Hey folks, great questions from the newbie-Filipino weddings are a beautiful mix of Catholic tradition and family vibes. The ninong and ninang (sponsors) aren’t just like godparents; they’re secondary sponsors who guide the couple through life, often handling specific rituals like the veil, cord, and coins during the ceremony. They symbolize unity (veil over shoulders for protection), eternal bond (cord in figure-8 around the couple), and prosperity (13 coins, arras, given as a pledge of the groom’s provision). Family involvement is huge-everyone from sponsors to the whole clan chips in, making it a communal affair rather than just the couple’s day.
On regions: Luzon (especially Tagalog areas) sticks close to the standard Catholic setup, but Visayas like Cebu amps up the fiesta with more pre-wedding serenades and sinulog-inspired dances at receptions. I’ve been to both-Luzon feels more formal, Visayas rowdier. Anyone from Mindanao got twists to share? What’s your take on how modern couples are tweaking these?