Getting Married: The Traditional Filipino Way

A traditional wedding held in the Philippines is a venue that we all take advantage of to pay the most influential people in our lives utmost respect and value. This custom, usually staged by beautiful flower arrangements, decadent food, and elegant clothing, makes it absurdly difficult for to-be-wed couples to limit their number of guests as they tend to give every single person they look up to a role in their weddings - the beginning of another chapter in their lives.

By standard, Christian weddings follow the following order: the processional, hymn, greeting or opening prayer, Old Testament reading, Psalm, New Testament reading, Gospel, homily, vows and ring ceremony, the kiss, nuptial blessing, sign of peace, communion, Lord's Prayer, blessing and dismissal of congregation, and recessional. Five elements not written above make Christian weddings in the Philippines distinct: the presence of ninongs (Filipino term for Godfather) and ninangs (Filipino term for Godmother), coin, candle, veil, and cord ceremonies.

The principal sponsors or the ninongs and ninangs as we call them here in the Philippines are more often than not the couple's aunts, uncles, and close family friends. They are chosen carefully as these figures are also expected to guide the couple in their married life. To show the couple's appreciation, they hand their ninangs tokens that go anywhere between flower brooches to semi-precious jewelry. Cufflinks and money clips are popular thank you gifts for ninongs in the Philippines.

The arrhae or coins represent both Christ and his apostles and the promise of the groom to take care of his wife materially. The priest or minister gives the groom the blessed arrhae who in turn hands it to his bride. The bride receives it by putting her hand above the groom's then hands the arrhae back to him. The groom thereafter hands the arrhae to an acolyte.

The candle sponsors light the two candles standing beside the groom and bride. These sponsors are usually the couple's parents or very close friends. Lighting the candles symbolize God's presence in the couple's union. This rite takes place either before the ceremony or before the readings.

The veil sponsors approach the altar as soon as the priest rings the bell. Pinning the veil over the groom and bride's shoulders symbolizes the groom's promise to take care of his bride from their wedding day forward. A cord made out of satin rope, strung flowers, or linked coins put into a figure of eight and placed over the veil covering the couple symbolizes infinite unity. Until after the Communion or the Sign of Peace, the veil and cord encloses the couple.