Deborah Chan
Filipino weddings are a fusion of modern and historic customs, with a majority of traditions influenced by the Catholic religion. With roughly 80% of Filipinos being Catholic, it is common for weddings to be held in a Catholic Church, with rituals like the unity candle, parental blessings, and the coin ceremony, which is a practice inherited from Spain. However, there is no single template for a Filipino wedding, as the country is an archipelago of over 7000 islands with diverse people and cultures. Weddings in the Philippines are a celebration of the union of two families, rather than just two individuals, and they are often steeped in history and rich traditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding attire | Traditional Filipino wedding dresses are two-piece gowns with large butterfly sleeves, made from fine fabrics with vibrant colours and impeccable embroidery. Modern Filipino wedding dresses are white gowns with smaller butterfly sleeves and elaborate embroidery. Grooms traditionally wear a barong tagalog, a transparent, embroidered, button-up shirt made from pineapple fibres, untucked with a white t-shirt or singlet underneath, and black trousers. |
| Wedding ceremonies | Filipino weddings are a fusion of modern and historic customs, with a strong family influence. They are a celebration of two families coming together, rather than just the couple. Filipino weddings are diverse, with large weddings following traditional conventions, and smaller, intimate, non-denominational weddings. |
| Wedding rituals | Filipino weddings include rituals such as the unity candle, parental blessings, Pangalay, and the Tinikling folk dance. The couple also lights 13 Arras or coins, blessed at the altar, which the groom gifts to the bride as a promise of prosperity. The couple also performs the first dance, the money dance. |
| Wedding customs | Filipino weddings have a variety of customs due to the cultural influences of Indigenous, Spanish, American, Chinese, and Islamic interactions. For example, the Ang Pao (red envelopes) are exchanged in Filipino-Chinese weddings, while the Ifugao Indigenous group performs the takik, a thanksgiving dance to honour the god Kabunyan. |
| Wedding planning | Filipino weddings often involve selecting sponsors before the wedding, such as Principal Sponsors or Secondary Sponsors, who are honoured guests that partake in Catholic rituals during the ceremony. Couples may also incorporate a despedida de soltera, a send-off dinner that is distinct from Western bachelor or bachelorette parties. |
| Wedding music | Filipino weddings may feature bands or DJs, with some popular choices including Sound Salad, Perfect Fourth (an a cappella vocal quartet), Manila Wedding Singers (a string quartet), and Anima (a choir and swing band). |
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What You'll Learn
Filipino weddings are an impressive fusion of modern and historic customs
Filipino weddings are a vibrant fusion of modern and historic customs, honouring the joining of two families and their communities. With a rich tapestry of cultural influences, Filipino wedding traditions have evolved over time, incorporating new ideas while retaining a deep sense of family and community.
The wedding ceremony itself is often steeped in history and cultural significance. The bride's attire is a perfect example of this fusion: while modern brides might opt for a white wedding gown, a nod to Anglo-American influence, many choose to incorporate elements of the Filipiniana, a traditional two-piece dress with large butterfly sleeves, vibrant colours, and intricate embroidery. Similarly, the groom might wear the barong tagalog, a transparent, embroidered, button-up shirt made from pineapple fibres, with a pair of black trousers.
The wedding ceremony includes rituals that symbolise the union of two families. One such ritual is the candle ceremony, where the bride and groom light a unity candle together, blowing out their individual candles to symbolise leaving their past lives behind. The veil and cord ceremonies further emphasise this union, with godparents draping a ceremonial lace veil over the couple and wrapping a cord, the yugal, around them in a figure-eight pattern, symbolising an eternal bond.
Filipino weddings also incorporate rituals from other cultures, such as the coin ceremony, where the groom gives his bride 13 coins, known as the Arrhae or las arras, promising prosperity and evoking a Spanish-influenced ritual also common in Catholic and Hispanic weddings. The money dance, another ritual with roots in various cultures, is often the couple's first dance.
While some Filipino weddings follow traditional conventions, with large, Catholic ceremonies, many are smaller and non-denominational, reflecting the diverse nature of Filipino culture and the many influences that have shaped it over time.
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The wedding attire
Filipino weddings are a fusion of modern and historic customs, with a strong family influence. They are also a blend of cultural influences, including Indigenous, Spanish, American, Chinese, and Islamic traditions. While there is no single template for a Filipino wedding, as the Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands with a diverse range of people and cultures, there are some commonalities in the wedding attire.
The bride's attire is typically a custom-made white wedding gown with elaborate embroidery and smaller butterfly sleeves, which has been influenced by Anglo-American traditions. A popular alternative is a white version of the Baro't saya, a form of national dress for Filipino women, which is an embroidered airy blouse. In the past, traditional Filipino wedding dresses were vibrant in colour, often featuring enormous butterfly sleeves, fine fabrics, and impeccable embroidery. This dress is known as the Filipiniana. It is considered taboo for female guests to wear white since this is the bride's colour. For Chinese-Filipino weddings, the bride wears red, and guests are discouraged from wearing this colour.
The groom is traditionally clothed in the Barong Tagalog, a formal and transparent embroidered shirt made from jusi fabric, derived from pineapple fibres. This is worn untucked, with a white t-shirt or singlet underneath, and often paired with black trousers.
During the ceremony, sponsors are invited to join the bride and groom in the prayers of blessing. There are primary and secondary sponsors, with the latter being tasked with handling the cord, veil, and candle ceremony. The veil sponsors will drape a ceremonial lace veil over the bride's head and the groom's shoulder to symbolise being clothed as one. The cord sponsors will then wrap a ceremonial cord, called a yugal, around the couple in a figure-eight pattern, symbolising an eternal bond of fidelity. The candle sponsors will light two small candles beside a larger one, called the Unity Candle, which the bride and groom will later light together, symbolising the union of their families.
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The ceremony
Filipino weddings are a fusion of modern and historic customs, with a heavy influence from Spanish colonialism. While there is no single template for a Filipino wedding, the ceremony is steeped in history and tradition. Filipino weddings are not just about the joining of two individuals but also the joining of two families and their extended clans.
The typical Filipino wedding invitation contains the date and venue for the ceremony and reception, as well as the names and roles of the principal sponsors of the bride. Weddings are commonly held during the month of June. The groom arrives at the church or venue about an hour before the bride to receive the guests, often accompanied by his parents. The bride arrives later with her parents in a wedding car.
The bride's attire is typically a custom-made white wedding gown and veil, influenced by Anglo-American traditions. A popular alternative is a white version of the Baro't saya, a form of Filipino national dress. Modern Filipino wedding dresses often retain elements of the traditional Filipiniana, a two-piece dress with large butterfly sleeves, fine embroidery, and vibrant colours. The groom traditionally wears the barong tagalog, a transparent, embroidered, button-up shirt made from jusi fabric and worn untucked with a white t-shirt or vest underneath, along with black trousers.
During the ceremony, sponsors are invited to join the bride and groom in the prayers of blessing. Sponsors are aunts, uncles, and extended family, and they are incorporated throughout the wedding ceremony to partake in long-established Catholic rituals. There are four sets of secondary sponsors: coin sponsors, veil sponsors, cord sponsors, and candle sponsors. Exactly thirteen Arras, or coins, are carried in a pouch and brought to the altar by the coin sponsors. The Arras are blessed before the groom gifts them to his bride, promising her prosperity and the welfare of their future family.
Another ritual involves godparents draping a ceremonial lace veil over the bride and groom to symbolise being clothed as one. A ceremonial cord called a yugal is then wrapped around the couple in a figure-eight pattern, symbolising an eternal bond of fidelity. The yugal is often a silken cord woven by the mother of the bride or an oversized rosary in Catholic ceremonies.
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The reception
The Filipino wedding reception is a joyous celebration of the union of two families and is steeped in history and tradition. While wedding traditions have evolved to incorporate more modern customs, the reception is still a festive affair, bringing together the whole community to honour the newlyweds.
The coin ceremony, or arras, is another significant tradition at Filipino wedding receptions. Thirteen coins are either handed to the bride by the groom or trickled from his hands into her cupped palms, promising prosperity and welfare for their future together. This ritual is often accompanied by sponsors and godparents, who may also participate in the candle, veil, and cord ceremonies.
The money dance is another customary part of the Filipino wedding reception, where the couple's first dance involves guests pinning money to their clothing as a playful blessing for financial prosperity. This tradition is shared with many other cultures.
The bride's attire at the reception holds cultural significance. While modern Filipino brides often wear elegant white gowns with a resemblance to the traditional Filipiniana dress, some choose to wear the Baro't saya, a white embroidered blouse, or the vibrant, custom-made Filipiniana with large butterfly sleeves and intricate embroidery. The groom typically wears the Barong Tagalog, a transparent, embroidered shirt made from pineapple fibres, with black trousers.
Filipino wedding receptions are a blend of the old and new, honouring the rich history and diverse culture of the Philippines while also embracing contemporary influences.
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The role of sponsors
Filipino weddings are a fusion of modern and historic customs, with a strong family influence. Sponsors play a key role in supporting the couple on their wedding day and beyond. The number of sponsors can vary from a single couple to multiple couples, and they are usually older, trusted members of the couple's social circle. Sponsors are often chosen based on their ability to provide the couple with advice and guidance, and they should embody the couple's shared values.
There are two types of sponsors: primary and secondary. Primary sponsors, also known as principal sponsors, act as witnesses to the marriage and sign the marriage contract or certificate. They are usually godparents or older couples whose marriages the couple admires. Secondary sponsors have various roles, including candle sponsors, veil sponsors, cord sponsors, and coin sponsors. Candle sponsors light the wedding candles, veil sponsors drape a ceremonial lace veil over the bride's head and the groom's shoulder, cord sponsors wrap a knotted cord around the couple's heads, and coin sponsors carry the Arras, or coins, to the altar for the groom to gift to the bride.
The sponsors' attire also holds significance. Primary sponsors, or ninangs and ninongs, should wear colours that make them stand out from the rest of the bridal party. Cream or off-white dresses and subdued tones for tuxedos are recommended. Secondary sponsors have more freedom in their attire choices, with female sponsors opting for a formal blouse and skirt, and male sponsors wearing long-sleeved polo shirts and slacks.
During the wedding ceremony, sponsors are invited to join the bride and groom in the prayers of blessing. The primary sponsors march behind the groom, followed by the secondary sponsors. Seating arrangements also differ, with primary sponsors seated in the first few pews and secondary sponsors seated behind the groomsmen and bridesmaids.
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Frequently asked questions
Filipino weddings are a fusion of modern and historic customs. They are also a celebration of two families coming together rather than just the two individuals. There is no single template for a Filipino wedding, but they are often steeped in history and religion, with rituals and readings that take place in a Catholic Church.
Some Filipino wedding traditions include the unity candle, parental blessings, and the Pangalay. Another tradition is the Pamamanhikan, where the future groom formally expresses his intentions to wed and asks for the blessing of the bride's family. The bride's attire is typically a custom-made white wedding gown and veil, while the groom is traditionally clothed in the barong tagalog.
The number 13 is significant in Filipino weddings as it represents the 13 coins, or Arras/Arrhae, that are given to the bride by the groom as a promise of prosperity.
