(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 )