Salvadoran/Honduran Wedding, San Fransisco, CA, 1988

During money dances in the past, only the bride was showered with coins, which she swept up to demonstrate her housewifely virtues. Later, women introduced the bridegroom into the dance because they disliked being purchased. Popularly known as a "dollar dance," bills of any denomination are put on the newlyweds by their partners. Before Hector and Milagro dance together, they share a kiss.

Katrina Thomas's notes: The liturgy of Hispanic weddings is essentially Roman Catholic with a few additions: an exchange of tokens known as arras; the bride's veil put over the shoulders of the groom; a laso or garland, which may be a rope, a chain of flowers or a large rosary in a figure 8; and usually six pair of sponsors known as a padrinos and a madrina, each of whom have specific duties and carry emblematic items. The dollar dance illustrated is that of a bride from San Salvador and the groom from Honduras, who are celebrating in the church hall after their nuptials.