Mazunte, where the sea embraces the ritual: Ancestral ceremony on the beach

Bride and groom at Mazunte beach facing the offering

In a serene corner of Mazunte, where the sound of the waves seems to mark the pulse of time, an ancestral ceremony took place, uniting two souls before the sea. Far from the crowds, in a quiet area of the beach, the sacred circle was carefully prepared: plants, flowers, and an altar honoring the four directions and the elements that sustain life.

It all began with the sahumadora, leading the procession, followed by the bride’s godparents — water and wind — and the groom’s godparents — fire and earth. Each carried offerings corresponding to their element and placed them on the altar in the direction assigned to them. The air filled with chants, the fragrance of copal incense, and the explanation of the sacred foods that would accompany the moment. The reading of the tonales, their energies, and the summary of the couple’s energetic compatibility study were also shared.

Sahumadoras setting up the offering and starting the sacred fire

Asking permission and announcing the ceremony to the 6 directions

Prehispanic musician with his drum "huehuetl"

If there are godparents, they are the ones who place the tilma, the ritual mantle, along with the crowns of herbs and flowers. The guide performs the binding of the tilmas, symbolizing the bond and mutual protection that will unite them from this day forward. The couple is then presented and greeted in the four directions and before the center of the universe.

One of the most meaningful moments comes when the four liquids of different flavors are offered, each representing the emotional states they will experience and overcome together: the sweetness, bitterness, sourness, and spiciness of a shared life.

The ceremony continues with the opening of a circle of words, where family and friends offer blessings and good wishes. Finally, everyone joins in an offering of flowers to Mother Earth, while the sea, eternal witness, embraces with its waves the union of two paths and two hearts, in harmony with the cosmos and tradition.

Sahumadora armonizing the couple with the sacred copal incense

Asking permission to the creator

Ritual: the 4 flavors of life

At the end, depending on the time of year and the available light, we arrange for the couple to have their special moment for a photo session. Sometimes it takes place right after the ritual, other times before, but always ensuring they can capture in images the magic of their day, with the sea and sky of Mazunte as their eternal accomplices.

Laura & Patricio @come_bck

Photography: @noa.jordn

Ceremony: @spiritualityoaxaca

Magical sunset time at Mazunte beach