What's The Wedding (Sponsor) Sequence?

One big question bugging me since my brother's wedding last week.

I was the candle sponsor, and both my partner and I were flabbergasted since we didn't know exactly WHEN we're supposed to light the candle. Someone did indicate that it was our turn to light it, so we did. But it was quite sometime after before the veil and the cord sponsors would take their turn.

I've always had the notion that all three secondary sponsors would be doing their jobs all at the same time. So to clarify this, I've searched about the web for some answers, and this is what I found, courtesy of a site called mybarong.com. It gives a good overview of the sequence of events and participants in a couple's wedding, quote:

The Principal Sponsors (aka Ninang and Ninong): These are women and men whom the bride and groom respect & admire. They are, as in the early days of the Church, sponsors of the couple attesting to their readiness for marriage and freedom to marry. These are often aunts and uncles or close friends of the family. In the Philippines, they are the official witnesses of the state and they sign the marriage license. Worldwide, their participation is symbolic of the wisdom & support they shall offer the new couple. The number of sponsors can vary from a single couple to many couples. The Principal sponsors are part of the bridal procession. At the nuptial blessing, they may also be invited to come up with the celebrant and to extend their right hands to join in the prayer of blessing. In doing so, they are fulfilling their roles as sponsors.

The Secondary Sponsors: These are women and men whom the couple chooses to involve in their ceremony because of their affinity or friendship with them. They are typically relatives or close friends.

The Coin Sponsors: those who will present the Wedding Coins / Arras. Often, they will also provide the Wedding Coins. Alternately, the coins may be brought to the altar by a coin bearer who is a child (relative or friend).

The Wedding Coins (also known as: Arras [ah-rahs] or Arrhae [ar-rah-heh]) have traditionally symbolized the prosperity that would be shared by the new couple, and the groom's promise to provide for the welfare of the new family.
*However, today's couples embrace life & face the world together in a more mutually supportive way than ever before. So, the Wedding Coins have come to symbolize the couple's commitment to mutually contributing to their relationship, their children, and their community.

The Veil Sponsors - those who will place a white veil over the shoulders of the couple.
The Couple's Veil (white) has come to be a symbol of purity. Its original meaning was the symbol of the presence of the Lord, as the cloud was a symbol of His presence. It is placed over the shoulders of the couple to symbolize their union and being "clothed as one" in unity.

The Cord Sponsors - those who will place a knotted cord over the heads of the couple, to lay on their shoulders.
The Cord is a symbol of the couple's bond; that indeed they are no longer two but one in their new life as a couple.

The Candle Sponsors - those who will light the candles on the altar.
The candles symbolize the Light of Christ, the same light they received at Baptism and now receive again to lead them in their new life as a couple. Some couples choose to have their mothers or fathers light the candles in this ritual.



Sequence of symbols in the Wedding Ceremony

Lighting of the candles usually takes place before the readings. The candles may also be lit at the beginning of the ceremony.

The sharing/exchange of the Wedding Coins / Arrhae takes place immediately after the exchange of rings. The Wedding Coins are blessed, and then the celebrant gives it to the couple to share or pass from one to the other.

The Couple's Veil is placed over the shoulders of the couple as they kneel side-by-side. This is usually done immediately after the exchange of arrhae and before the General Intercession.

The placing of the Cord follows after the veil is in place.

*If the bride and groom want to be part of the Offertory, either as gift bearers or as those receiving the gifts from the bearers and handing them to the celebrant, then the veil and cord are placed after that. Once the veil and cord are in place, they are to remain kneeling until after Communion. IF the bride and groom would like to participate in the Sign of Peace the veil and cord can be removed after the nuptial blessing.

Pretty much very complete. So I guess this explanation gives way to the light in my momentary darkness ;)