Filipino Wedding
Traditions
Filipino wedding customs make for a beautiful and exciting event. Filipino
weddings, also known as kasalan, are among the most beautiful and intricate
celebrations in the world because of the Filipino culture’s high regard for the
sanctity of marriage making the event a lengthy and ceremonious occasion to
remind everyone attending—especially the bride and groom—that the bond
connecting the couple is expected to become permanent.
The bride wears the traditional all-white wedding gown and the groom is
handsomely clad in the traditional barong. Wedding Ceremony While some of the
sponsors have a "silent" participation during the wedding ceremony, two sets of
sponsors play active roles. Sponsors, in many Filipino weddings are similar to
the idea of godparents. At a traditional Filipino wedding, many sponsors are
present to witness the union of the couple.
The groom wears a barong, a traditional hand embroidered formal shirt made from
specially hand-loomed jusi or pina (pineapple fiber) cloth. You will be able to
see some men wearing the Barong Tagalog at the wedding, a thin and transparent
dress, most of the time white of color with a shirt under it.
The groom walks down the aisle, alone or with their parents. The best man leads
the way, followed by the groomsmen. They are usually chosen from friends of the
bride and groom. The Groom meets them, and all three will face the
Priest/Minister. During a specific point in the ceremony know as the Sanctus, the veil sponsors
carefully pin a large veil on top of the bride's head and onto the shoulder of
the groom. These secondary sponsors play a part in the wedding ceremony, and
each couple has specific functions: lighting of the unity candle, putting on the
veil and the cord for their respective ceremonies. A cord ceremony—where a set
of "sponsors" selected by the bride to tie the knot with a ceremonial wedding
cord around the bride and groom—is one of several centuries-old Philippine
wedding traditions.
The Bride is on the right side of her Father (or whoever gives her away), so
that when they get to the altar, he will not be in the way of the Groom who will
be on her right side throughout the ceremony. Ring Ceremony: The Priest/Minister
may, at this point bless the Bride, Groom and rings with holy water. Coin
Ceremony: The Priest/Minister then drops 13 pieces of coins (silver or gold)
called arras into the Groom's waiting hands, who in turn drops it into the
Bride's hands. Veil Ceremony: In the Catholic ceremony, the Priest continues
with the nuptial mass until the "Sanctus". Towards the end of the ceremony, at a
signal from the Priest/Minister, the Bride and Groom come up and approach the
candles.
During the reception couples practice the Filipino wedding custom of releasing a
pair of white doves to symbolize a loving and harmonious marriage.
The Wedding Reception:
Filipinos love to party and celebrate, and a wedding is one grand occasion.
It is during the reception that the wedding cake is cut.
Filipino Weddings reflect the strong traditions of family and extended family
and so incorporates considerable symbolism in this area. Filipino Wedding
Ceremonies have some very wonderful traditions different from the typical
Wedding Ceremonies here in the United States.
Philippines Calling Cards Rates from
USA
to Philippines 9.7 ¢/min - Lowest
Cost - Call Cell Phones in the Philippines
| 
