Wency + Cody chose Snowbird, UT to set the backdrop for their winter wedding and with snow quickly impending (already arrived in some areas) I thought this would be a great wedding to feature today! I have a deep admiration and respect for any couple that chooses to focus on their heritage when making a life long commitment to one another, this beautiful wedding is deeply traditional. I also happened to really appreciate the writings the couple sent about their experience finding one another, cultivating their relationshiu
If our children ever ask, “Dad, how did you meet mom?” I have the happy infortune to say it was nothing
short of awkward. Imagine the man shown here, scruffier, more hair and “college’d” out approaching
the beautiful girl opposite him in the pictures, looking just as beautiful as she is now. She, with
newspaper in hand, approached by a said shuffling man asking, “Uhh, what time is our class today..?”
That was the moment we met: nothing special, no amazing story of a damsel in distress, no punching
the bully with relentless advancements. But it was still the moment that started 8+ long, happy years
together. All the ups, the downs, the laughs, the cries, all started with that awkward question. If that
memory is my hell, I’d call it my heaven. From walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, to almost
dying while deciding to hike mid-day on a +100 O F Summer day in Moab, we’ve lived happy lives together
with many fond memories. So going back to our future children, asking about how we met, I have no
qualms to say it was awkward.
The wedding: Filipino wedding traditions have been influenced by western cultures with the most prominent being
from Spanish Roman Catholicism. Had we gone full traditional, it would be very similar to what you
typically see: procession, priest with bible verses, vows, rings, peace out. But we wanted to keep things
more secular and reduced traditions down to a few Filipino specific motions. Firstly, I wore the
traditional “Barong Tagalog” which are custom made, transparent formal shirts typically made from
pineapple fibers. They’re cheaper than tuxes and look 20x better. Given my wife’s Chinese heritage, we
choose a design with Chinese fashion influence (as seen in the collar, cuffs, seams and button style).
Secondly, we performed a veil and cord ceremony. While we were seated, sponsors covered us in a lace
veil, symbolizing unity of two individuals as one (like two kids sharing a XXXL hoodie acting like a 2
headed ogre), and draped with a figure-8 looped silken cord, symbolizing fidelity (because nothing says
fidelity like some erotic, silken rope). Afterwards, we performed the exchange of “arrhae” or 13 coins,
symbolizing a pledge of welfare from the husband to the wife and future children (or, another way of
saying, “my debt is now our debt”). Following these traditions, it was your standard song and dance of
vows, rings and procession. It might be noted that I decided to have my ring on the right hand. The
simple answer to that is, “it’s tradition” and it’s what my dad does, so I do too. Also, my wife had the
procession slightly different and ended our wedding with, and I can’t believe I allowed it, a selfie.
