Wedding Entourage List (Philippines): 14 Roles in Order
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Quick answer
A Filipino wedding entourage is everyone with a named role: both sets of parents, principal sponsors (ninong and ninang), best man and maid of honor, candle, veil and cord sponsors, groomsmen and bridesmaids, three bearers and flower girls. Only two witnesses of legal age are legally required; the rest is tradition.
Your entourage is the list of people who have a named part in your wedding. The table below runs in the order a Filipino invitation prints it, and the template after it is ready to fill in. Only two of the names are legally required. The rest is tradition, so you can trim it to fit your parish, your budget and your family.
What does entourage mean in a Filipino wedding?
Elsewhere an entourage is just a group of attendants. In the Philippines it is more organized. Modern Filipina puts it as "two sets of sponsors and the wedding party" (ModernFilipina.ph). The first set is the principal sponsors, the ninongs and ninangs. The second is the secondary sponsors who handle the candle, veil and cord. The wedding party is everyone else: best man, groomsmen, maid or matron of honor, bridesmaids, flower girls and the bearers.
Nuptials.ph adds where they stand: "Your wedding entourage will stand on the sides of the altar and the front pew of the church to witness your wedding" (Nuptials.ph). ModernFilipina.ph calls being part of one an honor.
What is required and what is tradition
| Part of the entourage | Required? | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Two witnesses of legal age | Yes | Arts. 3 and 6: "not less than two witnesses of legal age"; the certificate is signed by "the contracting parties and their witnesses" (Chan Robles) |
| Principal sponsors | In practice, yes | They act as witnesses and sign the marriage contract; legal age is 18 (Nuptials.ph) |
| More than two principal sponsors | No | None of these sources names a national cap, but a parish may set one: the Manila Cathedral allows eight pairs (FAQ) |
| Candle, veil and cord sponsors | Sources differ | Nuptials.ph: all roles except principal sponsors are optional. Bride and Breakfast: Catholic Church weddings need three pairs |
| Everyone else | No | Bride and Breakfast's editor: "The only required role in a wedding is really just the sponsors" |
The two sponsor sources disagree, possibly because parishes set their own rules. The Catholic rite outline at For Your Marriage lists the arras as optional, and the veil or lazo as optional too. Ask your parish office which of the rites it expects before you recruit six people for them.
The complete entourage list, in print order
The order below follows the group headings on an Imbitasyon Ko invitation and in our entourage list maker. Other layouts exist, and our entourage layout samples show seven. Pick one order and keep it on every card, program and screen.
| # | Role (as printed) | Group heading | How many | Who usually fills it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parents of the Groom | Our Beloved Parents | Both parents | The groom's mother and father |
| 2 | Parents of the Bride | Our Beloved Parents | Both parents | The bride's mother and father |
| 3 | Principal Sponsors | Principal Sponsors | Two people minimum | Traditionally married godparents; related or not; single sponsors are fine (Nuptials.ph) |
| 4 | Best Man | Best Man & Maid of Honor | One | The groom's brother or best friend |
| 5 | Maid of Honor | Best Man & Maid of Honor | One | The bride's sister or closest friend |
| 6 | Candle Sponsors | Secondary Sponsors | One pair | No limits on sex, marital status or relationship (Nuptials.ph) |
| 7 | Veil Sponsors | Secondary Sponsors | One pair | No limits on sex, marital status or relationship (Nuptials.ph) |
| 8 | Cord Sponsors | Secondary Sponsors | One pair | No limits on sex, marital status or relationship (Nuptials.ph) |
| 9 | Groomsmen | Groomsmen & Bridesmaids | No fixed number | Closest friends and family of the groom |
| 10 | Bridesmaids | Groomsmen & Bridesmaids | Traditionally matches groomsmen | Closest friends and family of the bride |
| 11 | Ring Bearer | Bearers | One | Nephews, cousins, godsons |
| 12 | Coin Bearer | Bearers | One | Same pool |
| 13 | Bible Bearer | Bearers | One | Same pool |
| 14 | Flower Girls | Flower Girls | One or more | Nieces, younger cousins, godchildren |
The bearer, flower girl, groomsmen and sponsor entries follow Nuptials.ph; the pair counts also match Bride and Breakfast. The usual picks for best man (brother or best friend) and maid of honor (sister or best friend) are from Bride and Breakfast and Nuptials.ph. Nuptials.ph describes traditional bearers as "little boys around three to nine years old", with girls and adult bearers also acceptable. Our bearers guide lays out where sources disagree on age.
Nuptials.ph says secondary sponsors can be any sex, any marital status and any relationship to the couple, and each pair need not be one man and one woman. It suggests older sponsors, because the tasks involve a candle, a veil and a cord. On numbers, it is traditional to match bridesmaids to groomsmen so each has an escort. Bride and Breakfast's editor adds that there is no required number of either, and you can have none.
Variants and extras you may need:
| Variant | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Matron of Honor | The maid of honor is married (Nuptials.ph) |
| Man of Honor | Your closest person is a man (Nuptials.ph) |
| Best Woman | A woman stands in for all the roles of a best man (Nuptials.ph) |
| Readers and gift bearers | Usually named in the ceremony missal, but fine on the invitation (Bride and Breakfast's editor). List maker: use the Entourage slot |
Copy-ready template
This is the layout our list maker prints, trimmed to a mid-size list. Delete the roles you do not have and add more principal sponsor pairs as your parish allows.
OUR WEDDING ENTOURAGE
OUR BELOVED PARENTS
Parents of the Groom
Mr. [Name] & Mrs. [Name]
Parents of the Bride
Mr. [Name] & Mrs. [Name]
PRINCIPAL SPONSORS
Mr. [Name] & Mrs. [Name]
Mr. [Name] & Mrs. [Name]
BEST MAN & MAID OF HONOR
Best Man
[Name]
Maid of Honor
[Name]
SECONDARY SPONSORS
Candle Sponsors
[Name]
[Name]
Veil Sponsors
[Name]
[Name]
Cord Sponsors
[Name]
[Name]
GROOMSMEN & BRIDESMAIDS
Groomsmen
[Name]
[Name]
Bridesmaids
[Name]
[Name]
BEARERS
Ring Bearer
[Name]
Coin Bearer
[Name]
Bible Bearer
[Name]
FLOWER GIRLS
[Name]
[Name]
Check every spelling with the person before you print it. Our principal sponsors guide covers how to set out the couples, and how to ask a ninong or ninang covers the invitation to serve.
Print order is not walking order
The printed list ranks people: parents first, then sponsors, then the wedding party. The processional follows the aisle and differs. Kasal.com's traditional order starts with the best man and ends with the bride and her parents (Kasal.com). Bride and Breakfast's editor says there is no strict rule and to consult your planner or church admin. Our ceremony order guide shows the sequence and where each rite falls.
What the ritual roles traditionally mean
Several roles exist to carry a symbol. The meanings below are as Wikipedia's entry on Filipino wedding customs and Nuptials.ph report them. They are traditional interpretations, as reported by these sources.
| Role | What they do | Traditional meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Candle Sponsors | Light the pair of candles beside the couple | For Christians, the presence of God in the union |
| Veil Sponsors | Pin or drape the veil over the couple | Clothing the two as one |
| Cord Sponsors | Place the figure-eight cord (yugal) over the couple | "Everlasting fidelity"; the figure eight is also read as the infinity symbol |
| Coin Bearer | Carries the 13 coins (arrhae) | The groom's pledge to look after his wife and children |
| Ring Bearer | Carries the rings, often dummy rings | Mostly a ceremonial walk; the best man keeps the real rings |
| Bible Bearer | Carries the Bible used in the ceremony | Wikipedia: weddings include entrusting the couple with a Bible |
Duties and timing are in our entourage duties guide. Who does what in the candle, veil and cord rites is in the secondary sponsors guide.
How to trim the list
The only fixed number is two witnesses, so every other line is a choice. Start with your parish's cap on principal sponsors, then decide the wedding party. Bride and Breakfast suggests giving the secondary sponsor role to friends who are too busy to be bridesmaids or groomsmen. Our own advice: decide who pays for outfits before you send anyone a color. The attire guide covers that by role.
Put it on your invitation
Type or paste names into the free entourage list maker and copy the finished list. On an Imbitasyon Ko invitation the entourage prints under group headings with names beneath. Role headings such as Ring Bearer appear in the list maker and on printed inserts, not on the invitation page. On the Free plan the published page shows the first 10 entries, so enter your parents and principal sponsors first.
If you are a guest wondering what all these people are doing, see what to expect at a Filipino wedding. If you only remember three things: two witnesses are the only legal requirement, your parish sets the practical limits, and one consistent print order is easier for guests to read.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of entourage in a wedding?
In a Filipino wedding the entourage is the group of family and friends with named roles who stand with the couple. Modern Filipina describes it as two sets of sponsors plus the wedding party. Nuptials.ph says the entourage stands on the sides of the altar and in the front pew.
Who are the members of a Filipino wedding entourage?
Parents of the groom and bride, principal sponsors, best man, maid of honor, candle, veil and cord sponsors, groomsmen, bridesmaids, the ring, coin and Bible bearers, and flower girls. The list maker on this site also has an open Entourage slot for extra roles such as readers.
What is the order of a wedding entourage list?
A common print order is parents, principal sponsors, best man and maid of honor, secondary sponsors, groomsmen and bridesmaids, bearers, then flower girls. Other layouts differ, and the walking order in church is a separate list that your parish and coordinator confirm.
Is a wedding entourage required in the Philippines?
No. The Family Code requires the couple to declare their consent in the presence of not less than two witnesses of legal age, who sign the marriage certificate. In practice the principal sponsors sign as those witnesses, and every other role is optional.
How many principal sponsors do you need?
At least two people, because two witnesses of legal age must sign. None of the sources we checked names a national maximum, but a parish can set one. The Manila Cathedral allows a maximum of eight pairs, so ask your own parish before you invite anyone.
Do secondary sponsors have to be married?
No. Nuptials.ph says there are no limits on the sex, marital status or relationship to the couple of candle, veil and cord sponsors. Each pair does not have to be one man and one woman. It suggests older sponsors because the tasks involve a candle, a veil and a cord.
Do bridesmaids and groomsmen have to match in number?
It is traditional to match them so each bridesmaid has an escort down the aisle, according to Nuptials.ph. Bride and Breakfast says there is no required number of either, and that you can have none.