Guest Contribution by: Zoe Gabe
Much like the engagement and other formal events preceding it, the Chinese-Pilipino Wedding is planned for, agreed upon and discussed long before it is set to take place. Pre-wedding preparations begin with setting both a date and time which are approved by a feng shui consultant, attuned to the temple’s lunar calendar, and compatible to the Chinese zodiac signs and horoscopes of the couple, their parents, grandparents and other close relatives. After the lucky date has been set, the next order of business is agreeing on a venue for the church and reception. As with the date and time of the wedding, venues are chosen for their facility towards ensuring the couple’s continued fortune and happiness.
A day before the wedding, the groom has to pick up the bridal gown and all other accessories and deliver these to the house or hotel where the bride will be preparing for the wedding. The groom hands these to the sister of the bride or her mother as he is not allowed to see his future wife until the wedding ceremony.
On the wedding day itself, the bride submits herself to the usual beauty and make-up rituals while wearing a red robe with a dragon emblem on it. Her father is tasked to comb her hair 2 to 4 times before she changes into her wedding clothes to remove all bad luck. The bride’s entire outfit, from her wedding gown and veil, to her shoes, stockings and even underwear must have a pair of the sang hi (double happiness) coin sewn in. Likewise, her future mother-in-law has sang hi coins sewn into her shoes (given by the bride) and stockings.
After she gets ready, the bride prepares to leave for church. Before getting into the car, she throws a fan bearing the sang hi symbol again to family members sending her off to express the fact that her leaving will not take away all good fortune from her family. On the way to the church, the bride-to-be is advised not to look back to show that she is now beginning a new life and ending her old one.
At the church, the couple observes the typical wedding service congruent to their faith. After the wedding and before heading to the reception, a tea ceremony is held between the newlywed couple and the groom’s family. This may take place either at the couple’s new home or a separate room to be rented at the reception venue. Similar to the tea ceremony which takes place at the engagement party, the bride serves tea to the groom’s family in order of seniority. In return, she is given a token (usually angpao or jewelry) by the groom’s family. This is followed by pictorials of everyone.
After the ceremony, the couple and their families head to the reception venue for what is usually everyone’s favorite part of the event—the Lauriat. In keeping with the traditional Chinese theme, Lauriat must-haves include: suckling pig (supposed to denote the virginity or purity of the bride), sharksfin soup (for wealth), red crabs (for happiness), pigeon and fish (for abundance), noodles (for long life), sea cucumber with abalone (to signify selflessness and wealth) and of course, dessert (for sweetness to be carried on throughout the couple’s union). Buchi is a standard dessert favorite since it stands for children and grandchildren. The Lauriat should consist of at least 8 dishes and may go up to eve more depending on the family’s wealth and prominence in society. All expenses for the wedding are borne by the groom’s family.
*If you're interested in sharing some of your wedding pictures, please submit them to content@bakitwhy.com. Please limit 5 pictures per couple.
Related Links:
- Wedding Series: June is the Traditional Wedding Month
- Wedding Series: Traditional Pilipino Roman Catholic Wedding
- Wedding Pictures on Flckr Account
*Article was first printed in Wedding Essentials Magazine, January-June 2006 issue
*Pictures from The Marriage of Cruz & Chu
