Filipino Customs Of Wedding

Wedding celebrations is one of the most important event for couples. This is the one event that they would tie them together as a married couple not only through the eyes of the public, but also in the eyes of the church and of god. Although wedding celebrations vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes, its ceremonies are usually similar. Most Wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of wedding vows by the couple, presentation of a gift (offering, ring(s), symbolic item, flowers, money), and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or leader. But usually, these wedding celebrations are governed by different sets of traditions.

Filipino customs of wedding

The groom usually wears the Barong Tagalog during the wedding, along with the male attendants, though nowadays the wealthy opt to don Western attire such as a tuxedo. Sukob: weddings held within the same year by two siblings, usually sisters, are frowned upon as it is regarded as bad luck. Some hold it that the Wedding rings dropping to the ground is a portent of bad luck (this is usually said to the ringbearer to ensure that the child is careful in handling the rings). Money, in the form of paper bills, is sometimes taped or pinned to the groom and bride's dress during the reception.

In Batangas, a popular province in Philippines in terms of wedding celebrations, are also known for their traditions in wedding celebrations. Unlike the tradition of pinning money on the groom and bride's dress during the reception, the Batangeños would usually hold this by calling in names of the groom and bride's parents, relatives, and friends to pitch in their money in a basket or jar while the commentator announces how much they have given. This tradition is called "Sabog".

American influence wedding ceremonies

The culture of Filipino weddings today have been largely inspired by United States customs such as sending wedding invites to the guests. Other popular wedding traditions inspired by United States customs include:

* A color scheme is often selected to match everything from bridesmaids' dresses, flowers, invitations, and decorations.
* The bride usually wears a white, off-white, silver, or other very light colored dress, particularly at her first marriage.
* A wedding ceremony takes place at a church, courthouse, or other location, such as an outdoor venue. The ceremony itself is usually brief, and is primarily dictated by the couple's religious practices
* Rice is sometimes thrown at the newlyweds as they leave the ceremony to symbolize fertility. Some individuals, churches or communities choose birdseed due to a false but widely believed myth that birds eating the rice will burst. Although the use of petals have become largely popular.
* In a symbolic cutting of the Wedding cake, the bride and groom jointly hold a cake knife and cut the first pieces of the wedding cake, which they feed to each other.
* If dancing is offered, the bride and groom first dance briefly together. Often a further protocol is followed, wherein they dance next with a parent, and then possibly with other members of the wedding party.
* In the mid-twentieth century it became common for the bride to toss her bouquet over her shoulder to the assembled unmarried women during the reception.

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