Filipino wedding traditions in civil ceremony?

dinnaming

Hi all,I am Filipino and my fiancé is British.  I am Catholic and my FH is atheist. Perfect together We'll be having an outdoor ceremony and a friend, who happens to be able to perform wedding ceremonies, will be officiating.  To satisfy the Catholics, my wonderful FH has agreed to participating in a private blessing in a church the next day.
Here's my question....  does anyone know if its possible to still do the traditional Filipino chord, veil, and arrhae during the civil ceremony??? Besides blessing the coins, it does not appear to have any religious basis or meaning.  I think it's possible but I don't want to offend any Lola's or Lolo's coming to the civil ceremony.  
Thanks in advance for any input.

kara811

I actually replied to this post on your post under the Customs and Traditions! Anyhoo here was my reply! Hope it helps!


Hi fellow Pinoy! LOL. I am actually in the same situation, Im Filipino and FI is Caucasian. Im Catholic, and he doesn't have a religion! So ditto with the outdoor ceremony! Im surprised you're able to have a church blessing, my church won't do anything unless he is baptized Catholic! Anyhoo to answer your question, yes you can do those things in the civil ceremony(I won't be doing them, it takes too much time and practice). But if you want them done that way, make sure you find an officiant who are familiar with those things, this is the other reason why I'm not doing them. Cus it's hard to find an officiant that knows this tradition. And  as for Lolo's and Lola's, mine are perfectly fine with having it the "American" way.. I'll just be incorporating other filipino things like my lolo wearing a barong, and having the money dance. And my favors and escort cards will be made of native things frome the Philippines. So if you can't do those ceremonial things, then you can think of other ways too! Hope this helps!

dinnaming

Thanks that was definitely helpful!!! 

My groom and his groomsmen are going to be wearing barongs.  I'm pretty excited about that.  But he's nixed the money dance.   Oh well.  

As far as the blessing, I was told that it COULD be done... I still actually need to find someone to actually do it.     

kara811

You're welcome! No money dance? How come? My Fi thinks its cool, he was like people will pay to dance with me? hahahhaa.. but that's good that you'll be able to do it.. I kinda wanted to at first, but just didn't wanna have to deal with the hassle of finding someone to do it, and getting all the stuff for it. But  congrats and happy planning!

lauraf1202

I am filipina, and my fiance is caucasian.  Kara, can I ask what your favors and escort cards will be made of?  I am running low on ideas, but really wanted to incorporate my culture...

lauraf1202

Oh, and sorry!  As for the original post (and whole point!) I believe it is possible and would not offend, but just practice, practice.  Good luck, and congratulations.

kara811

Larua: I am so sorry for the very late reply! I hope you come here and read my reply! LOL. I just got done ordering my custom invites in the Philis. Its pocketfold,, with sinamay band on it. Very modern, yet has pinoy touch to it. My favors and escort card materials have also been bought. The favor bags are also made of sinamay with some embellishments on it. And the escort cards are made of palm sized native fans! I'm really trying to keep the Pinoy them to our wedding. My FI really likes it too!