Our Ajua Wedding Planners will arrange an authentic Mayan wedding celebrated by a Mayan Shaman in Maya. A Mayan Wedding can range from a simple ritual ceremony to a very elaborate wedding service. It is a serious spiritual ceremony. We use only authentic Shamans to perform authentic Mayan wedding ceremonies and prior to the ceremony the Shaman must determine if the bride and groom can participate in this sacred ceremony.

For an authentic Maya wedding ceremony, which can include handmade wedding clothes, we require a minimum of 90 days to prepare for you.

The Mayan wedding is considered a link to the cosmos. The authentic Mayan ceremony, following the actual traditions used by the Maya from the Yucatan Peninsula, is led by an authentic Mayan Shaman and will be held in Maya. A translator is provided when meeting the Shaman to understand the spirituality of the wedding and its Mayan symbolism.

Mayan Wedding Ritual ... a ritual of commitment to unite each other as long as the commitment remains.

The Mayan Wedding Ritual is based in the Maya's connection with the universe and their gods, which is described in their sacred book the Popol Vuh, the ceremony brings the couple to the four cardinal points (north, south, east and west) to unite them to the feminine Mother Earth and the masculine Cosmic Energy, symbolized by a central sacred candle.

An altar is created to represent these four cardinal points. Flowers mark these four points and on the altar there is traditional offerings to the Gods - corn, beans, rice, fruit – to represent the gifts of prosperity and fertility. North is represented by red flowers, East with yellow, South with purple, and West with white. Candles are located on the altar on the four cardinal points -- north, south, east and west – to symbolize the presence of the four Mayan cosmos gods.

The center candle unites the feminine and masculine – Mother Earth and Cosmic Energy, the fifth flame - which is lit by the Shaman or by the one he designates. Prior to the ceremony, the area is cleansed at the four cardinal points by the Shaman with the sacred smoke from the Copal tree and the blowing of the ritual conch shell horn.

Family and friends circle around the altar and they celebrate the union of the bride and groom by presenting gifts of flowers, music, food and drink. Mayan music with pre-Hispanic instruments and the sacred conch shell is performed before and during the ceremony.

Traditional Mexican music, such as Mariachis, can continue the celebration after the wedding.

The traditional Mayan wedding feast would include turkey tamales, beans, potatoes and tortillas with plentiful toasts by families and friends with Xtabentun, an anise and honey flavored Mayan liqueur. (Champagne is available as well).

The bride and groom wear simple natural clothing of white or off white. They wear no shoes so they can absorb the energy of the ceremony. Traditional dress, which can be purchased or rented, is available for the bride and groom for authentic Maya ceremonies. A Mayan bride traditionally wore a natural cloth skirt and wedding huipil (an elaborate brocaded blouse) and the groom an embroidered loincloth decorated with parrot feathers, semiprecious stones and shells.

It is suggested that family and guests wear natural cloth clothing in white or cream, preferably barefoot, so they can share in the spiritual energy created by the ceremony.

Couples who have a wedding performed by a priest or minister in Mexico do not receive a marriage license unless they also have a registered civil marriage with a Mexican Justice of the Peace.

All fees quoted are estimates and subject to change. All prices are quoted in US dollars.

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