So, you have decided to take the traditional route and do the Pamanhikan.
Congratulations!
Your respect for tradition and the values it upholds with regard to your and your fiance/ee’s parents are commendable.
WHAT TO DO:
- Before the pamanhikan, it may be a good idea to brief your parents about your fiance/e’s parents’ likes, dislikes, political affiliations, passions, hobbies, etc. and help find common areas of interest for them to help avoid awkward silences and dull moments.
- Bride and groom-to-be agree on a date when groom-to-be will bring his parents to bride-to-be’s home for the pamanhikan.
- It will be a good gesture for the parents of the grooms to bring a gift for the home or the parents, or food to share.
- The groom-to-be formally asks for the bride-to-be’s hand in marriage from her parents. If the groom already did this during his proposal, in the pamanhikan, this triggers the official start of the wedding preparations.
- If groom-to-be’s parents have not yet met bride-to-be’s parents, groom-to-be introduces his parents to the bride-to-be’s parents.
- Be prepared with quick answers to surprise questions both set of parents might spring on you. Questions like, how many babies do you intend to have? How many wedding guests can you invite? Who will your ninongs / ninangs be?
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