Lyla Dejesus
Chinese weddings are lively, colourful, and lavish affairs that are as much about the couple as they are about their respective families. They are steeped in rituals and customs, with symbolic aspects that focus on blessings of prosperity, abundance, and happiness for the couple from both family and friends. While modern Chinese weddings have imitated foreign weddings, they have also retained unique traditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding attire | The bride usually wears red, but some modern brides opt for white. The groom wears a long gown, red shoes, and a red silk sash with a silk ball on his shoulder. |
| Wedding banquet | Known as xǐ-jǐu (joyful wine), the banquet is sometimes considered more important than the wedding itself. It usually consists of 5–10 courses of elaborate dishes and local delicacies. |
| Tea ceremony | The bride serves tea to the groom's family, starting with the groom's parents and proceeding from the oldest family member to the youngest. |
| Betrothal gifts | The groom presents gifts such as gold jewelry, dragon and phoenix wax candles, tea leaves, sesame seeds, and wine or brandy to the bride's parents as a formal proposal. |
| Auspicious dates | Couples often consult fortune tellers, Chinese monks, or Feng Shui masters to choose an auspicious date for their wedding based on their Chinese zodiac signs and birthday details. |
| Symbols | The Double Happiness symbol, composed of two identical Chinese characters meaning joy, is commonly used in Chinese weddings, along with other symbols such as dragons, phoenixes, and mandarin ducks, which denote happiness and loyalty. |
| Wedding procession | The journey to pick up the bride is a lively affair, often involving firecrackers, drums, gongs, or a lion dance troupe. |
| Ancestor worship | On the day after the wedding, the bride wakes up early to honor her ancestors at dawn before being formally introduced to the groom's relatives and friends. |
| Wedding album | It has become popular to create an elaborate wedding album with pictures of the bride and groom in various locations and outfits, excluding pictures of the actual ceremony and wedding. |
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What You'll Learn
Chinese weddings are a union between two families
Chinese weddings are a vibrant, colourful, and lavish affair, rich with tradition and symbolism. They are a union not only between two people but also between two families, bringing them together in a celebration marked by rituals and customs.
The wedding ceremony itself consists of six basic procedures: proposal, requesting the bride's details, sending betrothal gifts, sending wedding presents to the bride, requesting the wedding date, and fetching the bride. The date of the wedding is not chosen at random; couples will often consult a fortune teller, Chinese monk, or Feng Shui master to choose an auspicious date, taking into account their zodiac signs and birthdays. The wedding ceremony may include the exchange of rings and the sharing of Tsao Chün tea, with arms crossed, in a traditional ritual.
The wedding banquet, known as xǐ-jǐu (joyful wine), is of utmost importance. It is a time for both families and guests to come together and celebrate. The banquet usually consists of 5-10 courses, with elaborate dishes symbolising fertility, abundance, and prosperity. The bride may change into a traditional red Chinese dress for the banquet, and both the bride and groom will change outfits multiple times throughout the meal.
The day after the wedding, the bride wakes early to honour her ancestors at dawn and is then formally introduced to the groom's family. She kneels before older relatives, receiving small gifts, and is given a title within her new husband's family. The couple may also serve tea to the groom's family, starting with the groom's parents and proceeding to other family members in order of age. This tea ceremony is an intimate part of the wedding celebrations, reserved only for the two families.
Chinese weddings are a joyous occasion, a union of two families coming together to celebrate the marriage of their children. The rituals and customs involved in the wedding process ensure that the families are joined and enhanced, with the couple receiving blessings of prosperity, abundance, and happiness from their loved ones.
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Traditions include a tea ceremony
Chinese weddings are lively, colourful, and lavish affairs. They are full of rituals and customs, with symbolic aspects that focus on blessings of prosperity, abundance, and happiness for the couple from both families and friends. One such ritual is the tea ceremony, which has remained relevant to this day, with many modern Chinese couples continuing to incorporate this ritual into their weddings.
The tea ceremony is an intimate gathering for close family and friends before the bigger wedding ceremony and reception. It is a time for the couple to honour their elders by serving them tea, demonstrating respect and gratitude, and signifying the unification of the two families. The couple kneels before their older relatives, who are seated in chairs, and gives them cups of tea with the help of attendants (usually bridesmaids). The tea is sometimes paired with traditional ingredients such as lotus seeds and red dates, symbolising sweetness in the marriage and future heirs.
After drinking the tea, the elders place their cups back on the tray and give the couple red envelopes with money, signifying their stamp of approval and wishing them good fortune and wealth. The tea ceremony is also where gold bridal jewellery is often passed out. The type of tea served can be left up to each family, but popular choices are black dragon, orange blossom, and classic green tea.
The tea ceremony can be held at the respective families' houses or in one location, and it usually takes place on the wedding day. However, it can also be included in rehearsals the day before the wedding.
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Auspicious dates are chosen for good fortune
Chinese weddings are often lively and colourful, and they tend to be lavish affairs that focus on blessings of prosperity, abundance, and happiness for the couple from both family and friends. The wedding date is chosen carefully, as it is believed to play a significant role in the kind of marriage the couple will have. Auspicious dates are chosen for good fortune, and this practice is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and traditions.
In Chinese culture, the wedding date is not chosen by chance. Couples and their families often consult a fortune teller, Chinese monk, or Feng Shui master to select an auspicious date for the wedding ceremony, bringing success and good luck to the couple's future. The Chinese zodiac signs and birthday details of the bride and groom, with a preference for the bride's birthday, are considered when choosing the date. The Chinese Farmer's Almanac, also known as the Tong Shu, is used as a guide to determine these auspicious dates.
The year of the wedding also holds significance. For example, 2022 and 2023 were considered auspicious years for marriage due to the occurrence of double spring, which symbolises multiplied blessings and good luck. Similarly, 2023, being a leap year with 13 months in the lunar calendar, was believed to symbolise blessings, love, and nourishment for the married couple. On the other hand, a "mang nian" or "blind year", like 2010, which had no first days of spring, is considered an ominous time to marry.
The selection of an auspicious date is not limited to weddings. Many Chinese individuals also choose lucky dates for other important events, such as starting a new job or buying a car, based on their Chinese astrology lucky element and birthday.
The Chinese wedding traditions surrounding the choice of an auspicious date reflect the importance of ensuring a harmonious and prosperous marriage, not only for the couple but also for the union of their families. By selecting a fortunate date, couples and their families believe they can influence a smooth and blessed married life together.
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Red is the traditional colour
The bride might wear a red dress, veil, sash, or shoes, and the groom might wear a sash or ball on his shoulder. The couple's room might be lit with a dragon and phoenix candle, and they will drink wine from two cups tied with a red string. The bride might also be gifted a 24-karat gold pig necklace, as pigs are emblems of fertility.
Firecrackers are often set off outside the wedding venue, said to drive away evil spirits, and the bride and groom will often travel in a decorated car. The wedding banquet, known as xǐ-jǐu (joyful wine), is sometimes considered more important than the wedding itself. It is a lavish affair, with 5-10 courses of expensive, symbolic foods, such as whole fish for abundance, and sweet lotus seeds for fertility.
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The groom's car is decorated
Chinese weddings are typically formal affairs, with a variety of traditional rituals and customs that are followed. One common custom is for the groom to arrive at the wedding in a decorated car. The decoration of the groom's car is often a fun and creative part of Chinese wedding traditions.
The decoration of the groom's car is usually organized by the bride's friends or siblings and can be quite elaborate. The car is typically adorned with flowers, ribbons, and other decorative items in bright, happy colors. Red is a prominent color in Chinese weddings as it symbolizes happiness, love, and good fortune. So, one can expect a generous use of red in the decorations.
The car decoration can also include a variety of playful accessories. For instance, tin cans may be tied to the back of the car, with colorful ribbons or strings, to create a loud, rattling noise as the car moves. This is similar to the Western tradition of attaching a "Just Married" sign to the car. Additionally, the car may be covered in funny or light-hearted messages, often teasing the groom or expressing well-wishes for the newlyweds.
Sometimes, the groom's friends or siblings may also get involved, adding their own creative touches to the car decoration. This can often turn into a friendly competition between the groom's and bride's sides, each trying to outdo the other with more extravagant or humorous decorations. However, amidst all the fun and games, it is important that the decorations do not cause any damage to the car.
- Flowers and Ribbons: Adorn the car's hood, trunk, and doors with large bouquets of flowers, especially orchids and peonies. Attach long, flowing ribbons in red, pink, and gold to the flowers, and let them drape gracefully over the car body.
- Chinese Characters and Symbols: Display large, bold Chinese characters on the car windows and doors, wishing the couple a happy and blessed marriage. Use stickers or paint to write phrases like "Double Happiness," "Longevity," or "Eternal Love."
- Dragon and Phoenix: These are iconic symbols in Chinese culture, representing the groom and bride, respectively. Create or purchase a large dragon and phoenix decoration to place on the car's hood or roof. This symbol represents the union of two powerful forces.
- Lanterns and Lights: Hang small, colorful paper lanterns around the car, especially at night, to create a festive and romantic ambiance. You can also use string lights to outline the car's shape or spell out the couple's names or a romantic message.
- Don't Forget the Interior: Decorate the car's interior, especially if the groom will be riding in it for an extended period. Place flower garlands on the headrests, and scatter flower petals or confetti on the floor and seats. You can also hang a small, mirrored ornament, known as a "bouquet charm," from the rearview mirror for extra luck.
- Involve the Wedding Party: Encourage the groomsmen and bridesmaids to participate in the car decoration process. They can help attach the flowers and ribbons, hold up funny signs, or even form a playful human archway for the car to drive through as it arrives at the wedding venue.
Remember, the key is to have fun with the decorations while also respecting the cultural significance and formal nature of the Chinese wedding traditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Chinese weddings tend to be lavish affairs, with guests expected to dress formally. The traditional colour for a bride to wear is red, but some modern brides opt for white.
Chinese weddings are lively and colourful, with firecrackers, drums and gongs. They can last all day, with six-course banquets and rituals like tea ceremonies.
Gifts are usually presented in the form of a book or scroll, which guests will sign their names in. Gifts of money or jewellery are also customary.
