I was privileged to attend an Iglesia ni Cristo wedding primarily because I have not yet witnessed one. Good thing my college friend invited me and it happened to be on my birthday. It was also a perfect timing because I had an appointment with my OB so I can attend her wedding. When we arrived at the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) church San Francisco Locale, San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City, I felt at home because of the serene environment. The spacious grounds of the church provides ample parking for all the guests with a car.
The church was also accessible to the commuters since it's easy to hail cabs when you just step out of the church's gate. It was also my first time to enter an INC church. I was awed with the how they maintain the cleanliness of its interiors. At first I expected that the church ministry would be so strict about the guests' attire; requiring all the female guests to be wearing a dress. Thank goodness no one approached some of our friends who were wearing slacks. I guess it was because our friend already mentioned that instance to the church ministry. I was also expecting that somebody would approach my husband to transfer to where the male guests are seated, but it did not happen. It was not that so strict after all. I heard that the strictness varies per locale.
After a while of musings and looking around, our friend was ready to march down the aisle accompanied by a traditional wedding entrance song. The wedding rite itself is very solemn, and it only took 30 minutes to complete the whole wedding ceremony.
Differences versus a Catholic Wedding:
1. Only traditional wedding music can be played when the bride walks down the aisle.
2. No wedding symbols such as wedding arrhae, wedding cord, and unity candle.
3. Ceremony only takes 30 minutes.
