In Mexican and Latino weddings, padrinos aren't just honored guests — they sponsor a specific element of the ceremony or reception, from the rings to the cake. It's a way to involve close family and friends in the celebration, and to share the costs.
How many padrinos does a wedding actually need? It depends on whether there's a religious ceremony, the budget, and family tradition. Here's the complete list, which sponsorships matter most depending on the ceremony type, and how to ask someone to be a padrino without making it feel like an obligation.
The complete wedding padrinos list
There's no single mandatory list — it varies by region and family. These are the most common sponsorships in a traditional wedding:
- ✦Unity candle padrinos — the candles used during the religious ceremony
- ✦Ring padrinos — the pillow or tray holding the wedding rings
- ✦Arras (coins) padrinos — the 13 coins symbolizing shared prosperity
- ✦Lasso padrinos — the cord or rosary placed over the couple during mass
- ✦Bouquet padrinos — the bridal bouquet (and sometimes a Virgin Mary bouquet)
- ✦Kneeling pillow padrinos — the pillows the couple kneels on
- ✦Toasting glasses padrinos — the glasses used for the toast
- ✦Cake padrinos — the wedding cake
- ✦Music padrinos — the band, DJ or mariachi for the reception
- ✦Favors padrinos — the keepsakes given to guests
- ✦Guest book padrinos
- ✦Photo or video padrinos
Which ones matter most by ceremony type
In a religious wedding, four sponsorships are tied directly to the mass and are usually considered the most significant: unity candles, rings, arras and lasso. They're part of the Catholic ceremony and are typically asked for well ahead of the rest.
In a civil wedding there's no religious rite, so those four lose their traditional meaning (though some couples keep an adapted version anyway). There, the most relevant sponsorships tend to be rings, arras if included, toasting glasses, cake and music — the ones that sponsor the reception rather than the liturgy.
Everything else — favors, video, guest book — is optional in either type of wedding and gets added based on budget and how many people want to take part.
How to ask someone to be a padrino
- ✦Ask in person, by call, or with a special detail — never a generic group text.
- ✦Ask 8–10 months ahead: some sponsorships (music, cake, favors) mean booking vendors early.
- ✦Be clear about the approximate cost of what they're sponsoring so they can decide with real information.
- ✦If someone can't take one on, offer alternatives: sharing a sponsorship with someone else, or picking a more affordable one.
How to honor padrinos in the invitation
Thanking padrinos in the invitation is a gesture that's deeply appreciated — and a way to recognize them in front of the whole family. Tradition places them right after the couple's parents, starting with the religious sponsorships if there are any.
A digital invitation makes this easier than paper: you can have a dedicated padrinos section with full names and their sponsorship, with no space limit. And if you confirm a padrino after already sharing the invitation, just edit it — the same link you sent shows the updated version instantly, no reprinting or resending needed.
Honor your padrinos in your wedding invitation
Create your digital invitation with a dedicated padrinos section, RSVP, countdown and photo gallery. Start free.
Create my free wedding invitationFrequently asked questions
How many padrinos does a wedding have?
There's no fixed number. With a religious ceremony, four sponsorships are considered most tied to the rite: unity candles, rings, arras and lasso. The rest depends on budget and family tradition — from just those 4 to more than 10 different sponsorships.
What does each wedding padrino do?
Each padrino covers the cost (fully or partly) of a specific element — for example, cake padrinos pay for the cake, and music padrinos pay the band or DJ. It's both a gesture of affection and real financial support for the couple.
Do padrinos take part in a civil ceremony?
A civil ceremony has no religious rite, so sponsorships like unity candles or the lasso don't apply traditionally. There, the most common sponsorships are rings, arras (if included), cake, toasting glasses and music.
Can I add padrinos after sending the invitation?
Not with a printed invitation — you'd have to reprint. With a digital invitation, yes: edit the padrinos section and the same link you shared with guests shows the updated list instantly.
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