Have You Ever Seen Cuban State Run Wedding?

In 1991 my team got the job from Ted Turner Broadcasting (and from Ted Turner himself) to make a two-hour television special on Cuba. The wall in Berlin had come down and the Soviet Union, now becoming Russia, was teetering. At the time, Cuba was dependent upon the Soviet Union for most of its supplies as a embargo was (and still is) placed on it by the USA. For a variety of reasons and just plain luck, we got access to film in all kinds of locations in Havana and around the country – locations that folks outside Cuba had not seen before. The hosts of the special and voiceover narrator is actor James Earl Jones. Back then Cuba was a communist country under the leadership of Fidel Castro. The government had a significant influence on many aspects of everyday life including weddings. Marriage in Castro’s Cuba was considered more of a civil and legal procedure than a religious or romantic one. The Cuban government with its Marxist-Leninist ideology, did not promote religious ceremonies. So church weddings were rare. Most weddings took place in government buildings or communal spaces. A state-run wedding typically would look like this. The wedding would likely be a communal affair with many friends, family members, and neighbors attending. This was in line with the socialist ideal of community and togetherness. The couple would appear before a government official who would oversee the exchange of vows and the signing of the marriage certificate. The official would likely emphasize the importance of equality, loyalty, and cooperation in the marriage, reflecting the socialist values of the Cuban government. Given the economic conditions and material scarcity in Cuba during this period, wedding attire was usually simple. The bride might wear a white dress, but it would likely be a borrowed or handmade garment rather than a new or expensive one. The groom would typically wear a simple suit. Following the ceremony, there would be a celebration with food, drinks, and music. Given the economic restrictions and rationing prevalent in Cuba at the time, the feast might be modest, but it would likely feature traditional Cuban dishes and drinks. Music and dancing would play a big part, as they are integral aspects of Cuban culture. Due to financial limitations and travel restrictions, a honeymoon would probably be a local affair, with the couple perhaps traveling to another part of the island for a few days. During Castro’s all religious practices were heavily discouraged especially in the early years of the Revolution as the government propagated atheism and suppressed the influence of the Catholic Church. Churches were not closed but they were monitored and people faced repercussions such as being barred from certain jobs, for openly practicing religion. By 1989 the Cuban government had relaxed its stance on religion. Their Constitution established freedom of religion and the government started a process of gradual reconciliation with the Church culminating in a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1998. It wasn’t until 1992 that the Cuban Communist Party lifted its prohibition on religious believers seeking membership, a change that marked a significant shift in the government’s approach to religion. However, even after this change, many Cubans still chose to have civil ceremonies rather than church weddings, as these were more in line with the prevailing social and political norms of the time.