony is the most festive and filled with, again, lots of singing and dancing. The bride to be will wear yellow and henna paint is applied on her as well as other female family members. The groom may also receive henna, but only gets a single dot in the palm of his hand. The henna represents that the bride is changing from a woman into being a wife. The future mother in law applies the first dot on the hand. Traditionally, the groom’s initials are written somewhere in the design as well.
 
Muslim weddings are best known for welcoming guests. A wedding offers a family the opportunity to entertain many guests at once while also strengthening the social bond that they all have.  After henna, there is another celebration called the “baraat” which is more time for the family to sing and dance. At this event, two parallel lines of the bride’s family and friends greet family and friends.

The next day is the wedding, known as the "nikkah" and it is the most important ceremony for the Muslim people because it's a charming and elegant ceremony of two souls coming together. Having hundreds or thousands of guests is not unheard of as this is a large affair. Conservative families on the other hand, like to skip the lavish ceremony and instead give the newlyweds money to start a family and home.
 
The actual wedding ceremony can be held anywhere. To begin the wedding ceremony, both the bride and groom are placed in separate rooms. The bride wears a red “ghaagra”, which is a pleated skirt with a long blouse that is embroidered in gold. On her head she wears a “dupata” that wraps around her shoulders, but does not cover the gold jewelry she’s wearing. The groom can choose to wear a suit or a “sherwarni” which is a high-collared long sleeve coat as well as a turban.

One interesting fact in the Muslim culture is that the faith is passed down through the father. Because of this, men may marry outside of their religion without having their future spouse convert to Islam. Muslim women on the other hand, can’t marry a non-Muslim unless he converts to the religion.
 
The officiant for the ceremony can be any man who is familiar with the Islamic law since there is no official clergy in the country. The officiant goes to each room, asks the bride and groom if the marriage is of their own free will, then the marriage contract is signed and the two are brought together and become husband and wife. However, in order for it to be official, there must be two male witnesses that sign the marriage contract, and either two males or a male and two females must be wedding witnesses in order for it to be recognized as well. Sometimes, a “wali” may answer on behalf of the bride.

The marriage contract is called a “mehar” and also has a statement in it declaring the monetary amount the groom will give the bride. There are two amounts of money, one is giving before the marriage is consummated and the other is given to her throughout her life. The elder family members actually get together the morning of the wedding, and decide what this nuptial gift and amount will be. Today, the groom may use the ring as the first form of money. The later amount can be anything from money to land to jewelry, even an education. The reason that there is the amount given prior to the marriage is because it’s considered the bride’s security and guarantee of freedom within the marriage.

And finally is the reception, which is known as the “valima” which the groom’s family hosts. Many prayers are said before the dinner. Typically, men and women sit separately, including the bride and groom. After dinner the newly-weds sit together for the first time and the father will officially give her hand to her husband and ask him to protect her.

While some Muslims choose to have lavish ceremonies, others prefer to make it a more simple day that is just focused on the bride and groom. But no matter how much many is spent on the big day, the main thing in this culture is that the day is focused on the love and affection of the new married couple.

Cubans and Marriage: The Different Aspects of Getting Married in Cuba

One of the best aspects of wedding photography is that you always have a party over the weekend.  One of my favorite weddings is a Cuban wedding.  If you really want to see people who know how to dance you have to attend a Cuban wedding.  They are just amazing!  Cubans know how to dance! Cuba is one of the largest islands in the Caribbean and has been a huge tourist destination and the place for destination weddings. This tropical paradise mixed with the Latin flavor of the islands is an attractive lure for tourists. Prior to 1959, the island was a hotbed for travelers because of the warm beaches and the casinos built by mobsters from the United States. Now travel in and out of Cuba can be difficult, especially for Cubans. Of the many restrictions put in place on the Cuban population, getting married is surprisingly easy.

Cuba has no official religion and religious demonstrations are often prohibited. So, marriage on the island is more a civil ceremony. However, there are many Catholics in Cuba. There was a rise in Catholic popularity after a rare visit from Pope John Paul II in 1998. Private ceremonies may utilize some of these traditions and beliefs in their weddings. In the earliest period of the Revolution, the government did its best to honor many “common law” couples and encouraged marriages in general.

Outside of the more rural areas, like Havana, marriage has always followed more the regional customs of the area than any religious or civil requirements. This was often because it was difficult to get a hold of a priest or government official for these ceremonies.

It is so easy to get married in Cuba that even couples finding it difficult to get married elsewhere are accepted here. Interracial marriage and marriage between various diverse peoples is common here. There is a high level of respect for the gay and lesbian community in Cuba. The country is even considering passing a law legalizing gay marriages.

Marriage was not always so easy in Cuba. Historically the 1800s brought many changes to the Cuban population, its racial make-up, and rules regarding marriage between races. Due to the country’s sugarcane plantations, the use of African slaves became a standard. When this boom occurred, there was a rush to import as many slaves as possible. Estimates say that over 400,000 slaves were brought over to Cuba. Over 40% of the Cuban population was African at this point. The country had a feel similar to a caste system mainly dictated by ethnicity. The three main groups were whites (many Spanish and American), Free People of color, and slaves.

This begat a movement to change the racial feel of Cuba because of concerns over the rise of an African-Cuban majority. There was also a shortage of women in general, especially white women, causing rules to go into place over who could get married to whom. Many factors went into the decision of whether an interracial couple could be wed including ethnic background, reputation of family, whether the bride was a virgin, and financial status. There was a couple of movements going on as the white population did their best to ensure that their children did not marry into the African race, and the darker skinned parents would push for their daughters to marry lighter colored men to raise their social status. The laws in place made interracial marriage difficult but these wedded unions did occur.

Even though marriage is easy to come by in Cuba, the country does experience divorce. Many critics tend to point fingers at the country’s political and social system as the culprit. Others argue that divorce is high everywhere. There is also the idea the raising the legal rights of women has caused additional strain on marriage as men are resentful and women are finding it difficult to balance work, family, and personal responsibilities. There are those that cite that cultural and language differences are a culprit as well. Poor housing, low salaries, financial hardship, and the machoness of many Cuban males are all contributing factors to stress in married life.

Some critics point to a problem with scams revolving around getting married. Since it is so difficult for Cuba residents to leave the country it has been suggested many are looking for a foreign marriage as their ticket elsewhere. The argument is that Cubans can be very charming and that the sex appeal of the Latin culture is well known. That some will use these wiles to get a tourist to fall in love them. And that there is even a term for this, “Te Quiero Mucho”. It is the ‘I love you very much’ game and that it is common.

A typical wedding ceremony is Cuban is over quickly. However, the reception is a long, fiesta type party. Even the procession to and from the ceremony is done up with lots of color and pizzazz. The entire wedding party does a procession with the couple both to the official nuptials and back to the reception. A traditional wedding cake is common. There is Latin music and dancing including a money dance where the men each dance with the bride and pin money to her gown. The intent is to help the new couple pay for the honeymoon. The newlyweds receive gifts and also distribute favors to their guests as reminders of the occasion. The large bulk of the expense of a Cuban wedding goes to the procession and the cake respectively. Weddings can be tricky during the summer months due to occasional rain and hurricanes.

The sad truth is that marriage in Cuba is often affected by the political and social climate of the times. Presently, getting married may be simple for those who can visit the country, but it was not always so easy. Also, those looking to get married in a tropical destination may not find it easy to get through the laws and red tape regulating marriages.

Traditional Phillipine Weddings

Me and my wife, we have just finished shooting a Phillpipne Wedding in  Miami.  I think all wedding photographers located in Miami would agree with me that  Phillipine Weddings are one of the most colorful wedding festivities in the whole world.

We did a quick research into different aspects of getting married in the Philippines. We hope you enjoy our little article. Weddings themselves are something to be celebrated and rejoiced in the Philippines and are regarded as blessings. Many of the cultural traditions surrounding the wedding ceremony have revolved around abundance and fruitful unions.

The ceremonies are full of color and are often blended traditionally due to the variety of ethnic groups. Often, the older generation is enlisted to make important decisions such as the actual wedding date. Selecting a favorable date of the year is done to add to the happy couple’s future good luck and fortune.

Filipino wedding ceremonies share many similarities to American ones, but nearly always include the major Catholic rites such as candle, veil, cord, and arrhae. One difference is the addition of sponsors. A sponsor is a friend or relative who has a high level of influence in the community. The more sponsors a couple attains, the more prosperous their union is reported to be. They also contribute to the wedding financially, assisting with the bride and groom’s expenses. The wedding party itself is considered to be a secondary sponsor but is not required to give money for the wedding. Filipino weddings seep in family tradition and are typically large and customized for the special couple. Many Filipinos consider it to be great luck to wed either a wealthy man or a foreigner.

The Philippines is known for their acceptance and friendliness when it comes to all individuals. Any wedding in this archipelago is sure to be a joyous occasion and an unforgettable party. Filipinos are part of a joyous culture and wish goodwill and blessings on all, especially the newly wedded. The islands are a fantastic tropical spot to go to for those seeking to get married and are accepting of all races due to their own special diversity.

When it comes to marriage, religion still takes precedence in many Filipino weddings. The majority of the country is Christian, with an overwhelming 80% of that group Roman Catholic. The Philippines are known for being only 1 of 2 Christian based countries in Asia. The dominance of Catholicism on the islands stems back to the Spanish take over by Magellan in the 1600s.

The Philippines is an island country with over 7,000 individual islands associated with it. There is much terrain and climate diversity includes both tropical rain forests and volcanic areas. The islands themselves are a mixture of cultures, including both eastern and western, due to his history and changing leadership.

There is a fairly even amount of Asian, Spanish and American influences. The Philippines is a gorgeous tropical destination with plenty of tourism and luxurious lodging. This makes it a great spot for both the wedding and the honeymoon. Yet, be cautious if planning an outdoor wedding from June to November as that is the rainy season for this country.

The Philippines is quite a diverse country with a combination of natives, Spanish, American, Chinese and other ethnic groups. The two official languages of the Philippines are English and Filipino, making it easy for American tourists to get comfortable. However, there are over 180 different indigenous dialects for the islands, a small few of them are out of use today. The Philippine constitution recognizes both Spanish and Arabic. This makes for a land perfect for interracial dating and marriage between separate ethnic groups. In fact, offspring of many of these mixed racial couples are quite common and often referred to as Filipino mestizos.

The history of marriage in the Philippines is as diverse as its culture. Around 1900, when the United States took over possession of the islands from Spain, an official document about the laws of marriage was drawn up for review by the American president. The Law of Marriage, as it was referred to, demonstrated that weddings were purely canonical and run by the Catholics of the country. In fact, while a Protestant could seek out a Protestant priest to get married, there was no law protecting those marriages and they could be considered invalid.

The Catholic priests were the only ones overseeing marriage and they would only marry those of their own faith. The state was completely uninvolved with matters of marriage at this time. Then the priests would announce the potential nuptials in front of the parish for three Sundays in a row. If there was no objection, the couple could be wed on the day following the last Sunday announcement. There were no marriage licenses issued and any fees paid belonged to the church. Today there are both civil and religious requirements to get married on the islands.

To get married in the Philippines, you must be at least 18 years of age. All of those between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to attend some type of marriage counseling before the big day. You need to be at least 21 years old if you don’t have parental consent. For those between the ages of 21 and 25, it is required by law that you seek out the advice of both sets of parents before getting married.