Ulises Toirac Reflects on a Surprising Wedding Day Twist in 1994: "I'd Get Divorced for Less"

Ulises Toirac possesses a unique talent for finding humor in the toughest times of Cuba's history, sharing stories that make people laugh while still acknowledging the challenging circumstances they occurred in.

This time, the comedian revisited a personal anecdote from his wedding day in 1994, during the "Special Period," when organizing a celebration was a luxury few could afford.

In a recent post titled "For Less Than This," the artist reminisced about how a carefully planned small gathering of family and friends turned into an unexpected spectacle he recalls with laughter more than 30 years later.

Toirac began by describing the joy he felt with his then-fiancée, Alina Gainza, with whom he had decided to tie the knot. "I felt like the happiest man in the world. My girlfriend was a mix of spiritual balm, intellectual challenge, and Marilyn Monroe-like beauty. And we had decided to marry," he wrote.

Challenges of a 1994 Wedding

The issue was the timing. It was 1994, one of the most economically challenging years of Cuba's "Special Period," when shortages of food, basic goods, and economic resources made planning a wedding particularly difficult.

"The year 1994 was financially tough in Cuba. A wedding was something sensible people avoided because it was unaffordable," he recalled.

During that time, Toirac was working on the popular comedy show Sabadazo, which provided him with enough income to support himself and his family. However, he admitted to never being a fan of spending money on large celebrations just to meet social expectations, especially when it meant inviting people with whom he had little connection.

The Intimate Wedding Plan

Thus, the couple opted for a simple plan: a private wedding with just parents, siblings, grandparents, and no more than five friends each. The plan seemed flawless—no grand halls, no endless guest lists, and no unmanageable expenses—just a family gathering to celebrate their union.

However, as the comedian recalled, they hadn't anticipated one detail: the enthusiasm of their parents and their knack for turning a small event into a much larger family affair.

The celebration was held at his childhood home in the Havana neighborhood of Santos Suárez, where about 15 people had gathered.

An Unexpected Twist

Suddenly, someone announced unexpected news: "Aly's family is here!" Ulises and Alina exchanged puzzled looks, neither aware of this development.

Among the few invited friends was Frank Betancourt, whom Ulises described as a lifelong brother and a notorious prankster. Frank, also the best man, had helped organize several aspects of the celebration.

The trio headed towards the house's staircase to greet the new arrivals. What they found was beyond anything they had anticipated: a long line of people stretched down the stairs to the street, where a Girón XII bus was parked in front of the house, still unloading guests.

The scene, a stark contrast to the intimate wedding they had envisioned, prompted an immediate reaction from Frank Betancourt. According to Toirac, his friend leaned in and, with a playful grin, whispered loudly enough for Alina to hear, "I'd get divorced for less."

The phrase that titles the post was thus a jest from his friend and best man, not a statement from Toirac about his own marriage.

The story also captures a slice of Cuban life during the 1990s when material hardships forced people to cut costs and rely on creativity, even for significant family events like weddings.

Toirac has previously shared other memories from that era, including a humorous tale involving Antolín el Pichón and Paulo FG during the filming of Sabadazo, one of Cuba’s most popular comedy shows during the "Special Period."

The tale of his wedding day includes a humorous twist to the best man's comment: in December 2019, Toirac and Alina celebrated 25 years of marriage. On that occasion, the comedian dedicated heartfelt words to his wife, recalling that they had married just six months after starting their relationship, despite some predicting it wouldn't last long.