Filipinos, when it comes to marriage, follows certain customs and traditions that is why Philippine Weddings should be well-planned by the marrying couple. Some of our country’s Wedding Traditions involves responsibilities or tasks that the couple and their families must do in order for the relationship of the couple to blossom. The couple must execute some traditional rituals as we learned from our local ancestors and some from the Spanish colonial era. These rituals are slowly fading in the current generation yet not totally being forgotten from our culture.

The actual day of wedlock for example, is a lengthy yet solemn ceremony at the couple’s respected religious sector’s churches. The place of their marriage tells the sanctity of wedlock and tells the couple that they are expected to blossom the relationship and last for the rest of their lives. Some traditions before the wedding are the “pamamanhikan” and “sukob”. In pamamanhikan, the family of the man is supposed to go to the lady’s family to ask for the hand of the bride from the girl’s parents. Some of the wedding details and the plans of the couple after the ceremony are also talked about. In sukob, two sisters are not advised to marry on the same year because it is believed to bring bad luck to both of the couples.

Post-wedding customs generally are done immediately after the nuptial ceremony. The reception must be cleared before noontime because the bride needs to be at the groom’s house before noon for the lovers to have good luck in their companionship. There are many Philippine Wedding customs that we have followed from our ancestors throughout the ages. These customs just show how Our countrymen value the importance of marriage.

According to the Filipino in Toronto, a bride should not try on her gown before the actual ceremony. According to Filipino wedding traditions, falls into temptation of trying on her gown, the ceremony fails to materialize. Another common belief is on the issue of gifts. One should not give knives or any pointed object as a gift to protect the marriage from break ups. On a light note, offering arinola as gift brings good luck to the newly wedded couple. Another belief is on the issue of sitting style during the ceremony.

Another belief even in Toronto is based on the weather on the day of ceremony. For example, when it rains, this symbolizes joy and prosperity to the couple. Breaking of any utensil during the occasion brings good luck to the couple. According to Filipino wedding traditions, one knows which of the couples is to die first. This is through two candles placed on two sides. The person near the candle that goes off first is predicted to die first. Other beliefs state that a man should arrive in the church ahead of the bride to avoid bad luck in their marriage life.

Following decision between a man and a woman to marry in Toronto, the groom’s parents visit the bride’s family. During this meeting, groom’s parents requests for a hand in marriage. When thing go as expected, both families engage in marriage ceremony preparations. Plans include preparation of the budget as well as the guest list. According to Filipino wedding traditions, before the groom gets approval from the bride’s family, he must participate in some chores at the bride’s home.

Prior to the colonial days, marriage ceremonies lasted for three days. The first day involved blessing the couple by a priest. Before blessings, the couple was supposed to dip their hands on a plate full of rice. On the third day, the priest pronounced the couple as a man and a wife after pricking their chest to draw some blood. Once small amount of blood spilled, they made vows to each other three times before priest’s blessings. According to Filipino wedding traditions, the couple ate rice prepared by the priest. To mark end of the ceremony, the priest gives them a water drink containing a mixture of their blood.