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By Forever Farrah Published 2026-09-17.
What Filipino wedding sponsors do, what the candle, veil, cord and arras mean, how the money dance works, and how Filipino weddings vary by faith and region.
Most Filipino weddings are Catholic, and their best-known traditions come from the ceremony. The couple are supported by principal sponsors (ninong and ninang), respected elders who act as witnesses, and by secondary sponsors who light the unity candles, drape a veil over the couple, loop a figure-eight cord around them, and present the arras, thirteen coins that stand for shared prosperity. At the reception, guests pin money to the couple during the money dance. Before any of this, the groom's family formally asks for the bride's hand in the pamamanhikan.
| Tradition | Who performs it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Pamamanhikan | The groom and his family | Formally asking the bride's parents for their blessing |
| Principal sponsors (ninong, ninang) | Respected elders | Witnesses and lifelong mentors to the couple |
| Candle | Candle sponsors | God's presence in the marriage |
| Veil | Veil sponsors | The two clothed as one |
| Cord (yugal) | Cord sponsors | An unbreakable bond, looped in a figure eight |
| Arras | Coin sponsors, then the groom | Shared prosperity and provision for the family |
| Money dance | Guests | Gifts and blessings for the couple's new life |
These are described in the entry on Philippine wedding customs.
Before the wedding, the groom and his parents visit the bride's family, traditionally bringing food, to ask formally for her hand. This is the pamamanhikan. Once the bride's parents agree, the families discuss the wedding plans and who will pay for what. It reflects the idea that a Filipino marriage joins two families, not just two people. For how proposals work elsewhere, see who proposes around the world.
Principal sponsors are godparents of the marriage. Couples usually choose several pairs of respected family friends, relatives or mentors, and they stand as official witnesses and sign the marriage record. The role doesn't end on the day: sponsors are expected to guide the couple through married life. Being asked is an honour, and many sponsors also give a generous gift.
How many sponsors to choose varies with family and parish; some couples have a handful of pairs, some many more. Check with your parish, since some set limits.
Secondary sponsors each take one symbolic part in the ceremony.
The arras custom has Spanish roots and is shared with other Hispanic Catholic traditions; see Mexican wedding traditions for its counterpart there.
At the reception, the couple dance while guests queue up to pin banknotes to their clothes or hand them envelopes. It is known in Filipino as sayaw ng pera and is a blessing for the couple's future as much as a gift. It can raise a lot: the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported a Davao City couple who received P629,600 during their money dance. That was newsworthy precisely because it was unusual. Some couples skip the dance; others hold it only with family.
Filipino receptions are often large, with extended family and many friends. Common moments include the release of a pair of doves, cake cutting, and speeches from parents and sponsors. Food is central, and in many places a whole roast pig (lechon) is the centrepiece. See what food is served at weddings around the world for comparisons.
Not every Filipino wedding is Catholic. Muslim Filipinos, especially in Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, marry through the Islamic nikah with their own local customs, music and dress, and indigenous communities across the islands have their own rites. Protestant and Iglesia ni Cristo weddings differ from Catholic ones too. The sponsor, cord and veil customs above belong mainly to Catholic and some other Christian weddings.
Filipino weddings tend to have long guest lists and many named roles: principal sponsors, secondary sponsors, the entourage and family. Keeping all of that straight is easier in one place. Forever Farrah keeps your guest list, RSVPs and meal choices together and lets you build the seating chart from the same list. For how big guest lists compare elsewhere, see how are wedding guests invited around the world.
Seating a multicultural guest list? See how Matchmaker seats families together automatically.
Principal sponsors (ninong and ninang) are the official witnesses and lifelong mentors, and they sign the marriage record. Secondary sponsors each perform one part of the ceremony: the candle, the veil, the cord or the coins.
The number is commonly explained as representing Christ and the twelve apostles. The coins symbolise the couple's shared prosperity and commitment to provide for their family.
The cord is placed over the couple's shoulders, often in a figure-eight shape, to symbolise a bond that lasts for life.
No. It is optional and a gift, so give what you're comfortable with, or simply give a gift another way.
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