Chinese wedding
Traditional Chinese marriage is a ceremonial ritual within Chinese societies that involve a marriage established by pre-arrangement between families. Within the traditional Chinese culture, romantic love was allowed, and monogamy was the norm for most ordinary citizens. A band of musicians with gongs and double-reed instruments accompanies the bridal parade to the groom's home. Similar music is also played at the wedding banquet. Depending on the region from which the bride hails, Chinese weddings will have different traditions such as the Tea Ceremony or the use of a wedding emcee. Also, in modern times, Chinese couples will often go to photo studios to take "glamour shots," posing in multiple gowns and various backgrounds.
Most regional Chinese wedding rituals follow the main Chinese wedding traditions, although some rituals are particular to the peoples of the southern China region. In most southern Chinese weddings, the bride price is based on the groom's economic status. The idea of "selling the daughter" or bride is not a phrase that is used often. Therefore, the price of the bride does not tend to be too demanding. Most of the time, the bride price is in the form of gold jewelry, fine fabric, money, or even a roast pig, which symbolizes that the bride is a virgin. Wedding presents are given by elderly couples or couples that are older than the newlyweds, while tea is served by the younger family members.
Are you getting married? We've put down a few distinct traditions you might think about adopting on your big day when you're of Chinese origin or want to integrate Chinese wedding customs into your ceremony.
Traditional Chinese Wedding Traditions
The groom's family would bring several presents to announce the engagement at a formal Chinese wedding proposal, mainly food and cakes. Both families send "Double Happiness Cakes" as well as invitations to their family and friends. A dowry list is provided by the bride's family, while the groom's family performs a "setting bridal bed" ritual.
Chinese Tea Ceremony
Hairdressing and capping rites for the bride and groom are performed by both families, as is customary in many other cultures. The groom then walks to the bride's house, but the bridesmaids prevent him. During the Tea Ceremony, both families are formally introduced, and they share a cup of Tsao Chün, a Chinese tea. After the Tsao Chün tea was finished, the family would be given lai see, a lucky red envelope filled with money and sometimes jewellery. After the wedding ceremonies, a feast is served.
It is a Chinese tradition for the groom to decorate the car. After that, he picks up his bride, and the two of them travel to the reception together. The couple will exchange rings during the Chinese ceremony and drink Tsao Chün tea while crossing their arms, as is customary in China. Only the family is invited to the ceremony; however, after the dinner begins, the remainder of the guests will join them.
On the wedding night, a dragon and phoenix candle will be lighted in the newlyweds' room, and the new pair will sip wine from two cups linked together with crimson rope. On the couple's first night as husband and wife, the candle signifies good luck. Raw dumplings are subsequently served to the bride, telling her commitment to her future family and the power of giving birth. Despite modern Chinese weddings becoming increasingly popular, a few Chinese wedding customs are always present. Traditional and contemporary aspects are included in these suggestions:
Traditional Chinese Wedding Invitations
The traditional Chinese wedding invitation is crimson, with gold vertical lettering read from right to left, with the groom's details appearing first, followed by the bride's. The Chinese calendar dates for the wedding banquet, the bride and groom's order of birth and names, the parents' names, the dinner location, the time for the cocktail reception, and the time for dinner are generally included in the invitation. On most invitations, the double happy sign may be found somewhere.
Traditional Chinese Wedding Dress | Qipao
On the wedding day, the bride is expected to wear a red dress called a qipao and a scarlet veil to conceal her face. Red is a colour associated with happiness, prosperity, and good fortune in Chinese culture. In today's weddings, the bride is required to wear a white bridal gown and a third ball gown during the evening. Many modern brides now change into a fourth gown to send off their guests at the end of the ceremony.
Chinese Wedding Banquet
It is a particularly significant and typically costly event. To deliver their gifts, guests will sign their names in a book or on a scroll. The bride then changes into a traditional red Chinese wedding gown once the banquet begins. Both sets of parents would have separate wedding feasts in traditional Chinese culture. Many dishes in Chinese culture are considered symbolic, such as whole fish for abundance and sweet lotus seeds for dessert, representing hope for fertility. The dinner usually consists of six courses, with the bride and groom changing their attire between the third and sixth dishes.
Post-Wedding
The bride usually arranges a meal for both families the day after the wedding. As she is properly introduced to the groom's family, she will receive a little gift from older relatives, who will then proceed to bestow a formal title on the bride.
Three-day Symbolization
The bride and groom visit the bride's family three days after the wedding. The bride is no longer considered a member of the family at this point, although she is still welcomed as a visitor. The groom must give a roasted pig to the rest of the family and share a meal with them. Incorporating traditional and modern features into a Chinese wedding can be thrilling for family members and enjoyable for friends of other ethnicities. Chinese weddings in the Los Angeles area produce stunning photographs and lasting memories. If you're considering a Chinese wedding, consider the following Chinese traditions as you prepare your big day.