A Few Wedding Traditions You May Want to Know

If you are dating a Christian Filipina and plan to marry her soon, you would want to get accustomed to a bit of their wedding culture so that everything goes the way everyone hopes. After all, customs play a critical part in any Filipino wedding. These follow traditions, but they also carry a very intimate vibe, whether it comes down to family participation, Catholic wedding rituals, or something else. So, let’s explore what typically forms a Christian wedding scene in the Philippines.

Formal engagement

Suppose you found your ideal match on a Christian Filipina dating app and now want to marry her. For this, you may have to follow their age-long tradition of pamamanhikan -the custom involves asking your girlfriend’s parents for their permission for the marriage. You and your close relatives (parents) would visit the woman’s house for this. Earlier, there would be a matchmaker. If the parents gave their nod for the marriage, there would be an arrangement for fixing a suitable date for the wedding. Other things also formed an integral part of it. Many things have changed with time, butpamamanhikan is about showing respect for the woman’s parents and family. It is also to ensure that the new couplegets the blessing of both families.

Although some families may do away with this practice, many traditional households still follow it.

During wedding

No matter how modern a Filipina is, they would seek their parents’ blessings as a part of their wedding ritual. In western culture, a bride walks down the aisle by herself. But in this case, parents may accompany their sweethearts to the altar. You will already be there at the altar. The would-be couple hugs and kisses their parents. Parents on both sides of the family sit on a special chair during the ceremony, placed a little away from the couple’s seats. Some households also practicea tradition calledpagmamano, when the couples put their elders’ hands on their foreheads for blessings. It is a symbol of their approval.

As for wedding attire, grooms traditionally wore Barong Tagalog or a thin shirt with long sleeves and embroidered details on the front in a specific pattern. It would go over an undershirt. Modern brides mostly appear in white gowns or elaborate two-piece dresses with butterfly sleeves and enticing embroideries.

Reception

Have you heard about the money dance? You may wonder if this includes food and drinks or any particular program. But these are not so popular at Filipino weddings. However, some rural areas follow exciting practices. After the bride has danced with her father, she will dance with you just like any western culture that includes the romantic first dance with the husband. During this time, the guests attach money to the wedding attires of the groom and bride. It is to help the newlyweds step into their new beginnings without any financial stress.

Like these, there can be many customs and practices that are unique to Filipino weddings. So, if you are dating a Christian girl from the Philippines and plan to wed her, get yourself abreast of thosetraditions that form a vital portion of marriages.