Filipino Wedding Traditions

Filipino wedding traditions reflect the strong bond of family and love.

The Courtship

During the courtship in rural areas in the Philippines, a suitor will serenade his girl friend by moonlight, singing and reading poems of love.

The Engagement

Typically, the groom's parents pay for everything. This includes the wedding and often times a home for the couple.

The Tagalog people of the Philippines still consult the stars to set the wedding date. They believe that a wedding should be held during the waxing of the moon, which symbolizes good fortune and growth.

The Ceremony

Filipino wedding traditions make for a beautiful and personal ceremony.

The bride wears the traditional white wedding gown and most grooms will be dressed in the traditional barong. The barong is a hand embroidered formal shirt.

The best man walks down the aisle first and is followed by the groomsmen. The groom then walks down the aisle, alone or with his parents, and joins the best man and groomsmen.

When the bride walks down the aisle, she is on the right side of her father (or whoever gives her away), this is so the groom will be on her right side throughout the ceremony.

Besides the usual bridal party, the Filipino wedding involves many people who are important to the couple: the Principal Sponsors and the Secondary Sponsors.

Principal Sponsors

The Principal Sponsors in a Filipino wedding are men and women whom the bride and groom respect. Often they are aunts and uncles of the couple. They are the official witnesses of the state and will sign the marriage license. The number of sponsors can be one couple to many couples.

Secondary Sponsors

These are men and women the couple wishes to involve in their ceremony because of friendship and are typically relatives are close friends.

There are four sets of Secondary Sponsors:

• Coin Sponsors - Present and/or provide the 13 pieces of coins called arrhae. These coins have traditionally symbolized the groom's promise to provide for the new couple. However, today the coins symbolize the couple's commitment to mutually contribute to their new life together. This Filipino wedding tradition takes place immediately after the ring exchange.
• Veil Sponsors - These sponsors will place a white veil over the shoulders of the couple. This white veil symbolizes purity. When placed on the couples shoulders, it further symbolizes their unity. This is usually done immediately after the coin exchange.
• Cord Sponsors - Those who will place a knotted silk cord on the couple's shoulders to signify their joining. They are no longer two but one in their new life as a couple. Happens after the veil is in place.
• Candle Sponsors - They will light the candles on the altar. Some couples choose to have their mothers or fathers light the candles. This tradition takes place before the ceremony begins.

So that all the wedding guests understand the meaning and symbolism of the ceremony, the Priest/Minister may explain the ritual before calling on the secondary sponsors or the couple may print a short explanation in their programs.

The Reception

Another Filipino wedding tradition is at the wedding reception the couple will release a pair of doves from an ornamental cage by pulling on ribbons to open the door. This signifies that the couple is taking "flight" toward a new life together.

The Filipinos love to party and a Filipino wedding reception is a joyous occasion.

Filipino wedding traditions create a bond that strengthens the celebration.

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