I finally finished an album design that is way overdue.  Thankfully, the mother of the bride is pretty much saying to not rush it since she wants something really nice to have for a memento of her daughter’s wedding.  It took me awhile to do it since I am often not satisfied with the first or second drafts.  Also, I put it aside and come back to  it when  I’m all  refreshed.

This Filipino wedding was photograph sometime this year in Monterey, California.

I just want to add that Monterey is just a fabulous city  to not only have a place of venue to celebrate your anniversary or wedding but also to visit.

This will be a 12×12 luxury album that the mother wants to purchase for her daughter, for herself, and her family back home in the Philippines (3 total albums).  Please enjoy the slideshow.

San Jose Photographer – Wedding and Portraits

Benipayo Photography

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

(408) 717-3670 ********** (415) 763-7643

A traditional wedding held in the Philippines is a venue that we all take advantage of to pay the most influential people in our lives utmost respect and value. This custom, usually staged by beautiful flower arrangements, decadent food, and elegant clothing, makes it absurdly difficult for to-be-wed couples to limit their number of guests as they tend to give every single person they look up to a role in their weddings – the beginning of another chapter in their lives.

By standard, Christian weddings follow the following order: the processional, hymn, greeting or opening prayer, Old Testament reading, Psalm, New Testament reading, Gospel, homily, vows and ring ceremony, the kiss, nuptial blessing, sign of peace, communion, Lord’s Prayer, blessing and dismissal of congregation, and recessional. Five elements not written above make Christian weddings in the Philippines distinct: the presence of ninongs (Pilipino term for Godfather) and ninangs (Filipino term for Godmother), coin, candle, veil, and cord ceremonies.

The principal sponsors or the ninongs and ninangs as we call them here in the Philippines are more often than not the couple’s aunts, uncles, and close family friends. They are chosen carefully as these figures are also expected to guide the couple in their married life. To show the couple’s appreciation, they hand their ninangs tokens that go anywhere between flower brooches to semi-precious jewelry. Cufflinks and money clips are popular thank you gifts for ninongs in the Philippines.

The arrhae or coins represent both Christ and his apostles and the promise of the groom to take care of his wife materially. The Pilipino priest or minister gives the groom the blessed arrhae who in turn hands it to his bride. The bride receives it by putting her hand above the groom’s then hands the arrhae back to him. The groom thereafter hands the arrhae to an acolyte.

The candle sponsors light the two candles standing beside the groom and bride. These sponsors are usually the couple’s parents or very close friends. Lighting the candles symbolize God’s presence in the couple’s union. This rite takes place either before the ceremony or before the readings.

The veil sponsors approach the altar as soon as the priest rings the bell. Pinning the veil over the groom and bride’s shoulders symbolizes the groom’s promise to take care of his bride from their wedding day forward. A cord made out of satin rope, strung flowers, or linked coins put into a figure of eight and placed over the veil covering the couple symbolizes infinite unity. Until after the Communion or the Sign of Peace, the veil and cord encloses the couple.

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Benipayo Photography

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

(408) 717-3670 ********** (415) 763-7643

Written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose -Florist Philippines

By standard, Christian weddings follow the following order: the processional, hymn, greeting or opening prayer, Old Testament reading, Psalm, New Testament reading, Gospel, homily, vows and ring ceremony, the kiss, nuptial blessing, sign of peace, communion, Lord’s Prayer, blessing and dismissal of congregation, and recessional. Five elements not written above make Christian weddings in the Philippines distinct: the presence of ninongs (Filipino term for Godfather) and ninangs (Filipino term for Godmother), coin, candle, veil, and cord ceremonies.

The principal sponsors or the ninongs and ninangs as we call them here in the Philippines are more often than not the couple’s aunts, uncles, and close family friends. They are chosen carefully as these figures are also expected to guide the couple in their married life. To show the couple’s appreciation, they hand their ninangs tokens that go anywhere between flower brooches to semi-precious jewelry. Cufflinks and money clips are popular thank you gifts for ninongs in the Philippines.

The arrhae or coins represent both Christ and his apostles and the promise of the groom to take care of his wife materially. The priest or minister gives the groom the blessed arrhae who in turn hands it to his bride. The bride receives it by putting her hand above the groom’s then hands the arrhae back to him. The groom thereafter hands the arrhae to an acolyte.

The candle sponsors light the two candles standing beside the groom and bride. These sponsors are usually the couple’s parents or very close friends. Lighting the candles symbolize God’s presence in the couple’s union. This rite takes place either before the ceremony or before the readings.

The veil sponsors approach the altar as soon as the priest rings the bell. Pinning the veil over the groom and bride’s shoulders symbolizes the groom’s promise to take care of his bride from their wedding day forward. A cord made out of satin rope, strung flowers, or linked coins put into a figure of eight and placed over the veil covering the couple symbolizes infinite unity. Until after the Communion or the Sign of Peace, the veil and cord encloses the couple.

Return to San Francisco Wedding  main page

Benipayo Photography

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

(408) 717-3670 ********** (415) 763-7643

Text by: Timothy Spencer (Florist in Philippines)

Supermodel: Karissa Anne

Make Up:  Wendy Hong Tran

It was a pleasure photographing Karissa in San Jose.  She is young, smart, and beautiful.  The location of the photoshoot was in San Jose.  The photos were just a sample of about 100 photos I have captured with my camera.  All photos were lighted with one studio light except when indicated.

karrisa

The photograph below and the next was lighted with a studio light to camera left and a 580 at the models 5 o’clock position to high light her hair.

Karrisa

Karrisa Anne

Michael Benipayo

Benipayo Photography

email: michael@benipayo.com

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

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It seems that many of the Filipino’s are finding me to be their wedding photographer.   Although, I provide services to everyone, I have had several clients who are mixed Filipino and did not know it.

I know for sure that my last name, BENIPAYO, is popular amongst the older Filipino folks.  My grandparents use to own a “printing press” in the good ol’ days printing books.  My father eventually got most of the itsy bitsy parts from the company when it went sour.  Google “Benipayo press” and you will get result of old books printed by my grandparents.  Another reason why my name is better known (I don’t want to write well known because it really is not well known but it is better known than some filipino last names) is that fact that an older relative (Alfredo) is an active politician back home.  Last but not least, M a r i n a  Benipayo (a cousin I never met) was a Binibining Pilipinas World in 1992 and eventually competed in Miss World pageant.  She’s  still busy modeling and a current super model back home in the Philippines.

I can only assume that my last name is a known Filipino (“Pilipino” for the hard core Pinoy) since there are definitely a line up of Filipino’s as clients who are hiring me or inquiring about my wedding photography or portrait photography services.

I am proud to serve the filipino (pilipino) community.

Portrait-Studio photographer

Michael Benipayo

Benipayo Photography

email: michael@benipayo.com

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

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