Colorful Filipino Wedding | Eula + Samuel

This bright and cheerful Missoula wedding was full of Filipino traditions. Photography by Montana Bride Vendor Renske Photo.

"We were high school sweethearts and together for ten years before our wedding this year in Arlee, Montana. The small town of fewer than one thousand people holds fond moments for us and is the place where our story began as teenagers.

Our wedding incorporated Filipino wedding traditions such as the unity candle, veil, cord ceremony, and sponsors. In a traditional Filipino wedding, sponsors play an important part. They are often role models the couple leans on for support during their nuptials and throughout their marriage.

We could not think of anything more fitting than Filipino food for our wedding. We were fortunate to have my aunt cater. She spent days before the wedding making her scrumptious homemade Filipino dishes for the numerous guests coming. The wedding party consisted of 30+ members and was uniquely hand-picked by the couple. The wedding was officiated by my older brother who fought for his life just two years ago.

The most memorable moment of the day was when it started to rain during our vows. This particularly stood out to me because I had a dream about the wedding weeks prior where we got soaked during the wedding. In the dream, the water got rid of all the anxieties that had built up over the months of planning and this proved to be true as well during the big day. We were nervous as can be but as the rain fell during our vows, it lightened all of the tension from the crowd, and I began to cry.

The reception consisted of many performances fit for a Filipino wedding, filled with lots of dancing and karaoke. The bridesmaids and I performed a choreographed dance for Sam and the night concluded with a sparkler exit." –Eula, the bride