Philippine Weddings - Facts and Trivia

Planning a wedding in the islands? Want to do it it grand style? Or maybe you'd just like to learn a bit more about how weddings are conducted in the Philippines? Well, no matter what your plans, you'll surely enjoy reading the following list of facts and trivia about Philippine weddings. A genuinely nice couple, John and Bennette, run a small business in Manila that caters to brides and grooms getting ready for the big event. It's called Weddings@Work. I've swapped a few emails with John and he was kind enough to give me permission to post some of his site's materials here on ASAWA. This is just a sampling of what he and Bennette have available on their site, however, so when you're done reading these tidbits of information, I encourage you to drop by their homepage and see what else they've got to offer. I guarantee you'll learn something.

Here goes!

Traditionally, wedding expenses are paid for by the groom's family in the Philippine setting, unlike in some western cultures. But more and more couples contribute their share from their hard-earned savings. Some couples even shoulder the entire wedding expense themselves. It normally follows that whoever foots the bill has the final say on how big the wedding will be and has the 'majority stake' on the guest list.

Using rice grains as confetti is discouraged by most churches in keeping with the more austere times.

Marrying couples have a few pairs of ninongs & ninangs (godparents) to stand as principal sponsors/witnesses in the ceremony, much like the practice observed during a child's baptism.

Most Catholic churches don't allow a Sunday wedding.

A Catholic Filipino wedding ceremony is held with a full mass that runs about an hour.

Aside from the exchange of rings, the giving of the arrhae (earnest money in the form of 13 pieces of gold or silver coins) is a part of Filipino weddings as the groom's pledge of his dedication to the welfare of his wife and children.

The arrhae (or thirteen coins) are carried by a coin bearer who marches with the ring bearer during the processional and recessional.

If the couple intends to choose their wedding vows instead of using the standard vows provided by the church, they should inform the officiating priest and ask for his approval.

Most Filipino brides prefer custom-made wedding gowns over those ready-made off-the-rack.

 
The most popular month for weddings in the Philippines is December (until early January) and not June.

Filipino grooms also walk down the aisle. Solo or with their parents.

Proximity of the ceremony and reception venues in Manila is a major consideration for guests' convenience due to traffic and parking concerns.

Wedding Invitations usually have an insert-page that includes all the names and roles of each member of the bridal party.

Reception cards are not so popular in the Philippines, since it is usually assumed that a wedding invitation covers both the ceremony and the reception.

Aside from the bridesmaids and groomsmen, three additional pairs of wedding attendants stand as secondary sponsors; they will facilitate the wedding candle, veil and cord ceremonies during the nuptial mass.

The candle sponsors will each light wedding candles which are located on either side of the couple. The flames from the candles symbolize God's presence within the union. The lighting of a unity candle (of Protestant origin) is sometimes integrated as a variation.

Next, the veil sponsors will drape and pin the veil (a long white tulle) on the groom's shoulder and over the bride's head. This symbolizes the union of two people, 'clothed' as one.

Finally, the cord sponsors stands-up with a cord (a silken rope, a string of flowers or links of coins) that is in the form of a figure eight loops it loosely around the neck-shoulder area of the couple. This symbolizes the infinite bond of marriage.

The veil and cord ceremonies have the marrying couple 'tied-up' together while kneeling for almost half the time during the nuptial mass. But don't fret, it isn't as hard as it sounds...

Filipino brides and grooms do not arrive at the ceremony venue at the same time. The groom is expected to arrive several minutes (even an hour) prior to the set time of the wedding in order to receive guests. The bride, on the other hand, usually stays in the bridal car and will only alight the vehicle just before her bridal march.

As part of the ceremonial dance at the reception, some couples incorporate a 'money dance' where guests pin peso (or dollar!) bills on either the bride or groom. In return they get a chance to dance with them.

Newlyweds release a pair of white doves during the reception to signify a peaceful and harmonious marital relationship. Catchers find themselves going home with a new feathered-pet.

Interested in learning more? Visit my friends at Weddings@Work, a Manila-based site that specializes in Philippine weddings. Here's just a few of the many topics they cover at their site:  

*Filipino Pre-Wedding Traditions * Philippine Wedding Folklore and Superstitions * Courtship and Marriage Rites in the Philippine Provinces * The Law of Marriage in the Philippines in the 1900s * Driving & Traffic Tips for Metro Weddings * A bunch more stuff I don't have room to list. You get the idea...