The ceremony, explained
The rites
A Filipino wedding has a few rites that guests from abroad have never seen, and that the family will want done just so. Here is each one: what happens, what it means, and who does it.
The order of the ceremony Who stands where The day at the house
In the patio, at four
The order of the ceremony
-
The processional
The entourage walks in through the zaguan and across the patio, the principal sponsors first. Malaya walks in last, with both her parents, as Filipino brides do.
-
The vows
Diego says his vows in Tagalog; Malaya says hers in English. Each in the other’s language, which is the whole of their story.
-
The arrhae
Diego pours thirteen coins into Malaya’s hands: his promise that their home will never want. The coin bearer brings them up on a small tray.
Who Lucas Dizon
Wait by the table on the right, and go up when the officiant nods.
-
The candle
The candle sponsors light the two candles on either side of the couple: light, and God’s presence, in the home they are making.
Who Paolo Dizon & Bianca Santillan
After the vows, light them from the taper on the table on the left.
-
The veil
The veil sponsors pin a long veil over Malaya’s head and Diego’s shoulders: two people, clothed as one.
Who Miguel Santillan & Ana Katigbak
Pin it to her hair and his left shoulder; the pins are on the tray.
-
The cord
The cord sponsors lay a cord, looped in a figure of eight, over the veil and around their shoulders: a bond with no end.
Who Rafael Mendoza & Isabel Dizon
The loop of the eight goes over Diego; the veil stays on until the blessing.
-
The recessional
Married. They walk out under a shower of sampaguita petals: take a small bag of them from the basket at the end of your row.
The entourage
Who stands where
In a Filipino wedding the sponsors are more than witnesses: the principal sponsors promise to guide the couple for life, and the secondary sponsors each carry out a rite.
Principal sponsors
- Ernesto & Lourdes Villanueva
- Gregorio & Amparo Lacsamana
- Benjamin & Rosario Ilagan
- Federico & Natividad Mercado
Secondary sponsors
- Candle Paolo Dizon & Bianca Santillan
- Veil Miguel Santillan & Ana Katigbak
- Cord Rafael Mendoza & Isabel Dizon
First beside them
- Best man Tomas Santillan
- Maid of honour Celeste Dizon
The youngest
- Coin bearer Lucas Dizon
- Ring bearer Gabriel Santillan
- Flower girls Sofia Ilagan & Isay Mercado
From three to ten
The day at the house
If it rains, the ceremony moves indoors to the sala, and merienda to the long gallery downstairs. Nobody needs to do anything: the family will show you the way.