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

So you’re thinking about your big day where you get to feel like a princess, walking down the aisle towards your prince charming, and a new life full of dreams to be realized. But wait a minute… Have you thought about where you want your dream wedding? Most couples who get engaged, give themselves a year or two to plan the wedding they desire. Because of this, wedding venues get booked up pretty quickly. So before you decide which shoes, which dress, which bridesmaid, you should start thinking about your wedding venue first. This will give you the liberty to book it as and when you plan on getting married. Wedding planners are very helpful for organizing not just the frilly wedding details, but also making the most of their contacts and sources to get you exactly what you desire. I have compiled a list of charming wedding venues in the San Francisco Bay area to give you some ideas on the setting and theme you can choose for your marriage ceremony.

The Conservatory Of Flowers

As a Wedding Planner, in my opinion, the Conservatory of Flowers is the most romantic wedding venue of them all. This venue is located in Golden Gate Park and can seat up to 200 inside and 300 people outside. This place would be the flowery setting a couple could enjoy for a beautiful summer wedding. Prefer a winter wedding? The building itself has sustained its charm for the past 130 years and holds a combination of tropical and aquatic plants, The flora and fauna add an exotic surrounding to your wedding reception. You can go even further by adding a tropical theme to your wedding itself.

Teatro ZinZanni

Want to spice things up? Plan a cabaret wedding at Teatro ZinZanni a cirque cabaret and dinner theater. This wedding venue can hold up to 285 guests and entertain guests with cabaret performances. This setting has an exciting old world luxurious feel to it, with velvet drapes, romantic lighting and unique performers to add to the celebration.

The Asian Art Museum

Want a backdrop of Asian grandeur to bestow your wedding day? Book the Asian Art Museum which can seat from 400 to 1200 guests. The enchanting history of China, Japan, India and South East Asia interwoven into your special day, will be perfect for having a traditional Asian wedding. Your wedding planner can help you decide an ethnic Asian cuisine to highlight the traditional aspects.

The Great American Music Hall

If you want to dance the night away in your white dress, take a chance on the Great American Music Hall. This wedding venue has top notch sound and lighting equipment, so even the guests sitting on the back tables can hear the music crystal clear. This hall can hold up to 600 guests and has the potential to impress. Musical gods such as Billy Joel, Jerry Garcia and Santana have all graced this venue. A wedding would be the ideal musical celebration to create at this location.

San Francisco Design Center

Do you have an artistic flair? A wedding planner can help you create a one-of-a-kind bridal ceremony at the San Francisco Design Center. This wedding venue was built from a historical railway station and includes ornate chandeliers, luxurious reception facilities and 125,000 square feet of room for the large scale wedding you’ve always dreamed about.

So after reading this, think about the impression you want to make on your wedding day. Be smart and hire a wedding planner in the San Francisco Bay Area. As you know when planning a wedding, every penny counts. A wedding planner can get you the discount and affordable price you can work with. A wedding planner will be able to guide you and help you choose the right venue and create a breathtaking moment to remember.

Text By: Jud Yaski (Wedding Planner)