Traditional Filipino Weddings MobileReverend@gmail.com • (310) 749-3043
As would be expected, Mobile Reverend is most familiar with his own culture’s wedding traditions. A Traditional Filipino Wedding has also proven to be a popular requested ceremony in culturally diverse Southern California. It generally follows along the lines of a traditional Catholic wedding, however, present also are certain culturally specific elements. These elements are generally introduced in the following order:
A ninang (godmother) and ninong (godfather), also referred to as “sponsors”, will lead by pinning a belo or veil to a Filipino bride and groom as they kneel at the altar. They are followed by another ninang and ninong pair who wraps a cord, in the shape of a figure eight, around the still kneeling couple. The veil, which is positioned over the bride’s head and over the groom’s shoulders, is a physical representation that their love, like the veil that covers them, makes the couple one. The yagul or cord is symbolic of the eternal bond that unites the wedded pair. It is not by mere coincidence that when draped over the bride’s and groom’s shoulders, it is in such a manner as to resemble the symbol for infinity.
In a Traditional Filipino Wedding the ring exchange is followed by the groom presenting arras or coins to his bride. The arras traditionally symbolized the groom’s promise to provide for his bride and their family; however, a more contemporary interpretation is that both bride and groom will work together, contributing equally to build financial security. At the conclusion of the coin presentation the respective sponsors in turn remove the cord then the veil.
Candles are another important feature of a Traditional Filipino Wedding. After the cord and veil have been removed another ninang and ninong pair (sometimes it is the mothers of the bride and groom) will light two individual candles, one candle on the side of the bride and the other on the side of the groom. The lighting of the candles illustrates the religious nature of a Filipino marriage and represents the light of Christ. This symbolic element, like the arras, has also taken on a more contemporary meaning and has expanded to include the lighting of a Unity Candle. The symbolism of the candles is that the two individual lives become one and with them their two families also become one.
Mobile Reverend is now on Facebook! You are sincerely invited to "Like" him!
-------------------------------------------------------- Reserve Your Traditional Filipino Wedding HERE
A ninang (godmother) and ninong (godfather), also referred to as “sponsors”, will lead by pinning a belo or veil to a Filipino bride and groom as they kneel at the altar. They are followed by another ninang and ninong pair who wraps a cord, in the shape of a figure eight, around the still kneeling couple. The veil, which is positioned over the bride’s head and over the groom’s shoulders, is a physical representation that their love, like the veil that covers them, makes the couple one. The yagul or cord is symbolic of the eternal bond that unites the wedded pair. It is not by mere coincidence that when draped over the bride’s and groom’s shoulders, it is in such a manner as to resemble the symbol for infinity.
In a Traditional Filipino Wedding the ring exchange is followed by the groom presenting arras or coins to his bride. The arras traditionally symbolized the groom’s promise to provide for his bride and their family; however, a more contemporary interpretation is that both bride and groom will work together, contributing equally to build financial security. At the conclusion of the coin presentation the respective sponsors in turn remove the cord then the veil.
Candles are another important feature of a Traditional Filipino Wedding. After the cord and veil have been removed another ninang and ninong pair (sometimes it is the mothers of the bride and groom) will light two individual candles, one candle on the side of the bride and the other on the side of the groom. The lighting of the candles illustrates the religious nature of a Filipino marriage and represents the light of Christ. This symbolic element, like the arras, has also taken on a more contemporary meaning and has expanded to include the lighting of a Unity Candle. The symbolism of the candles is that the two individual lives become one and with them their two families also become one.
Mobile Reverend is now on Facebook! You are sincerely invited to "Like" him!
-------------------------------------------------------- Reserve Your Traditional Filipino Wedding HERE