'Yes' in the Heights: Indigenous Couple Celebrates Wedding on Mount Roraima, the World's Largest Flat Mountain
An indigenous couple, Mari Wapichana and Gelson Alencar, celebrated their wedding on Mount Roraima after an adventurous hike and camping experience, marking a unique personal tradition.
Mari Wapichana, a 23-year-old digital influencer, and Gelson Alencar, a 35-year-old public servant, chose to celebrate their marriage on the summit of Mount Roraima, the world's largest flat mountain located at the tri-border of Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana. Instead of a traditional wedding with ceremony planners and elaborate decorations, the couple embarked on a challenging journey that included several days of hiking and camping at over 2,800 meters above sea level. They married on December 31st, integrating their wedding into the New Year's celebration.
The couple expressed their heartfelt sentiments about the wedding, describing it as a fulfilling culmination of Mari's long-held dream and a momentous beginning to their life together. Gelson remarked on the experience, saying it provided the best possible start to their year and union. Furthermore, Mari, belonging to the Wapichana and Macuxi people, noted the absence of formal wedding rituals in their indigenous culture, reflecting their decision to create their own unique tradition for the ceremony, blending personal desire with cultural elements.
This event underscores not only an individual story of love and commitment but also highlights the beauty of merging modern expressions of relationship milestones with indigenous identity. The mountain, cherished for its geological significance and breathtaking vistas, also served as a symbolic backdrop for their commitment, merging nature's grandeur with personal history and tradition.