A Tradition Rooted in Meaning
At many traditional Filipino weddings, a pair of white doves, typically one male and one female are released by the bride and groom during the reception or at the end of the ceremony. As the couple opens the cage or basket and the doves take flight, they symbolize peace, harmony, love, and the beginning of a new life together. The two birds represent the couple’s journey as partners flying side by side into the unknown future with hope and unity.
This beautiful moment isn’t just an aesthetic flourish; it reflects deeply held cultural values. In many cultures around the world (including the Philippines), doves have long been symbols of peace and fidelity. Their graceful flight becomes a metaphor for the couple’s aspirations: to live together in harmony and mutual support.
Some celebrants also see the act of releasing doves as a way of letting go of the past and embarking on a new chapter, an uplifting visual that resonates with guests and creates lasting memories.
Where It Comes From
The tradition likely grew out of a blend of influences:
Spanish and Catholic heritage: Catholic symbolism in the Philippines often uses the dove to represent peace and the Holy Spirit. While there isn’t a precise historical record pinpointing the exact origin of the wedding dove release, its incorporation into the wedding reception parallels the Philippines’ long Catholic tradition.
Universal symbolism: Around the world, doves have been used in ceremonies of union and peace from ancient rituals to modern celebrations. In the Philippines, the image of two birds flying together resonated with the collective cultural yearning for harmony in marriage.
Then and Now - Is It Still Done Today?
During my wedding day in 1957, the dove release was definitely part of the wedding culture at the time and it continued to be a recognizable tradition for many decades. In weddings throughout the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s, releasing doves was fairly common at traditional Filipino receptions.
However, like many long-standing customs, its popularity has evolved. In more recent weddings:
Some couples still choose to include a dove release as a meaningful part of their celebration.
Others opt out either replacing it with symbolic alternatives (like releasing butterflies, lanterns, or balloons, rice showers), or simply skipping it altogether because it’s not practical or meaningful to them.
In some areas, modern wedding planners may offer dove release services, but they’re sometimes seen as optional rather than expected reflecting shifting tastes and priorities among younger couples.
Indeed, conversations among people who recently planned weddings in the Philippines suggest that while the tradition still exists, many couples today consider it a more old-fashioned or optional touch, rather than a must-have ritual.
A Tradition With Lasting Beauty
Whether embraced, adapted, or set aside, the tradition of releasing doves at Filipino weddings continues to capture the imagination of couples and their guests. Its essence, honoring love, peace, and hope for the future, remains timeless.
Just as weddings evolve with each generation, customs like this one remind us of the shared human desire to celebrate love in meaningful ways whether through birds taking flight or through new rituals created by each couple themselves.
- Symbolism: The pair represents the bride and groom joining together, with their flight symbolizing the couple soaring to new heights, harmony, and prosperity.
- Ritual Action: Often held after the ceremony, the bride and groom hold and release the doves, signifying the release of their individual lives to start a new, shared life, trusting that they will always return home to each other.
- Spiritual Significance: In many Filipino ceremonies, the doves represent the presence of the Holy Spirit, blessing the marriage with peace and loyalty.
- Cultural Context: It serves as a popular,, elegant alternative to, or accompaniment to, the traditional rice shower, representing a,, "white dove release".
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