Guide To Requesting Red Envelopes For Your Chinese Wedding

Red envelopes, also known as hong bao or li shi in Chinese, are a common tradition at Chinese weddings. The envelopes are usually decorated with a “double happiness” sign or a Chinese wedding proverb and are given to the couple as a gift. The amount of money placed in the envelope typically ranges from $130 to $300, depending on the relationship between the guest and the couple. It is considered good luck to include an amount that ends in 8 or 9, such as $188 or $199. The envelopes can be given directly to the couple or placed on a table at the entrance of the wedding reception, where attendants will open and record the amount.

How much money to put in a red envelope

The amount of money placed in a red envelope varies depending on the occasion, the giver's relationship to the recipient, and their financial situation. Here are some guidelines for how much money to put in a red envelope for a Chinese wedding invitation:

• The standard amount is typically equal to or greater than the cost of your meal at the wedding banquet. In the US, the average wedding cost per guest ranges from $127 to $278, so the amount in the red envelope should be around $130 to $300.
• Consider your relationship with the couple. If you are a close friend or immediate family member, $200-$300 would be appropriate. If you are a distant relative or acquaintance, $130 is still a respectful amount.
• Choose lucky numbers that end in 8 or 9, such as $188 or $199, as "8" represents fortune and "9" symbolises "long-lasting" in Chinese culture. Even numbers are generally preferred over odd numbers, except for the number 4, which is avoided as it sounds similar to "death" in Chinese.
• If you are giving the red envelope as a family, you can include a larger amount, such as $500 or more, to reflect the collective gift.
• It is customary to use new and crisp bills in a red envelope. Avoid using dirty, wrinkled, or old bills, as this is considered disrespectful.
• While not mandatory, including gold jewellery or other traditional Chinese wedding gifts along with the red envelope is a thoughtful way to wish the couple prosperity and a long-lasting marriage.

The colour and design of the envelope

The colour red symbolises energy, happiness, and good luck in Chinese culture. Red envelopes are typically adorned with the Chinese characters "双喜" (double happiness), which symbolise joy and good fortune. They are also commonly decorated with beautiful Chinese calligraphy and symbols conveying good luck and prosperity on the recipient.

Red envelopes for Chinese weddings may feature the Chinese characters for "double happiness" and "百年好合" (bǎinián hǎo hé, a happy union for 100 years). They may also feature cartoon characters.

Red envelopes are available in a variety of designs and materials, including silk, paper, and brocade. They can be purchased in packs of varying quantities, ranging from 4 to 120 envelopes. Some envelopes feature intricate designs, such as Chinese knots, jade pendants, and copper coins, while others have a more simple design with gold foil stamping.

When choosing the colour and design of the envelope, it is important to consider the meaning behind the red envelop and to use envelopes with auspicious designs.

Who should give a red envelope

In Chinese culture, red envelopes are given on many occasions, such as Chinese New Year, birthdays, and weddings. They are given by parents, grandparents, relatives, close neighbours, and friends to younger generations.

At weddings, guests give red envelopes to the couple as their wedding gifts. The groom's family may also give red envelopes to their guests, returning some of the money they have received.

The amount of money to be given in a red envelope depends on the relationship between the couple and the guest. It is customary to give at least the cost of the meal the guest will consume at the reception. The closer the relationship, the more money is expected. For instance, immediate family members like parents and siblings tend to give more money than casual friends.

Red envelopes are always given and received with both hands.

When to give a red envelope

Red envelopes are a common tradition at Chinese weddings, where guests will give red envelopes with money inside to the couple as wedding gifts. The red envelope is called "红包" ("hóngbāo" or "hong bao" in Mandarin), "利是", or "ang bao" in Hokkien. They represent "good fortune" and are an important part of Chinese wedding traditions and customs.

Timing of Giving Red Envelopes

Red envelopes are typically given to the couple at the wedding reception. There is usually a table at the entrance of the wedding reception where guests give their red envelopes to attendants and sign their names in a register. The attendants will open the envelopes, count the money, and record the amount next to the guest's name. This practice serves as a form of bookkeeping and also helps ensure that the newlyweds can return an appropriate amount at their guests' weddings in the future.

Advance Notice to Guests

While it is customary to give red envelopes at the wedding reception, it is also possible to include a red envelope with the wedding invitation as a gesture of gratitude and reciprocity. This practice is especially common in traditional Chinese weddings in Hong Kong and China. The amount included in the invitation is usually small, ranging from $5 to $10. This approach simplifies the process and reduces potential chaos on the wedding day.

Amount to Give in the Red Envelope

The amount of money placed in the red envelope depends on several factors, including your relationship with the couple and your financial situation. The closer your relationship is to the bride and groom, the more money is generally expected. It is also common to give an amount that covers the cost of your meal at the wedding banquet, which typically ranges from $127 to $278 per guest in the US. Therefore, the amount in the red envelope should be around $130 to $300. It is also considered good luck to put an amount that ends in 8 or 9, such as $188 or $199, as these numbers represent fortune and longevity in Chinese culture.

How to give and receive a red envelope

The act of giving and receiving a red envelope is solemn, so they should always be presented and received with both hands.

Giving a Red Envelope

• It is customary to put crisp, new bills inside a red envelope. Dirty or wrinkled bills are considered to be in bad taste.
• Avoid putting coins in the envelope.
• Avoid giving amounts with the number four, such as $40 or $400. Four is considered unlucky as in Chinese, 四 (sì, four) sounds like 死 (sǐ, death).
• Even numbers are better than odd numbers. Good things are believed to come in pairs.
• Eight is a particularly auspicious number.
• Put different denominations in differently designed envelopes so that you can quickly work out how much you are giving.

Receiving a Red Envelope

• Express thanks and greet the giver with a pleasing, auspicious phrase, such as 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái, meaning 'happiness and prosperity').
• Do not open the envelope in front of the giver.

At a Wedding

At a Chinese wedding, there is usually a table at the entrance of the reception where guests give their red envelopes to attendants and sign their names in a book. The attendants will open the envelope, count the money, and record it next to the guest's name. This is done for bookkeeping and also so that when unmarried guests eventually get married, the newlyweds can give them more money than they received at their wedding.

Frequently asked questions