There are moments in a wedding that everyone looks forward to: the entrance, the rings, the first kiss, the couple’s exit.
And then there are other smaller, almost silent gestures that pass quickly but hold centuries of history.
Wedding arras are one of them.
Thirteen coins given during the ceremony that, at first glance, may seem like just another detail. However, few pieces summarize the idea of commitment, trust, and shared life as well.
At Sanchis Salcedo, we have many years of experience helping couples choose important pieces for their wedding: rings, gifts, family keepsakes, and, of course, wedding arras. And if we have learned anything over time, it is that traditions are not maintained just out of habit. They endure because they still mean something.
What are wedding arras
The wedding arras are a set of thirteen coins that the couple exchanges during the wedding ceremony.
Their function is not practical but symbolic. They represent the goods the couple will share, mutual trust, and the commitment to build a life together.
The Royal Spanish Academy defines the arras, in some matrimonial rites, as the coins that the betrothed give each other as a symbol of their union. It also preserves an older meaning: that of a pledge, sign, or guarantee in an agreement.
That dual idea helps to understand their origin very well. The arras speak of union but also of commitment.
The origin of the arras: from guarantee to matrimonial symbol
The word “arras” has a long history. Before being exclusively associated with weddings, it referred to a sign or guarantee given to reinforce a commitment.
Over time, that idea was incorporated into marriage. At different points in history, the arras were linked to family agreements, property commitments, and promises for the future.
Today, fortunately, their meaning has evolved. They are no longer understood as a material transfer from one to another, but as a shared gesture. A way to express that the couple begins a life together and that what they build from that moment on will belong to both.
That is why the arras still make sense in modern weddings. Although the forms change, the essence remains.
Why there are 13 coins
One of the most common questions is why the arras are thirteen coins.
The most widespread explanation within the tradition points out that twelve coins represent the twelve months of the year. The thirteenth coin is interpreted as a symbol of generosity, help, and openness towards others.
It is a very beautiful reading because it turns the arras into more than just a symbol of prosperity. They speak not only of what the couple will have but also of how they will share it.
In a wedding, this detail makes a lot of sense. Getting married is not just about celebrating a special day. It is about starting a way of walking together through all the months of the year, in good times and bad, in abundance and also in moments that require more care.
When the arras are given during the ceremony
In religious ceremonies, the arras are usually given after the exchange of rings, although there may be variations depending on local custom or the specific way the wedding is celebrated.
The Marriage Ritual includes the blessing and giving of the arras as a rite of great tradition in many dioceses of Spain. Its main meaning is to express the community of life and goods established between the spouses.
Traditionally, it was the groom who gave the arras to the bride. Today, the gesture is understood more reciprocally: both give them to each other, reinforcing the idea of equality, trust, and a shared project.
This change reflects very well how traditions can stay alive without being frozen in the past.
What wedding arras really mean
Wedding arras have several meanings, but they all revolve around one idea: sharing.
Sharing the assets.
Sharing the responsibilities.
Sharing the future.
At its core, the thirteen coins represent a simple and profound promise: whatever comes from now on, we will live it together.
Perhaps that is why they continue to move us. Because, although the gesture is brief, it condenses an essential part of marriage.
The arras as a family keepsake
After the wedding, the arras are usually kept with special care.
Many couples keep them alongside other mementos from the day: the rings, photographs, bouquet, an invitation, or a family keepsake. Sometimes, the arras are passed down from one generation to another and used again years later in a new wedding.
That is one of the most beautiful aspects of these pieces. They don’t end with the ceremony. They remain.
And over time, what was once a wedding detail becomes part of a family’s memory.
Types of wedding arras
Today there are different types of wedding arras, from very classic models to more modern designs.
The arras can be found in solid silver, silver-plated, metal, or other finishes. There are also models with religious, biblical, or Marian motifs, as well as cases and trays designed to present the coins during the ceremony.
In our collection of wedding arras, we offer different options for those looking for a traditional, elegant piece designed to be kept as a keepsake.
The important thing is not to choose the most eye-catching, but those that best fit the meaning of the ceremony and the couple's story.
How to choose wedding coins
When choosing wedding coins, it is advisable to focus on three main aspects: the material, the design, and the way they will be presented.
The material
Silver is one of the most common options because of its value, durability, and natural connection to traditional jewelry and silversmithing. There are also simpler options in metal or silver-plated, which may be suitable depending on the type of ceremony and budget.
The design
There are couples who prefer classic wedding coins, with religious or biblical motifs, and others who look for more discreet designs. Our recommendation is usually to choose a piece that does not depend too much on a specific trend.
The wedding coins, like the rings, are designed to last.
The presentation
The case or tray is also part of the set. During the ceremony, the wedding coins are presented and handed over at a visible moment, so it is advisable that the whole set has coherence and elegance.
Wedding coins and rings: two different symbols, one same promise
The rings and the wedding coins usually appear very close together during the ceremony, but they do not mean exactly the same thing.
The wedding rings represent love, fidelity, and the union between spouses.
The wedding coins, on the other hand, speak of what is shared: assets, the future, responsibility, and the common project.
Both pieces complement each other. One is worn every day. The other is kept as a reminder of a promise.
A tradition that still makes sense
Sometimes it is thought that old traditions have lost strength. But with the wedding coins, the opposite happens.
Many young couples still include them in their wedding because they find in them a simple, solemn gesture full of meaning. A tradition does not have to be new to be relevant.
The wedding coins continue to work because they speak of something that has not gone out of style: the will to share life.
More than thirteen coins
In the end, wedding coins are not just thirteen coins.
They are a promise.
A way of saying that what begins that day will not be built alone.
That is why they have survived so many changes. Because behind their simple form there is an idea that remains deeply human: caring together for what is shared.
And maybe that is the reason why, so many centuries later, the wedding coins still hold their place in weddings.
If you are looking for wedding coins for your wedding, you can discover our selection here: see wedding coins.
Sanchis Salcedo
