This groom smudged his wedding party for pre-ceremony purity

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 | Photography by Burlap & Blossom
Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride
Photos by Burlap & Blossom

Ben and Joanna's wedding had a metric ton of fantastic details like authentic Mexican fare, a mother/daughter tap dance, El Salvadoran wedding traditions, a live jazz band, opera singing by a bridesmaid, poetry, homemade cacti can centerpieces, and seriously so much more.

But one detail that really resonated was the groom's pre-ceremony smudging ritual.

First, some context

A smudge stick is a bundle of dried herbs, usually bound with string into a small bundle, burned to purify people and places. As a ceremonial practice, it's used by indigenous cultures throughout North, Central, and South America.

Calling on the traditions of his El Salvadoran heritage, Ben smudged his side of the wedding party in preparation for the wedding ceremony.

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Now it's DAPPER TIME:

Smudge your wedding party as seen on @offbeatbride

Be sure to check out the full wedding:

If it's part of your culture, are you planning to smudge your wedding party?

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