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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...
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