How to marry a Filipino bride?

Go to any wedding in the Philippines and you will notice the beautiful combination of tradition and modernity. It feels different and familiar. In a church that dates back to the Spanish colonial period, or use local tropical flowers as corsage or bouquet.

But it could also be a dance choreographed to the couple's favorite Hollywood musical, or a cake cut like the Western couple did in London or Los Angeles.

The Philippine wedding we are talking about today is the result of centuries of local and foreign influences, from folk to Catholicism, China, Islam, and more recently American customs.

Before the wedding: who is going and what are they wearing?

Like other Asian cultures, Filipinos weddings are grand celebrations because they focus on the family and invite almost all members of the family. As a result, invitations are often long and informative, marking the "roster" of the entourage ". In Catholic or Christian rituals, children act as holders of rings, coins and bibles.

In terms of clothing, picking the perfect white dress has become standard practice, as has choosing the right suit or tuxedo. In a more classic situation, the bride may wear a shirt, skirt and pineapple scarf called Terno. At the same time, the groom usually wears ethnic costumes, an embroidered light shirt of the same material.

Another important factor is the venue, because many Filipinos dream of a wedding in a church, no matter how much it costs. However, civil weddings are more common than we thought, because it is relatively easy to get married in court and the costs involved in organizing church services are prohibitive.

Once everything is arranged, the bride's family will hold a Despedida in Soletra. This is a farewell event, similar to the bachelorette party the night before the big day.

In the wedding: what ceremony is there?

Long before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil, the local wedding was a three-day grand ceremony full of folk ceremonies, including the blessing of rice grains and the symbolic rope to tie the couple together. Although the celebration later became simple, many pre-colonial customs still exist, with a more Spanish and American traditional flavor.

Today, a typical Filipino wedding consists of the following ceremonies: lighting candles, coin blessings, veiling, tying marriage ropes, and throwing rice grains. During the candle ceremony, Ninon and the godmother will light the couple's candles, and then they will light a larger candle in the middle as a sign of unity. Originated in Catholicism, it symbolizes that Jesus Christ is the light of the world and is everywhere in the married life of husband and wife. On the other hand, three candles remind us that this promise needs three people to complete-two people and God.

At the same time, the coin ceremony represents the couple sharing the wealth of the world, whether rich or poor. Here, the sponsor will present 13 coins (also known as Las Alas or Arrea) to the wedding host, representing Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles, and then send them to the hands of both parties at 1.1 point.

Next is the veil ritual, which in itself means humility, and God will help them bear any burden they may encounter in their marriage. Here, the best man and bridesmaid will put a dress veil on the groom's shoulder and the bride's head.

The tie of the wedding rope

Used to tie the marriage rope (also known as Yugal), the best man bridesmaid will help the new couple to join together, placing a silk lasso (or bouquet or special rosary) on the new couple's head. Ideally, these should be connected in a figure of eight, which looks similar to the infinity symbol.

Once the ceremony was over, the newlyweds walked out of the venue, all drenched with grains of rice as a way to wish the couple prosperity, luck and happiness.