In a previous post, Poly talked about Brazilian wedding traditions and what to expect at a Brazilian wedding. Today we’re going to discuss more wedding traditions, specifically about gifts. Inspired by seeing the tradition in action at my brother-in-law’s wedding, I thought it would be fun to share!

There are a couple of different options when it comes to finding a gift for a Brazilian bride and groom. If the couple doesn’t have a gift registry, there are a number of common options, including housewares, appliances, and kitchen supplies, amongst others.

But there is also a Brazilian wedding tradition that is a bit easier to prepare for. If the couple opts for this method, they may use one or both of the following traditions. It’s a good idea to bring cash to the wedding so you can participate!

The first is called passar a gravata. This is when the best man or men from the wedding party carry a tray around the party with a tie. In exchange for donations for the couple, to be used for the honeymoon, each contributor receives a piece of the tie, and sometimes an additional small trinket or party favor.

Photo: Rachel

The other option is to passar o sapato da noiva. This functions in the same way, except contributors put money into one of the bride’s shoes. In this case, it is a woman from the wedding party that collects money for the couple’s honeymoon, and often gives a small party favor in return for contributions. Sometimes, so the bride doesn’t have to take off her shoe, she’ll order a porcelain shoe to use instead.

Photo: Casamento Blog

What gift traditions have you encountered at Brazilian weddings?