While we were one of maybe not too many who selected our wedding Godparents by the friendship and level of comfort back in 2015, I never thought we would have the same position this year. It is truly an honor to mark our 7th year of marriage by becoming wedding Godparents together. Grateful to the Sabordos for the honor. Praying for God’s guidance all the way!
Per Kasal.com, the typical Filipino wedding is characterized by the long line-up of ninongs and ninangs or the godparents. Their names appear in the invitation under the heading “principal sponsors.” According to Rita Neri’s The Essential Wedding Workbook for the Filipina, “ninongs and ninangs are senior men and women, preferably married, who are either family members or close friends of the couple’s parents.”
I have put emphasis on SENIOR because that’s what we obviously lack although we were not friends with the couple’s parents too but the couple. I truly admire the couple for breaking norms as well. When we decided for our “Principal Sponsors” in 2015, we were in a bind. There was a lengthy discussion how I preferred not to have anyone who would only be there because of their status. I wanted our principal sponsor to be couple we can reach out if we really need help on our marriage. For me, that’s what Godparenting should be. Despite the weirdness of having to ask 2 of our couple friends and 1 couple from our relatives who were young to be principal sponsors, we did.
7 years from that stepping out of the normal wedding norms, I just realized the benefit of what we have done. Godparenting a wedding should be done with care and not be tied with age.
For us, aside from the comfort preference, I don’t really have people who were my parent’s close friends. Now that I’m thinking about this, I can’t help but fast forward 25 years into the future when my 3 year old toddler will get to have the same choice. I will not pressure her into marriage of course, this is just hypothetical if she decides. It would be actually nice if one if not all of her wedding Godparents are her Christening’s Godparents too. But then again, it’s all up to Unyara to decide. Thinking about things like these makes me want to time travel. I’m very fascinated with growing old and spending it with the same people that I have now.
Godparenting a wedding on your 30s, compared to having it on your 60s does have some weirdness to it but not quite. It truly is an honor to be considered one. I’m truly blessed. Having it on our 7th wedding anniversary year make it more special as 7 is my favorite number.
7 might be short in marriage years but the hardwork to keep a marriage alive for 2 different people who are polar opposites in so many ways is worth noting. We may not have the age but the experience, I think we have a little. When we have God, the little things that we have will become big in His hands. If God is with us, then all is well even this Godparenting too. Right? What do you think?