Near the end of the Catholic mass, the bride and groom walk to the shrine of the Virgin Mary found within the church. They offer her flowers and take a few minutes to pray to her together. This is to recognize her blessed role as the mother of Jesus and mother to all of us, requesting her guidance as the couple enters marriage and the beginning of their own family.
During the ceremony, two people important to the couple will place a "lasso" around the couple's shoulders in a figure-eight (i.e, an infinity sign), symbolizing the infinite unity between them in the eyes of God. This "lasso" is typically an oversized rosary or a silk/beaded cord. The couple keeps this lasso as a reminder of their unity.
During the ceremony, the groom presents 13 gold or platinum blessed coins to his bride. The groom drops these coins into the bride's hands, symbolizing his promise to provide for and protect his bride and family. The bride then returns these coins into the hands of the groom, symbolizing her promise to multiply these earnings and care for the groom and their family. Additionally, these 13 coins represent Jesus and his 12 apostles, showing the couple's promises to walk in the path of God as Jesus and the apostles did. The couple keeps these coins as a reminder of these promises.
During the reception, guests will pin a cash gift to the bride or groom in order to dance with them. This period will last for a few songs, with people taking turns dancing throughout. This tradition represents the support that the guests have for the bride and groom as they start their new lives together.