Inspiration #56: The Barong

Does your cultural heritage have distinct wedding attire? The most well known are probably the Chinese red dress or the Korean hanbok for brides, but what about for the groom?

{Photo by Gene Higa Photography, Destination Photography based in San Francisco}

I am incorporating my Filipino cultural heritage into our wedding byway of the dinner menu (e.g. lechon, or whole roasted pig), but I did briefly consider having Guitar Fred wear the traditional Filipino wedding attire, the barong. The barong is a lightweight, transparent embroidered formal garment worn untucked (similar to a coat/dress shirt), over an undershirt. It's made just right for the high humidity and heat of the Philippines!

According to Wikipedia, there are 3 different fabrics:

• Piña fabric - is hand-loomed from pineapple leaf fibers. And because Piña weavers in the Philippines are dwindling, its scarcity makes the delicate Piña cloth expensive and is thus used for very formal events.
• Jusi fabric - is mechanically woven and was once made from abacca or banana silk. Today, China is the main source of polyester Jusi.
• Banana fabric - is another sheer fabric used in formal occasions. Made and hand woven from banana fiber, it usually comes with geometric design details.

Here are two images of the barong from Gene Higa (who also happened to cover my sister's and a friend's weddings):

{Photos by Gene Higa Photography, Destination Photography based in San Francisco}

Also, check out this rockin' barong tagalog in gray, as photographed by Misha Media:

{Photos above by Misha Media}