TRADITIONS
What you will and won't see at our wedding.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE
Our wedding be a blend of our take on Filipino and American wedding traditions.
SPONSORS
Beyond the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the Filipino wedding includes many significant members of the couple’s life.
Couples often honor these important guests with the title of Principal Sponsor or Secondary Sponsor.
These sponsors are friends and family incorporated throughout the wedding ceremony to partake in the long-established Catholic rituals.
COINS
The coin ceremony represents the couple’s sharing of worldly goods, for richer or poorer.
Sponsors will present the wedding officiator with 13 coins (also called Las Arras or Arrhae), which represent Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles, who will then trickling the coins into the hands of both partners.
​
CORD
Two sponsors would help bind the couple together, placing a silk lasso (or flower strands or a special rosary, also known as the Yugal) over the couple’s heads.
The Yugal is tied in a figure eight, which looks similar to the infinity sign.
​
​
VEIL
The veiling ceremony signifies humility, that God will help them shoulder any burdens they might encounter during their marriage. Here, sponsors would clothe the couple as one, placing the veil over the bride and groom.
RICE
Rice is one of the foremost crop staples in the Philippines and holds a sacred status. Specifically, weddings in ancient times were officiated by priestesses holding the couples’ joined hands over a mound of rice grains, which was later cooked and eaten by the newlyweds as their first shared meal.
Nic & Armand with have rice blessed and poured over our hands that will later be eaten.
SAMPAGUITA
Sampaguita, the National Flower of the Philippines, is local name for a species of jasmine native to south Asia (Jasminum sambac).
Jasmine will be incorporated into Nic & Armand's personal flowers.
BARONG
Barong is a traditional Filipino shirt that is worn by the male family members at formal events. Barongs are commonly lightweight, embroidered along the front in a U-shape pattern and often handmade.
The Barong is casually worn untucked and over an undershirt.
TITLES OF RESPECT
Kuya, Ate, Tito, Tita, Lolo, Lola are all Filipino terms of respect for family members. These titles are also used to show respect for older generations that aren't directly related. Example: a woman may be called Tita even though they're not a biological auntie.
​
Lola, Lolo = grandmother, grandfather
Tita, Tito = aunt, uncle
Kuya, Ate = older brother, older sister
WHAT YOU WON'T SEE
A bridal escort. Nic will be walking unescorted down the aisle, keeping the place of honor reserved for her late father.
​
Other things you won't see at this wedding:
remembrance tables
unity candles
awkward entrances
the money dance
tossing of garters or bouquets
smashing of anything in anyones face