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Hello! My parents are from Mexico and my relatives coming from Mexico, for the wedding, speak mostly Spanish. But, the majority of our guests will only speak English. Therefore, here is my music dilemma:
I want to have some Spanish music (like 20 songs total) played throughout our wedding reception, but my FI thinks that all the non-Spanish speaking guests will find the music annoying and will think it's rude because they won't understand the Spanish music.
Anyone non-Hispanics have any input here????
Also, what do you think of having a mariachi band for 1 hour? I want one but he thinks that non-Hispanics will think they are loud and annoying...
I would really appreciate your honest thoughts on this issue. Thanks!
I'd think it was cool, to be honest! I don't think any guests will find it rude.
I know that you asked for non-Hispanics for input, but I'm going to share my opinion anyways.
I'm Hispanic and my FI is Croation/Irish/Canadian mix. YOU ARE HISPANIC! Be proud of who you are. I would be SO insulted if my FI said I shouldn't play music from my culture. I told him I wanted to have a mariachi and he thought it was awesome.
If people are coming to YOUR wedding and feeling insulted by the music from YOUR culture, they don't deserve to be there.
Seriously, this drives me mad. We were just at a wedding where the groom's family (he is Canadian) were making faces and getting upset when Spanish music came on. It was so disrespectful. If you don't like the bride's culture, GTFO. Why bother going to the wedding in the first place?
(sorry for the rant, but seriously this drives me mad)
I am not hispanic.
Personally, I would find it annoying.
I already hate it when radio stations play spanish music on an ENGLISH station. ANNOYING!!
oh gosh, quite the opposite - I think they would find it cool and a little 'exotic' to have something cultural like that they might not be used to at weddings. Plus in this day and age, salsa and other latin music is soo prolific in the US mainstream (Shakira, even Ricky Martin back in the day), so I think people are probably used to hearing lyrics they can't understand. Go for it!
Do it! I think most guests will think its cool. Its part of your heritage and I think it would mean a lot to your family. Weddings are all about sharing and celebration. Go for it!!
I know you asked for non-hispanics. but I'm half hispanic. So I have to deal with the mixing of our cultures for our wedding. Honestly, no it won't be loud and annoying. You should be careful about what songs you are playing, make sure that they have the tone and feel that people will enjoy. My older sister did this for her wedding, but she had to play Latino music and Greek music. Each got a couple songs (like 15 minutes worth) and everyone had a blast!
@tranquility: I can't believe people were making face!! What is wrong with people. That's so immature.
As a non-Hispanic, I certainly would never think that a bride or groom celebrating their heritage at THEIR wedding was rude. You and your FI are starting a new family and blending 2 cultures together, both your guests and his guests should understand and celebrate that.
I went to a wedding of a Hispanic bride and white groom, and the DJ played a great mix of music, including some spanish language music and some salsa. The bride's family was on the dance floor doing some amazing salsa moves, which was fun to watch and to join in on.
If you are worried that the non-Spanish speaking guests won't understand or feel comfortable with the music, maybe have the DJ make an announcement about the music that is being played and invite everyone out on the dance floor to enjoy the music.
I think it's a great idea! Like others have said, it will be fun and unique--a great chance to celebrate the blending of your families.
It might also make those who speak predominately Spanish feel more included. Sprinkled over the course of the night, it might help them feel like their (and your) culture is being celebrated rather than hidden an feel more comfortable when everyone around them is speaking a language they aren't so fluent in.
I'd love to hear music from the culture that is now going to be a part of the family. I guess it depends how many songs altogether you're playing. If 20 of them are Spanish songs, how many are English speaking songs? I'm guessing a lot more than 20?
Not everyone likes the same music, even if you were playing some rock, some country, some top 20...you can't please them all!!! I think your Mexican relatives will really appreciate having Spanish music as they will probably feel out of place with the majority of your guests speaking English.
And I love the idea of the mariachi band!!! Too much fun!
One of my roommates is Mexican and when she got married they had a mariachi band and it was so much fun! Her parents spoke only Spanish so a lot of the day was in spanish. It was a lot of fun and I heard a lot of comments form people that they loved having the mariachis because it made the day festive. And I love latin music so you should definately do it. Who doesn't like to salsa?
Your fiance should get over it. if people are travelling all the way from Mexico to be at your wedding, it would be really nice to do something to make them feel special and welcome, especially since it might be difficult for them to interact with the others if they speak mostly Spanish. Plus, he's marrying into a really cool culture and it should be celebrated.
Go for it! And the mariachi band would be fun. My friends (non-Hispanic) had one at their wedding, and everyone loved it.
I LOVE it, and I am not hispanic.
But it doesn't matter if it's annoying or not. It's your culture. Do it! Your wedding has to be about both of you, and your Mexican heritage is yours--don't ditch it!
Does your family enjoy dancing? Can you FI's family salsa or whatnot?
I think what kind of music you play really depends on who can dance and what they want to dance to. My grandparents and the older generation of my family were beautiful ball room dancers back in the day. I'm sure there would be songs to make them happy.
There are a lot of spanish songs that are quite popular in English culture i.e. Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira. Why not do some songs like that so everyone can enjoy.
Well I live in Texas so my my opinion is a little biased but I don't think it's rude to have Spanish music mixed in. A wedding is about joining two families together and celebrating both sides. I went to a wedding about two weeks ago and the bride was hispanic and the groom was not. They had mariachis play during the dinner portion and then had a band for the dance portion. The band they picked played both spanish and english music and it was great. You'd be surprised how many non Spanish speakers are familiar with some of the more popular Spanish songs. Even if they did not know the songs a lot of people still got up to dance because of the beat to the music. I'd say go for it!!!
I'm not Hispanic, but I think it'd be fun. Maybe not 20 songs in a row, but a spanish vibe would be cool. it's your wedding after all
One other point - I've been to several weddings where a lot of music was played in other languages when BOTH bride and groom were white (including salsa, Indian musica/bangra, greek music) and everyone LOVED IT. It's always fun having something to dance to other than top 40/hip hop at a wedding.
I’m white and my husband is half-Mexican-American (his mom is Mexican-American). Personally, I *love* mariachi music. I love the idea of having a mariachi band!
I can’t imagine being annoyed if a Spanish song came on at a wedding – especially if the bride/groom was Mexican-American.
I'm not hispanic, and I think it sounds fun! Not sure I would know how to dance or sing along to it... but it sounds like it would be fun! : )
Plus, it's a great way to really personalize your wedding/reception.
Thanks for all the comments! Really appreciate all the honest feedback regardless of what side of the fence you're on. Even if you think you would find it annoying or rude, it's good to know if there are others that also share your opinion, so I can weigh how much Spanish songs (if any) we will play.
I said ~20 songs, but realistically I am envisioning only about 12-15 songs and they would be sprinkled thoughout the night. Our wedding music will be playing from 4:0O - 11:30 PM, and there will be ~200 songs total, with a huge variety (i.e. Elvis, Jimmy Buffet, Keith Urban, Frank Sinatra, CCR, Earth Wind and Fire, Lady Gaga, etc).
What else gets you up and dancing but Latin music??
I'm not Hispanic and I would LOVE it! And I completely agree with the PP--I'd never consider a couples' choice of music at their own wedding some kind of affront to me.
I would love it, and I think it's a great idea! I think that your FI should be a little more understanding about this. You want everyone to feel included, and that is very thoughtful. I can't believe that anyone would think it was "rude", and if they do-who cares? It's YOUR wedding day. Good Luck!
Was just at a Mexican/American wedding last weekend. I think it's great to play some Spanish tunes during the reception. No mariachi band at this one but I went to a wedding a few years ago where they used one during dinner and I LOVED it. I'm a Caucasian Texan so I guess I'm used to the Mexican influence but I think it would be even more exciting for folks who aren't used to it. And I think it's an especially nice thing to do to include your family who is traveling from Mexico. I'd go for it.
So long as the music has a beat people will dance to it- unless you will have specific people who have awesome salsa moves, in which case a giant circle might form around them. Win-win in my opinion. Also- how could a mariachi band not be fun?
We went to a wedding where the bride was Peruvian and the groom was white and pretty much every song was in Spanish and the dj tended to speak in mostly Spanish. The groom came over to us and was really pissed off because he kept telling the dj to play some of the music he specifically requested for his family/friends. We aren't big dancers so it's not like it made us not want to dance but it was odd not being able to understand a thing the dj said (ie; for the cake cutting etc).
Your wedding is supposed to be about you and your fiance, so why would you have music only representing his culture? That is not fair at all, plus it really doesn't demonstrate the melding of two people and backgrounds that way. Also, hispanic music is pretty freakin amazing to dance to! I've never been uncomfortable dancing a salsa to a song that I couldn't understand due to language barriers.
Do it up!
I'm marrying a Brazilian and intend to have some music in Portuguese. I don't think the guests will think it is rude at all. You should honor your heritage! I'm even planning on having some aspects of a traditional Brazilian wedding incorporated, and (if I can convince FI) some things spoken in Portuguese!
I think you should have a mix of music from both cultures, and the mariachi band sounds super fun. My husband and I are mixed-race and have many mixed-race couple friends. We always love attending their weddings and parties because it is so interesting to see how other cultures celebrate! We have attended weddings that were Cambodian-American, Indian-British, and Filipino-American. These were some of our favorite weddings! Your wedding should reflect the two of you, and include traditions that are inportant to each of you. Your guests will enjoy seeing something new!
I ditto MissBoston. I have been to or heard of MANY weddings were the couple was of one culture & yet had traditional aspects & music of completely different backgrounds then they were!
I am hispanic (althrough I don't speak Spanish haha) and loved the mariachi band that was at a friends wedding (both of them were caucasian) it just adds a cool element to the atmosphere, regadless if you speak Spanish or not. :)
Have the spanish music. I would enjoy it. I played a little latin music at my wedding and I'm white! But I am from San Antonio. :-) Salsa, anyone?
I don't quite understand why your FI doesn't want the music of your culture?? If I were you, I'd be very upset.
My husband is Indian (I'm white) and we had both Indian and American dance tunes at our wedding. His Indian friends loved dancing to American music and all the Americans were having a blast trying to do all the Indian dance moves to Jai Ho and other popular Indian dance tunes.
The fact that it is a wedding and you are merging two lives and two cultures means you should have a wedding that represents BOTH of you. (My opinion anyway..)
I'm not Hispanic, and I think it would be awesome!! I guess my best advice would be to try to find some middle ground with him. maybe compromise somehow.
I would have the Spanish music! I think it is fun to embrace one's culture. It's ok if people don't understand the lyrics-- I dont' understand half of the English lyrics on the radio anyways!
I would definitely do it. I am not hispanic but if I were, I'd be pretty upset with my FI if he didn't want to include something from my culture into "OUR" wedding because it might annoy some of his stick-in-the mud relatives. I mean really, the people who would be annoyed by latin music, are they really the people that are going to be up and dancing anyway? And more to the point, you should have what YOU want at your wedding. Not what other people want.
Personally mariachi bands do tend to annoy me. Not the music, at all, or the noise. I just hate when they go table to table at restaurants and play for you. I feel like it's so awkward because you just sit there and smile and you feel rude eating while they're playing and then you have to fumble around for a tip and it sort of kills the conversation, etc. That said, I think if a mariachi band were to play during a cocktail hour and they were stationary, that would be awesome!
Does your FI find the music annoying?
I married a hispanic and one of the favorite parts the entire crowd enjoyed was when my husband danced with his mom to Volver, Volver. We blended both latin and other music and had a lot of salsa dancing going on.
We were also going to have a mariachi band - which I was also concerned about how it would be received - but we opted against it in the end (for cost reasons).
I definitely think you will miss out on a beautiful element if you negate the latin music. If you and the guests on your side will enjoy it, then include it. Just like they will put up with music that is perhaps not their tastes, so will your other guests. You should consider their feelings, just as you are considering the other guests.
That would be so fun! I love spanish music (but then again, i'm from Texas, and would eat Mexican food every. single. night. if my husband let me ;-) )
Depends on the type of music. For the reception maybe have more crowd pleasing songs from shakira, enrique glesias, etc. so people feel like the music is familiar. There seems to be a lot of great pop cross over bands that would not exclude anyone at all. I love mariachi bands and think that your guests would too. Just have the songs more romantic ballads than superfast songs. Good music is good music and it doesnt always matter that you dont understand the lyrics. Im sure you two can agree on some stuff. Even flamenco guitar might be a great compromise.
If the bride's family speaks mostly Spanish, I'd honestly find it strange if there *weren't* some Spanish-language music played.
That said, your FI is the best judge of his guests. If there are people who won't like it, I don't think you should pander to them by not playing any Spanish music, but I agree that you might address it somehow (like an announcement by the DJ, or a note on the tables about how you are incorporating your heritage in the playlist).
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