Chinese Wedding Ceremony
In a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, the bride and groom pray to heaven and earth and then to the groom parents or family elders. Next, they bow to each other. The three prayers sealed the marriage. The couple was escorted into the bridal chamber to consummate the marriage.
Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
- Without the traditional three prayers, the tea ceremony is the most important event the modern ceremony. The bride and groom are formally introduced to each other's family through the tea ceremony.
- The tea ceremony is usually done on the wedding day when most of the family members are present.
- Sweet tea is made with dried longan. Also, lotus seeds and red dates are used for the Tea ceremony.
- Gift are presented at the tea ceremony, such as red packets or jewelry.
Gifts for the Parents in a Chinese Wedding
- A visit to the home visit completes the modern Chinese wedding ceremony. The bride and groom visit the bride's parents house as a married couple. They bring gifts to her parents and give red packets to everyone in the family.
- If tangerines or mandarin oranges are out of season, they can give oranges.
- A roast pig is the required gift if one of the bride's parents is Cantonese. Otherwise, they can give roast pork can be given instead of a whole roast pig.
- For Teochew, the gift should include two big red packets of peanut and sesame candies. The gift includes popped rice blocks or popped rice and sesame rolls, peanut chewy candies, or bean paste cookies.
- A portion of all gifts are returned to signify sharing of fortune between the two families.
- During the bride's home visit, a sweet soup with lotus seeds, dried longan, dates and pink rice balls are served to wish the couple a sweet harmonious marriage.
- The couple and the parents give red packets to all the wedding vendors.
The traditional Chinese wedding dress in northern China is one-piece dress named "Qi Pao", embroidered with elaborate gold and silver designs. (description and dress are from chinabridal.com -- a source for ordering Chinese wedding dresses, invitations, etc.) In southern China, brides usually wear a two-piece wedding dress named "Qun Gua, Kwa" or "Cheongsam," with golden phoenix and dragon, which symbolize the balance of male and female power. The Chinese groom traditionally wears a black silk coat over an embroidered dragon robe of dark blue. He wears a black hat with red tassels.
By Jina Boo
Chinese weddings customs can be part of a modern wedding. Here are some tips for having a traditional Chinese Wedding:
Beginning of a Chinese Wedding
If the bride's family uses a matchmaker in a Chinese wedding, the matchmaker goes along with the groom to get the bride for the wedding.
If their is no matchmaker, the best man is the one who goes along. He carries a red wedding tray with a red packet of money. This is symbolic for the bride’s price. Also on the tray is piece of raw pork front leg. This is symbolically the mother's reward for bringing up such a wonderful woman that the bride turned out to be. Also on the tray is an even number of oranges, dried persimmons, longan, lotus seeds, and magnolia petals (pak hup).
