Chinese Wedding Customs

By Jina Boo

Chinese weddings customs can be part of a modern wedding. Here are some tips for having a traditional Chinese Wedding:

Fetching the bride
If the bride's family used a matchmaker, the matchmaker goes with the groom toget the bride.

If their is no matchmaker, the Best man carries a red tray that has: a red packet (with money) with the bride’s price, a piece of raw pork frontleg (This is the mother's reward for bringing up the bride), an even number of oranges, dried persimmons, longan, lotus seeds, and magnolia petals (pak hup).  
   

 
Bride's younger brother to open the bridal car door
 

 

 

 

 


Kiss the bride!
 

 

 

Chinese Wedding Ceremony
In a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, the bride and groom first pray to heaven and earth, then to the groom parents or family elders and lastly bow to each other. The three prayers sealed the marriage. The couple was escorted into the bridal chamber, the equivalent of the bridal room, to consummate their marriage.

 

 

 

 

 

The wedding banquet may be on the same day or another day since it is just an announcement and celebration of the marriage.


Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
 

 

 

 

 


Chinese Bride's home visit
Traditionally the bride’s home visit is three days after the Chinese wedding ceremony. In a modern Chinese wedding, the events are usually combined into a single day.

After the tea ceremony at the groom's family home, the bride changes out of her western style wedding gown to symbolize the passage of three days!

Bride's younger brother to escort the bride home
The bridal car brings the bride's younger brother to the groom's home. The groom opens the car door for the younger brother. The younger brother comes with a wedding basket filled with toiletries, perfumed oils and make-up for his sister.

Gifts for the bride's home visit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jina Boo is the editor of http://www.chinese-wedding-guide.com, a website dedicated to preserving chinese wedding customs and culture.
.

Chinese Wedding Book

Chinese Wedding Dress

Chinese Wedding Gifts

The color red is considered good luck, which banishes evil spirits. The traditional Chinese wedding dress in northern China usually 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 two-piece dress named "Qun Gua, Kwa" or "Cheongsam," with golden phoenix and dragon.

In older times, a red veil covered the bride's face during the ceremony. Newlyweds saw other's face for the first time on their wedding night.


The Dragon & Phoenix design symbolizes the balance of male and female power.

The Chinese groom traditionaly wears a black silk coat  over an embroidered dragon robe of dark blue. The headgear is a black hat with red tassels. 


quin gua kwa

Chinese Wedding Dress

Makeup and Hair
Wedding Day Make up
Examples of Updos

Dresses
Cheap Bridesmaid Dresses
Cheap Wedding Gowns
Wedding Jewelry

Etc.
Wedding Contest
Wedding Etiquette
The Fiance Visa Application
Green Card
Wedding Vows
Cheap Honeymoons

The Reception
Some Cheap Centerpieces
Affordable Wedding Entertainment Choices
Thrifty Catering Tips
Finding Cheap Flowers for your Wedding

Outdoor Weddings
Backyard Weddings
Beach Weddings

Photos, Videos, & Invitations
Cheap Wedding Invitations
Cheap Wedding Photos
Wedding Videos

Ethnic Wedding Customs
Chinese Wedding Customs
Greek Wedding Customs
Irish Wedding Customs
Indian Wedding Customs
Italian Weddings
Jewish Wedding Customs
Mexican Wedding Customs

Wedding Links
Inexpensive wedding venues
Chicago
Dallas
New York,
Pennslyvania
Washington,