Relationships, Marriage, & Family Life in Uruguay
One significant difference in dating in Uruguay compared to many other South American countries is that a growing number of young people are moving out of their parents' houses. This is not the majority of people, as living on one's own is expensive, but a significant number of young single people now live alone or with friends, which changes the dating dynamic compared to living with one's parents. Despite this, dating is quite similar to most other South American countries.
Civil marriage, as well as church weddings are common in Uruguay, but for a long time civil ceremonies have been common and today the church and church weddings don't carry the weight or significance that they held in the past. For the church ceremony the people in attendance tend to be limited to immediate family as there are no groomsmen or bridesmaids. After this small service, which usually takes place in the early evening, comes the reception, beginning at about 9:00 pm. The reception welcomes everyone and weddings with only 500 people are on the smaller side. The reception also has a number of traditions, such as the crowd lifting the bride and groom in the air and the excessive dress of the guests, who may appear more likely to be attending a costume party.