Unique Filipino Wedding Traditions

“Kasal” this word means wedding in Cebuano. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a wedding? When I think of a wedding, I think of a bride and groom, special clothes, out of town guests, and beautiful decorations. In other countries, weddings are basically the same. They have a bride and groom, special clothes, out of town guests, and beautiful decorations. While some traditions are the same, there are also many differences in the traditions at Filipino weddings. Lets start with what they wear. Brides in the Philippines usually wear the traditional white dress and veil. On the other hand, the groom usually wears a native barong. A barong is a fancy shirt woven out of coconut husks. I love barongs; they are so delicate and intricate. It makes the weddings so pretty! Giving Away the Bride- The Mom and Dad both walk the Bride down the aisle! This may seem so foreign to you. Why would they do that? In their eyes, Moms raise their daughters just as much as Fathers do. So, it is only fitting that a Mom helps take her daughter down the aisle. Blessing of the Parents - Right after the dad and mom give their daughter away, the couple takes time to honor their parents in the ceremony by “blessing” them. The bride takes her soon-to-be-in-laws hands and touches them to her forehead. The groom does the same to his soon-to-be-in-laws. This is a sign of respect in the Philippines. For the couple, this is a good way to start their marriage, by showing honor and respect to their parents. This is one of my favorite traditions! Veil and Cord- This is a very special tradition. Two people, who are very close to the bride and groom, will come up and pin the veil to the couples shoulders. The veil symbolizes purity. It is placed on the couple’s shoulders to symbolize their union. After that, a different set of special people will come up and slip a knotted cord over the couples head. The cord symbolizes the couple’s bond; they are no longer two but one in their new life as a couple. This is also another one of my favorites! I just love Filipino weddings. They are so unique. I have been blessed to be part of two different weddings in the Philippines. Both times were a crazy amount of fun! Just saying, being an MK has its perks! I got to be in a wedding in a different country - now who else can say that! Fun Fact: At a Filipino wedding, everyone usually arrives late to the wedding ceremony, even the wedding party!

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