A Catholic Tradition: How to Incorporate Las Arras in Your Wedding

Weddings are full of tradition and the exchange of symbolic moments, from the wedding bands to the first kiss, but if you've attended a Catholic wedding with roots in Latin America, you may have witnessed the passing of gold coins from one partner to the other. These are known as las arras matrimoniales, often translated as "the wedding coins."

Las arras are a Hispanic wedding tradition celebrated from Spain to Latin America and even in the Philippines. While they were originally used as a dowry from groom to bride, they're now thought of as part of the many representations of unity throughout a marriage ceremony. Like other customs that have made their way into American weddings, their meaning has evolved through the decades and centuries, but they remain a beautiful connection to a couple's heritage.

If you're looking for a wedding officiant experienced in las arras, The Knot Vendor Marketplace is the first place you should search. You can filter to your region, then sort further by religious affiliation to find a Catholic officiant familiar with the tradition.

To dive into this longstanding tradition and learn how to incorporate it into your Catholic wedding, here's everything you need to know about las arras, their symbolism and how to introduce them into a modern wedding.

In this article: What Are Las Arras Matrimoniales? | History of Las Arras | What Happens During the Wedding Coin Ceremony? | Who Buys Las Arras? | Where to Buy Las Arras

What Are Las Arras Matrimoniales?

The meaning of las arras in a wedding is wedding coins that are exchanged in Catholic weddings within Hispanic cultures. They symbolize the promise of prosperity and a rich future within the union. "Las arras are 13 coins exchanged in Latin weddings, a tradition from Spain that spread through Latin America," says New York City wedding planner José Rolón of José Rolón Events. "Historically, it symbolized the groom's promise to provide, but today it's more about equality—two people committing to share everything. Some couples skip it, but for many it's a beautiful nod to heritage and family."

This custom is primarily celebrated at Spanish and Latin American weddings, but it's also a Filipino wedding tradition, particularly in regions with strong Spanish cultural influence. You may also see las arras referred to as arras de boda or arras para boda.

History of Las Arras

Directly translated into "earnest money," las arras was initially introduced into the wedding ceremony as a dowry and a promise for the groom to provide for his wife throughout their marriage. The tradition may go back to the 11th century, with twelve coins representing the twelve months of the year, and one additional coin representing charity for others. Others believe the number of coins may be informed by the twelve apostles and the importance of prioritizing God within a marriage.

While the actual origin is up for debate, its evolution toward a symbol of unity and coming together is widely accepted by modern couples. Similar to a lasso wedding ceremony, this is a unity ceremony idea that adds a nod to cultural heritage for Latin American couples.

What Happens During the Wedding Coin Ceremony?

During the ceremony, a coin bearer, which is similar to a ring bearer, may carry las arras to the groom or partner for the exchange. But this can also be an important role for the padrinos and madrinas in a wedding. While this older couple (who are often godparents to one partner) usually help financially with the celebration, buying and gifting las arras for the betrothed is perhaps their most symbolic ritual. It takes on a deeper meaning that isn't limited to the exchange of coins, and the padrino de arras and madrina de arras may come to the altar to present las arras to the groom or partner before the wedding coin ceremony. "It's not just money. It's a symbol of abundance, generosity and partnership," Rolón says.

There are several symbols of unity and commitment throughout any wedding, but las arras is often the last ritual of unity during the ceremony. "The exchange of las arras usually happens right after the rings, before vows are finalized," Rolón explains. "When paired with other customs, it becomes this layered, symbolic moment of unity, love and family."

Las arras in a wedding represent a moment where the couple commits to a rich future together and prosperity, in whatever form that takes for them. "The coins are blessed by the officiant, then traditionally the groom gives them to the bride—but many modern couples exchange them with each other," Rolón says.

Who Buys Las Arras?

While one partner typically gives las arras to the other partner, they often aren't the one purchasing the coins. Godparents, who are closely involved in the planning of Latin American weddings, often give the gold coins as a gift to the partner who will hold them first. They may even select beautifully decorated gold wedding coins together to make sure they represent the couple. Often, las arras are given in an ornate box or pouch that becomes the display case when the couple brings the coins into their home after the wedding.

And, because every penny—or gold coin—counts when you're making your wedding budget, be sure to include las arras as you're filling out The Knot Budget Advisor. This will help you get an idea of the overall costs of your wedding, including what's normal in your area (and an officiant to oversee las arras is key!).

Where to Buy Las Arras

If you live in an area with a significant Hispanic population, you may be able to find las arras in local gift shops. But, for those who need to look online, you'll find the widest variety of las arras on websites that carry items from individual sellers who represent wedding traditions from all over the world.

• Etsy: Whether you're looking for personalized boxes for las arras, or coins that represent a specific country or culture, like las arras from a Mexican wedding ritual, Etsy should be the first place you look. You'll find sellers who collect items from around the world, sellers who specialize in religious or regional customs, and even vintage items.
• eBay: Similar to Etsy, eBay has sellers worldwide who specialize in curated, hard-to-find items you may not be able to purchase locally. You can search for both silver and gold coins, as well as beautiful las arras boxes that hold your memories for decades to come.
• Catholic Gifts & More: While they have a smaller selection, websites like Catholic Gifts & More or local Catholic gift stores often have a few carefully curated options for couples looking to incorporate this tradition into their wedding day.