October Themed Wedding

Dia de los Muertos

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to celebrate love, family, and heritage, consider incorporating Día de los Muertos wedding inspiration into your special day. While the vibrant colors and iconic skull imagery may seem contrasting at first, Día de los Muertos is ultimately about honoring life and cherishing memories. Exploring the history and traditions of this Mexican holiday reveals how beautifully it complements an October wedding. Join me as we explore Día de los Muertos customs and unique ideas for bringing these elements into your wedding celebration.

The Mexican holiday known as the el Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. This holiday is a blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture. The holiday is celebrated each year on November 1-2.

Origins of Día de los Muertos

The roots of Día de los Muertos date back over 3,000 years to the ancient Aztecs and other Nahua peoples in central Mexico, who embraced a full-circle view of life and death. They believed that upon passing, souls embarked on a challenging journey through Chicunamictlán, the Land of the Dead, and only after overcoming nine arduous levels did a soul reach its final resting place, Mictlán. Families left offerings of food, water, and tools to help loved ones on this journey, a custom that evolved into today’s ofrendas, or altars, honoring those who have passed.

In medieval Europe, autumn was also a time to honor the dead through feasts, dancing, and bonfires. With the rise of the Catholic Church, these pagan traditions merged with the observances of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. In Spain, families brought wine and pan de ánimas (spirit bread) to gravesites, covering graves with flowers and lighting candles to guide the souls home—a custom that directly influenced modern Día de los Muertos traditions.

Celebrating Día de los Muertos Today

Unlike Halloween, Día de los Muertos is a celebration that honors the return of loved ones’ spirits to the physical world. It is a time for families to come together, welcoming departed relatives with their favorite foods, drinks, and cherished items displayed at either gravesites or home ofrendas. The Disney movie Coco provides a beautiful, accessible representation of this holiday’s themes.

For couples planning an October-themed wedding, incorporating Día de los Muertos-inspired elements can bring warmth and deep symbolism to your celebration. Here are a few ideas:

• Serve traditional treats: Consider adding a comforting Mexican beverage like Champurrado, a thick, spiced chocolate drink that guests will love.
• Unique décor: Create a cozy, inviting setting with handmade fabric pumpkins and colorful floral arrangements.

https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/day-of-the-dead

You could serve this at your Dia de los Muertos or October themed wedding!

Día de los Muertos Recipe: Champurrado

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 whole clove
• 1 pod star anise (optional)
• 4 1/4 cups milk
• 2 tablets Mexican chocolate (such as Chocolate Ibarra®)
• 3/4 cup pinole (coarse ground maize flour)
• 1 pinch crushed piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar cone), or more to taste 

Instructions

• • In a saucepan, bring water, cinnamon stick, clove, and star anise to a boil; remove from heat and let the spices steep until the water is fragrant, about 10 minutes. Strain.
  • In a separate pan, heat milk, chocolate, and pinole over medium heat, whisking until the chocolate is fully dissolved and the mixture thickens about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add piloncillo, allowing it to dissolve.
  • Combine the cinnamon water with the chocolate mixture and stir to blend.

DIY Fabric Pumpkins for Décor

These easy-to-make fabric pumpkins add charm to any October-themed wedding or gathering!

Materials

• Assorted fabrics, like silk or velvet
• Sewing machine
• Batting
• Long sewing needle
• Embroidery floss

Instructions

1. Cut a fabric rectangle on the bias (twice as long as it is wide). Examples: 5x10 in., 8x16 in., or 11x22 in.
2. Fold with the right sides facing and sew the short sides together. Cinch one end by sewing around it, pulling the thread to secure it.

1. Turn the pouch right side out, stuff with batting, and sew around the open end, pulling the thread tight to close it.
2. Use embroidery floss to wrap and create ridges around the pumpkin. For the stem, sew two fabric pieces together, stuff with batting, and attach it to the pumpkin.

https://www.marthastewart.com/908062/fabric-pumpkins

Be a Guest at Your Wedding

I hope this post has inspired your October wedding planning with a unique twist! Ready to explore how to bring these ideas to life? Let’s chat—schedule a complimentary one-hour planning session. Call or text (480-248-4938), email me at jeryse@mjkevents.com, or use this link to book: https://calendly.com/mjkevents/meetandgreet.

Let’s make your wedding a day that celebrates not only love but also heritage and tradition!