Traditions: Candle, Coin, Veil, and Cord

To honor my side of the family, we will be incorporating the traditional Filipino wedding elements of the Coins, Veil, and Cord, as well as godparents known as ninangs and ninongs.

Filipino Kasal kasal (kas´al) n. wedding
The Philippines is a country rich in traditions that were originally introduced by Spanish missionaries. At a traditional, Filipino wedding, many sponsors are present to witness the union of the couple. The sponsors symbolize guidance and support: a group of individuals that the couple can refer to in time of need.

The candle, arrhae (coins), veil, and cord are four traditions routinely witnessed during a Filipino wedding. Filipinos feel strongly about their heritage and actively incorporate their traditions into their weddings.
The whole wedding thus takes just a little bit longer, and a few more participants are required, but it certainly makes for a more memorable wedding day!

Candle
The candle represents two families joining together as the bride and groom start their new life together as one.

Coins or Arrhae (ar-rah-heh) n. earnest money
The ceremony of the Arrhae represents the groom’s dedication to the welfare of the bride. It signifies the bride and groom’s mutual hope for wealth, prosperity, and security as they build their lives and family together. The metal tinkling of thirteen coins being passed from one pair of hands to the other signifies abundance and success in the couple’s joint efforts.

Veil
The veil is a symbol of the faithful and everlasting love the bride and groom have for each other. Through the passing of the years, it will remind them that they belong to each other, and that their love becomes more beautiful in self-surrender that are total and pure.

The Veil Sponsors will pin the veil from the groom’s shoulders extending to cover the bride’s head and shoulders. It also symbolizes unity of the two families into one.

Cord
The cord symbolizes the love and friendship that bind the couple together, and the figure eight shape represents the infinite nature of matrimony.

The Cord Sponsors will drape the yugal (a decorative silk cord) over their shoulders.

Ninang and Ninong * Godmother and Godfather
These are women and men whom the bride and groom respect & admire. They are, as in the early days of the Church, sponsors of the couple attesting to their readiness for marriage and freedom to marry.

These are often aunts and uncles or close friends of the family. In the Philippines, they are the official witnesses of the state and they sign the marriage license. Worldwide, their participation is a tremendous honor and symbolic of the wisdom & support they shall offer the new couple. The number of sponsors can vary from a single couple to many couples.

Read the full article here and here.