Mexicali’s municipal government married 311 couples in a free mass civil wedding ceremony on Saturday, March 28, at Teatro LUX. The event was part of celebrations marking the city’s 123rd anniversary.
Municipal President Norma Bustamante presided over the ceremony, known in Mexico as bodas colectivas (collective weddings). Four city civil registry offices coordinated registration for the participating couples.
How the Ceremony Was Organized
Couples completed their paperwork at one of four civil registry locations: Centro Cívico, González Ortega, Ciudad Morelos, and Guadalupe Victoria. After the formal ceremony at Teatro LUX, the newlyweds celebrated with a reception that included cake cutting.
Bodas colectivas are a longstanding tradition across Mexico. Municipal governments typically waive civil registry fees that can otherwise run several thousand pesos, making legal marriage accessible to couples who might not afford a private ceremony. In Mexico, only civil ceremonies performed through the Registro Civil carry legal weight, even if couples also hold a religious or symbolic wedding.
A Tradition With Deep Roots in Mexico
Mass wedding events are held in cities throughout the country, often timed to Valentine’s Day or municipal anniversaries. For many couples, the cost of a standard civil ceremony, which includes filing fees, document processing, and witness requirements, can be a barrier. Free collective ceremonies remove that obstacle.
Since 2023, same-sex couples have been able to participate in bodas colectivas in all 32 Mexican states. Baja California legalized same-sex marriage in 2021.
Mexicali, the capital of Baja California, sits directly across the border from Calexico, California. The city was founded on March 14, 1903, and the anniversary celebrations typically span several weeks with cultural events and public services.
The event was first reported by Jornada BC.