Modern Filipino Wedding Rituals: Honouring Tradition in a Contemporary Way

For fusion couples who want to celebrate their Filipino heritage, modern Filipino wedding rituals offer a beautiful way to honour tradition while giving these rituals a deeply personal and contemporary touch. Rooted in history yet wonderfully adaptable, these rituals allow couples to reflect who they are today while staying connected to the past.

Read on to discover what modern Filipino wedding rituals are, the most meaningful traditions used in ceremonies, and how you can personalise them for your own wedding day.

Veil and Cord ritual in action: example of a modern Filipino wedding ritual. Photo by Bates + Bates Photography.

What Are Filipino Wedding Rituals?

Filipino wedding rituals are a blend of Catholic traditions and indigenous customs that developed long before colonisation. Together, they reflect the rich cultural history of the Philippines and emphasise values such as unity, commitment, shared responsibility, and enduring love.

In modern Filipino weddings, especially for multicultural or interfaith couples, these rituals are often adapted to feel more inclusive and representative of both partners.

Examples of modern Filipino wedding rituals

Some of the most commonly used modern Filipino wedding ritual include:

• The Veil and Cord (Yugal)

• The Wedding Coins (Arras or Arrhae)

• The Unity Candle

The Veil and Cord Ritual

During the veil and cord ritual, a veil and a cord are gently placed around the couple’s shoulders, usually after the vows. This ritual is traditionally performed by selected members of the family or wedding party, known as ninongs and ninangs (sponsors).

• The veil symbolises unity and protection

• The cord represents the lifelong bond of marriage

How to Personalise the Veil and Cord Ritual

Modern Filipino wedding rituals invite creativity and meaning. Instead of a traditional wedding veil, you might:

• Create your own veil using meaningful colours or symbols

• Use a scarf or veil passed down through your family

• Incorporate an heirloom to honour your ancestors

At a Filipino-Jewish wedding, for example, Steve and Becca chose to use her father’s prayer shawl as the veil—beautifully blending both heritages.

For the cord, consider:

• Choosing a colour or material with personal significance

• Braiding multiple strands to represent blended cultures or families

Becca and Steve at their Jewish-Filipino wedding. Photo by The Chamberlins

The Wedding Coin Ritual

In this ritual, the couple exchanges 13 wedding coins, known as arras or arrhae. These coins symbolise prosperity and a shared commitment to care for one another.

Traditionally, the groom presented the coins to the bride. In modern Filipino wedding rituals, however, most couples choose a more egalitarian approach, with each partner giving the coins to the other.

How to Personalise the Wedding Coin Ritual

To make this ritual your own, you could:

• Use coins from the countries or cultures you represent

• Commission custom coins engraved with your initials or wedding date

• Personalise the container by using:

  • An heirloom box

  • A small purse belonging to an ancestor

  • A handmade wedding money belt

The Unity Candle Ritual

In the unity candle ritual, the mothers of the couple—or chosen members of the wedding party—each light a candle and present it to the couple. Using these individual flames, the couple lights a larger central candle together. This ritual symbolises not only the union of two people, but also the coming together of two families.

How to Personalise the Unity Candle

To personalise this ritual, you might:

• Choose individual candle colours that represent each partner

• Decorate the candles with symbols, patterns, or cultural motifs

• Engrave the unity candle with your names, initials, or wedding date

Unity candle ritual in action: example of a modern Filipino wedding ritual. Photo by Bates + Bates Photography.

Creating a Ceremony That Reflects You

Modern Filipino wedding rituals are wonderfully flexible, making them ideal for multicultural, bilingual, and interfaith ceremonies. Whether you adapt one ritual or include several, each can be shaped to tell your unique love story.

About Your Celebrant

I’m Rosalie, The Fusion Wedding Celebrant. I create bilingual, multicultural, and interfaith ceremonies for couples who want contemporary ways to celebrate their love while honouring their heritages.

If you’re looking for a celebrant who can turn your story, values, and cultures into an engaging and meaningful experience for you and your guests, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to start creating a ceremony that truly reflects who you are.