Filipino Wedding Traditions

Filipinos have many age old traditions which they follow in their wedding ceremonies. In Philippines Brides shouldn't try on her wedding dress before the wedding day. Knives and other sharp and pointed objects are said to be a dreadful choice for wedding gifts for this will lead to a broken marriage. Presenting arinola (chamber pot) as a wedding gift is believed to bring good luck to newlyweds. Rain drops are considered to be very lucky on the wedding day as it signifies prosperity and happiness. It is also a tradition to throw rice confetti to the newly weds as a sign of prosperity.

The groom should turn up before the bride at the church to shun bad luck.

Breaking something during the reception party brings good luck and fortune to the newlyweds. If the bride wants to dominate over her husband for the rest of their life it is believed in Filipino weddings that she should step on the groom's feet while walking towards the altar. A Filipino bride should not flaunt any pearl jewelry as this is considered to be a bad omen.

An unmarried woman who wants to marry soon must follow the footsteps of the newlyweds is believed to be married off soon.

Dropping the wedding ring, the veil during the ceremony brings unhappiness for the couple. After the couple has agreed upon to get marry, the first task is the pamanhikan, where the groom and his parents visit the bride's family to ask for her hand in marriage. The groom or the suitor renders service to his future wife's family and run errands around her house to help her family and to gain their approval. Filipino bride dress up in a bright festive color dress or even a black color dress for the big day. The grooms usually flaunt a traditional barong made out of silk transparent fabrics. Now even men go for black tuxedos.

Most Filipino weddings have special "sponsors" who play as witnesses to the marriage. The main sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite uncle and aunt, even a parent. Two candles are lit symbolizing the joining of the two families and to invoke the light of Christ in their married life. White veils are placed over the bride's head and the groom's shoulders, a symbol of two people clothed as one. In Filipino traditional wedding the bride and the groom drape over their shoulders the yugal (a decorative silk cord) in a figure-eight shape--to symbolize everlasting fidelity The groom offers the bride 13 coins, blessed by the priest, as a sign of his dedication to his wife's happiness and the welfare of their future children.

Travour.com describes and provides information on the wedding traditions of Filipino and around the world.

Here are some Wedding Traditions performed around the world