Mexican · 10 minutes · During ceremony
El lazo
The physical lazo
Lazos come in many forms:
- An oversized rosary — the most traditional form. Large decorative beads on a cord, with a crucifix at one end. Often made specifically for the wedding.
- A silk or velvet rope— decorated, sometimes embroidered with the couple's initials or wedding date.
- A floral garland — flowers strung on wire or cord.
- A double-strand cord — two cords braided together, representing two lives becoming one.
Lazos are often sponsored by the padrinos del lazo — the godparent-sponsors assigned this role. They provide the lazo and physically place it during the ceremony. Northern, central, and southern Mexican families, and Mexican-American families, choose different materials. Ask which form this couple is using. The Filipino cord is the closest parallel: see the yugal and veil.
When it happens in the ceremony
The lazo is typically placed after the exchange of vows and rings, once the couple has formally become married. The priest calls the padrinos forward. They approach the couple with the lazo. Some families place it immediately after the ceremony instead. Confirm the cue.
The placement
- The padrinos approach the couple. Often a husband-and-wife pair together.
- The couple bows their heads or leans forward.
- The padrinos loop the lazo — first around one partner, then twisted into a figure-eight, then around the other. The couple is now visibly linked.
- The priest blesses the couple. With the lazo in place, specific prayers are said.
- The couple remains linked for the remainder of that portion of the ceremony — often through the final blessing. It does not stay on for the entire Mass.
The removal
Near the end of the ceremony, the padrinos return to remove the lazo. It is carefully taken off and handed to the couple, who keep it as a memento. Many couples display their lazo at home.
Photography
Setup
- Position where you can see both the couple's faces and the padrinos placing the lazo.
- A long lens (85mm or longer) for tight face shots.
- A silent shutter.
Key shots
- The padrinos approaching with the lazo, often visible from a distance.
- Detail of the lazo itself — the beads, cord, or flowers.
- The placement — hands looping the lazo around each partner.
- The completed figure-eight, from an angle that shows both partners linked.
- The priest's blessing.
- The couple's expressions with the lazo in place.
- The removal at the ceremony's end.
- The lazo being handed to the couple.
Variations by region and Catholic context
Mexican American Catholic weddings
Arras and lazo often appear inside a Roman Rite Mass with padrinos named on the program. USCCB and Latino ministry resources describe how these elements relate to sacramental marriage.
Source: USCCB — Marriage
Regional Mexico and border traditions
Northern Mexican celebrations may shorten coin rituals; Oaxacan or Yucatecan families may add music or dance not listed on the English program. Always follow the madrina/padrino carrying the lazo — they set the walking path.
How families adapt Lazo today
Contemporary couples often shorten Lazo for venue clocks while keeping the element that matters to elders — usually the blessing, exchange, or visible symbol rather than every optional verse. Destination weddings may move the ritual earlier in the day for heat or light, which changes where shadows fall in your frames. Hybrid ceremonies blend English explanations for guests who do not share the family language; plan extra wide shots when the officiant or elder narrates for the room. Always confirm with the planner whether children or wedding party members participate, because a last-minute addition changes spacing and focus priority for both photographers.
Common questions
Who chooses the padrinos del lazo?
The couple, in consultation with family. Being a padrino del lazo is an honor — usually given to close family members or long-time family friends.
Can non-Catholic couples do a lazo?
Yes. Some interfaith or non-religious ceremonies adapt the lazo as a cultural element without the Catholic framework.
Do the couple keep the lazo?
Yes, usually. It is a keepsake. Many couples frame or display it at home.
What does the figure-eight shape mean?
The figure-eight represents infinity — the eternal nature of the marriage. The specific shape is meaningful.
Field notes from George
I budget more time for Lazo than the preset shows — couples pause, cry, or redo a gesture, and those seconds matter for albums. I pre-focus on hands or the ritual object before dialogue starts, then lift to faces when reactions peak.
Tell the second shooter to stay on parent faces during Lazo; my keepers are usually split evenly between the couple and the family watching them.
Before Lazo begins, confirm with the planner and officiant where photographers may stand, whether flash is permitted, and how long the block is expected to run. Build that answer into the shared timeline so the second shooter knows when to stay on the couple versus roaming for guest reactions. If the venue shifts this moment outdoors, re-check wind, sun direction, and guest sightlines ten minutes prior — couples rarely announce last-minute layout changes over mic.
For album flow, aim for three usable frames: an establishing wide that shows the full ritual space, a mid shot that includes the couple and officiant or elder, and a tight detail that signals the tradition (hands, ritual object, or symbolic movement). Capture each layer before the moment peaks so you are not changing lenses during the emotional apex. Debrief with the second shooter afterward about which angle produced the cleanest sightlines — reuse that setup if the same family hosts a sibling wedding later in the season.
Sources
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About this guide, sources, and how to reach the author
Written by
Wedding photographer · 15+ years · Former owner, East Shore Wedding Photography · Co-owner, Elena Kay Photography · Co-founder, Aisle & Time
Last updated:
About this guide
The timing, positioning, and photography notes on this page come from George's own lazowedding coverage over a 15-year career. Aisle & Time is the wedding-day system he built and refined across hundreds of weddings before retiring from active shooting in 2025. What you're reading is that system, in guide form.
For how we build every guide on this site, see our editorial methodology.
Sources cited on this page
- Primary: George Stoff's field experience across hundreds of weddings (Central Islip, New York and New York tri-state area, 2008–2025)
- Product: Aisle & Time tradition library (version 2026.09)
- Cross-reference: National Museum of Mexican Art
See the full sources list for every reference we cite across the tradition library.
Corrections
Spot something wrong? Email george@aisleandtime.com or open the support form. Corrections that hold up get made within 48 hours, with a note on this page recording what changed and when.
Disclaimer
Traditions vary by community, family, and officiant. Always confirm the specific practice with your officiant, family, and vendors. This guide reflects common practice as modeled inside the Aisle & Time product — not doctrine, not religious authority, not a substitute for a real conversation with the people leading your ceremony.