(List of Filipino / Tagalog Wedding Terms)

The Event

wedding – kasal

getting married – ikakasal

marriage (or the act of marrying) – pag-iisang dibdib (loose translation: two hearts as one) ; pag-aasawa

wedding ceremony – kasalan

reception / wedding banquet– handaan

church wedding – kasal sa simbahan

civil wedding / civilly married – kasal sa jues (‘judge’ in Sapnish)

RSVP – tumugon sa paanyaya (répondez [answer] s’il vous plaît [please] in French)

The Wedding Participants

soon-to-weds – ikakasal; kakasalin

groom – adressed simply as “lalaki” (man) in a Filipino/Tagalog wedding ceremony;
nobyo (boyfriend) or lalaking kakasalin (marrying man) in everyday converstion

bride – adressed simply as “babae” (woman) in a Filipino/Tagalog wedding ceremony;
nobya (girlfriend) or babaeng kakasalin (marrying woman) in everyday converstion

priest – pari

parent(s) – (mga) magulang

wedding sponsor (male) – ninong (godfather in English; padrino in Spanish)

wedding sponsor (female)- ninang (godmother in English; padrina in Spanish)

maid of honor – binibining pandangal

matron of honor – ginang pandangal

best man – piling ginoo

bridesmaid / groomsman / secondary sponsor – abay

newlyweds – bagong kasal

wife / husband – asawa or kabiyak (loose transaltion: better half )

The Bridal Ensemble

wedding gown – traje de boda (Spanish in orgin)

flower – bulaklak

ring (engagement or wedding ring) – singsing

arrhae (wedding coins) – arras (Spanish in orgin)

candle – kandila

veil – belo

cord – yugal

Commonly used phrases

Mahal kita. – “I love you. “

Ini-ibig kita. – another variation of ” I love you. “

Ikaw ang babaeng pakakasalan ko. – “You are the woman I’ll marry.”

Dadalhin kita sa altar. – “I’ll bring you to the altar” or “I’ll marry you. “

Pakakasalan mo ba ako? – “Will you marry me?”

Pakasal na tayo! – “Let’s get married!”

Ikakasal na ako! -” I’m getting married!”

Kailan/Saan ang kasal? – When/Where is the wedding gonna be?

Mabuhay ang bagong kasal! – Cheers! or Long live the newlyweds!

Just for fun: Anagrams of the word ‘kasal‘
note: most of the terms below generally have negative connotations
so be careful not to confuse them with the word “kasal”

aklas –a walkout; strike or revolt

askal – colloquial term which means or stray dog, mongrel; contraction of the phrase “asong kalye” (loose translation: street dog)

kalas – separate; pull apart

lakas – strength

laksa – literally means “ten thousand” (i.e. laksa-lasang tao ang dumalo)

lasak – a gamefowl term which refers to a white-feathered rooster with some spangle-like butchers

sakal – choke; strangle; wring one’s neck

sakla – gamble; gambling with the use of playing cards

salak – prefix of the words salakay (attack; invade); salakab (trap); and salaksak (shove; push roughly )