Peru, especially Cusco and the Sacred Valley region, is famous for the spiritual side of its natural elements, such as the mother hearth, the water and the wind, and for the very special cosmogony of the Incas. Indigenous people from the Andes have kept alive the ancient Inca spiritual traditions, and while traveling there you can feel this mystic atmosphere in the air. I am sure you have heard about the “Pachamama”, which is the mother heart for the indigenous people from the Andes. She represents the female side of the divine and she is considered the fertility goddess who nourishes plants, harvests and natural elements in general. On the other end we can find the Apus, the male side of the divine word for Incas. The Apus represents the mountain spirits that protect people against any kind of enemy. This is the Andean duality of the Inca cosmogony, which is fascinating and based on few basic principles: respect for nature, importance of the divine and holiness of natural elements: water, land, fire and wind.
The all idea of the Andean wedding is to unify bride and groom with the “Pachamama” or in case of vows renewal to reaffirm your marriage before the Andean goddess. The union has been performed before the Andean goddess so it is impossible that a human being can dissolve it. I wrote more on the issue here a couple of months ago:
If you are looking to get married with a very special ceremony, that you and your guests will remember forever, an Andean ceremony is the choice you should made. When couples look for something spectacular, I always suggest them to consider this spiritual ceremony, since this is a special occasion to live an extraordinary experience with their loved ones and to confirm their love before Incas gods.
The officiant is a shaman who will guide you through this special path until the end of the ceremony. The shaman is an extremely important element of the ceremony and it is essential that bride and groom create a special connection with him. The day before the ceremony you need to meet the shaman and go to the local market to buy several elements and tools that you will need for the wedding ceremony. Usually a pair of sandal for the groom, a scarf, traditional clothes and accessories, coca leaves, flowers and some food to offer to the gods, basically seeds, beans and candies. Once you buy all this, you are set to get married before Incas goddess.
As for the settings, we usually suggest you to opt for a charming and characteristic venue in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, rounded by the Andean mountains that will add special spiritual vibrations to your ceremony or Incas ruins. So be careful when choosing the venue, it has to be as charming and fabulous as the ceremony itself.
Other important element is the music! What I usually suggest to couples is to have a little group of musicians playing traditional Andean instruments such as the “Quena”, that is a notched-end flute, the “antara” or panflute, which is the most recognized and popular Peruvian music instrument worldwide, the “pomatinyas”, which are little drums covered by animal skin, among others.
After the ceremony you can have a little reception with your guests and enjoy the experience you have just lived. I can ensure that your guests will be amazed and very impressed by the ceremony. Usually couples who opt for an Andean ceremony want intimate and private weddings, and sometimes they just want to elope without any guests, and live that moment in complete privacy.
There is so much we can say to describe the beauty and the magnificence of this special ceremony, many words can be uses, but I believe that the only way to understand completely what I am talking about is to live it.
