Filipino Traditions, modified....suggestions please!!

[Deleted User] · June 2011

I am Catholic and 1/2 Filipino, and my FH is Caucasian and Baptist. We are having a short, outdoor ceremony in the South. I would very much like to incorporate some Filipino traditions, such as the coins, cord, and veil. However, I'm concerned with how long each of these will take, and what each of them symbolize. I don't want to incorporate them if they don't symbolize anything I believe in.

For example, I read somewhere that the veil placed over the bride's head (that's another issue) symbolizes submission - um, no. that's not something I want anywhere near my wedding.

Will I be stricken down by lightning if I only include the coin and cord? And do I have to have an entire entourage of wedding guests participate with these traditions, or can we ask a couple who are very close friends of ours (but not in the wedding party)?

Suggestions welcome!! Thanks in advance.

sklink0486 · June 2011

My fiance is Filipino and I considered incorporating these traditions into our ceremony, but 1) Why would you include them if they don't mean anything to you? 2) If you are the one that is Filipino, is your family encouraging you to do this? And if so, can they not explain it better to you? If they can't, then I would be inclined to think it's not that important to them either. 3) I would not pick and choose which ones you want to do- I decided against including any of them because I think they go more as a combination rather than a pick and choose type of thing.

I went through the same thoughts as you are- wanting to only do certain ones and for me I wanted his family to feel more involved, but if they truly don't hold significance for you and your family, then I wouldn't include them. My FI and I are incorporating a communion into our Methodist ceremony because we were both raised Catholic but for many reasons chose to not get married in the Catholic church. That was important to us and also made our families happy.

If you decide to do these traditions, I would agree with you to only have one or maybe 2 sponsor couples (1 from each family maybe?) instead of the whole entourage. But I would talk to your family about it instead of just reading whatever you find on the internet when it comes to traditions.

Cony&Ben · June 2011

We're including all of the traditions in our wedding because they are important to my family. Every family wedding I have been to has had all of the traditions as part of the cermony. Have you had any weddings in your family before? Did they include these traditions? If not, I probably wouldn't include them.

In any case, I don't think I've ever heard the veil referred to as a symbol of submission of the bride to the groom. When my cousin got married, her programs had a short explanation about each tradition followed by a bible verse:

Veil

The veil is draped and pinned on the groom’s shoulders and over the bride’s head. This symbolizes the unity of the two families being clothed as one. It is also symbolic of the groom pledging his strength and protection to his bride.

“I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” ~ Isaiah 61:10

Cord

The cord or yugal is tied in the form of a figure eight and each loop is loosely placed around the head and shoulders of the bride and groom. The cord symbolizes unity and infinity.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Coins

The coins or arrhae are given by the groom to the bride as a sign of faithfulness and prosperity. These thirteen coins symbolize the groom’s promise to provide for his family. They also signify abundance and success in the couple’s joint efforts.

“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to Him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the LORD.” ~ Psalm 128:1-4

Bible

The Bible is given to the bride and groom as a constant reminder that Christ is the center of their lives.

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” Deuteronomy 11:18

Filipino Traditions, modified....suggestions please!!

Re: Filipino Traditions, modified....suggestions please!!

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