A Cuban woman who shares her life on TikTok under the profile @unamujerconsuerte posted a nearly seven-minute video on Tuesday in which she humorously and nostalgically narrates how her wedding in Cuba with her Spanish husband was, a celebration filled with cultural clashes, emotions, and unforgettable moments.
The wedding took place on September 12 at the Hotel Nacional de La Habana, a date chosen by the bride because it was the only day available for signing. This coincidence had repercussions: September 12 is associated with the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, the patron saint of Cuba, and the saint's color is yellow. "I remember that since I spent this day, this is the day of the very Caridad del Cobre, everything about my wedding was yellow," she recounts. Balloons, cake, bouquet, and the dresses of her mother, aunt, and cousin were all in that color.
Seven relatives of the groom traveled from Spain for the celebration, including his in-laws and three cousins, who stayed at the Coiba Hotel. His mother-in-law brought a second pink dress, following the Spanish tradition of the bride changing outfits during the party, and the song "La Española cuando besa" was certainly played.
The most comedic moment came with the food. The narrator amusingly describes the reality of Cuban banquets: "At Cuban weddings, gentlemen, there is not one menu, nor two menus; it's the little box, the little box is like a plate that has a croquette, a Russian salad, a small roll, because what Cubans love is to drink." There were 25 boxes of beer and for each table, a bottle of rum and a bottle of Coca-Cola.
The father-in-law, Ramón, did not take it with the same philosophy. Upon seeing the little boxes arrive, he turned to his son and said, "Man, this is nothing but food, this is nothing but drinks." His protest had an impact: in the end, he served pork and cheese, and he personally had a bottle of sparkling wine placed on each table.
Another memorable episode was the one with the record player. The father-in-law had brought back a record from Spain by Los Van Van —whom he affectionately calls “the Bambam”— featuring songs from the group's early days. The problem was that there was no way to play it. The solution: to rent a car, go pick up Uncle René at his house, and bring back his record player.
The Cuban also recalls the wedding stroll in a pink vintage car along the Malecón in Havana, where passersby shouted to the groom: "Gallego, look what you took!" "Because in Cuba, all Spaniards are gallegos," she clarifies with a laugh.
The groom's cousins read a letter during the celebration—it was the first wedding in the family—and everyone ended up in tears of emotion. The Spanish guests, who had never experienced a wedding like this, got up to dance without exception. "It wasn't just what was there; it was the atmosphere that existed," one of them summarized.
The cost of a wedding in Cuba can exceed $2,100 for a simple celebration, while a package at the Hotel Nacional can reach $11,000 for up to 50 guests. The narrator closed her story with the same emotion with which she began: “It was a day full of emotions, it was a very beautiful day. Thank you, God.”
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