Embracing Cuban Beauty Wedding Traditions in Miami

When my fiancé and I began planning our wedding, there was never a question about where it would take place. Despite both of us living in New York, celebrating in my hometown of Miami was a non-negotiable requirement, upheld by me and my family. But beyond the logistics of having the wedding hosted by my parents, there was a deeper reason behind the choice of venue—one that was rooted in honoring the memory of my maternal grandmother, Dalia.

Dalia was a beauty pageant queen hailing from Havana, Cuba. She exuded an old-school beauty that was both unforgettable and irreplaceable. Her presence colored my life in myriad ways—she was the backdrop to all of my mother’s family stories, the pillar that supported every life lesson I was taught, and the muse that constantly urged me to dream bigger. When she passed, it felt as though her memory and traditions had been passed down to me like a precious heirloom.

As one of the most important seasons of my life approached, it was only natural to pay homage to my grandmother’s memory and the beauty rituals she held dear. Cuban culture is steeped in tradition and heritage, and there were certain customs, such as the exchanging of the 13 unity coins (known as las arras) and wearing a mantilla during the Catholic church ceremony, that I had long planned on incorporating into my wedding day.

However, being the granddaughter of a woman who epitomized diva glamour and who never went a moment without her La Prairie cream, I knew there were likely beauty rituals specific to weddings that I needed to consider. During a conversation with my mother about where I would be getting ready on the morning of the wedding, she shared some of the Cuban beauty wedding traditions that my grandmother had passed down to her before her own wedding in Miami in 1994.

Among the advice given by my grandmother was to avoid the sun until after the wedding (a challenging task in a city like Miami). Additionally, there were beauty rituals such as a milk and honey face mask in the days leading up to the wedding to brighten the skin, and washing your hair with rainwater the night before for good luck—both of which were considered essential.

With five months to go until the November ceremony, I knew that time was of the essence in preparing for these rituals. I promptly added a daily sunscreen regimen to my routine (thank you, Supergoop Glowscreen!) and made sure to order Manuka honey to have on hand. As for collecting rainwater for washing my hair, I consulted the Farmer’s Almanac to determine the best time to do so. Thankfully, being in Miami during hurricane season means that sourcing fresh rainwater won’t be an issue!