Planning A Chinese Wedding Banquet: A Step-By-Step Guide

Planning a Chinese wedding banquet is a great way to incorporate Chinese culture into your special day. The banquet is usually held after the wedding ceremony and is a time for the newlyweds to celebrate with their family and friends. It's an opportunity to showcase your relationship and connect with loved ones. There are a few key things to consider when planning a Chinese wedding banquet, including the venue, the date, the guest list, the food, and the decorations.

Choosing a venue: a banquet hall or upscale Chinese restaurant is ideal

A wedding banquet is an important part of Chinese wedding traditions. It is usually held after the ceremony and is a time for the newlyweds to celebrate with their family and friends. Banquet halls are popular choices for Chinese wedding banquets, as they often provide emcee services. Many Chinese-owned banquet halls will provide an emcee for the event, but you can also ask a family member to host the banquet. This can add a personal touch to the wedding and save you money. If you do ask a family member, make sure they are comfortable speaking the languages of your family, whether that's English, Mandarin, Cantonese, or something else.

If you choose a banquet hall, it's important to book in advance to secure your preferred date. Lucky wedding dates are popular, so it's a good idea to plan ahead. Once you have your date, you can start thinking about your guest list and sending out invitations.

An upscale Chinese restaurant is another great option for a wedding banquet. This can be a more intimate setting and a chance to showcase your cultural heritage. When choosing a restaurant, consider the size of your guest list and whether the restaurant can accommodate your group.

Whether you choose a banquet hall or a restaurant, the venue should be a reflection of your taste and budget. It's important to find a space that feels special and allows you to celebrate your relationship and connect with your loved ones.

Picking a date: select a lucky date and book in advance

Picking a date is one of the most important parts of planning a Chinese wedding banquet. Lucky dates are popular, so it's important to book in advance to secure the date you and your parents want. You should also consider the time of year and any cultural or religious holidays that may impact your choice of date.

When picking a date, it's also important to keep in mind the time of year and the availability of your desired venue. If you're planning a wedding during peak season, you may need to book your venue up to a year in advance to secure your preferred date.

Once you've selected a date, it's time to start planning the other details of your wedding banquet. This includes creating a guest list and sending out invitations, as well as planning your wardrobe and finalising the menu.

For a Chinese wedding banquet, it's customary for the bride to change gowns and accessories with each entrance, so it's important to plan your outfit changes in advance. This may include finding multiple Chinese wedding dresses that suit your taste, budget, and overall needs, as well as scheduling fittings and alterations.

Planning the wardrobe: modern brides have two to four dress changes

Planning the wardrobe is an important part of a Chinese wedding banquet. Modern brides have two to four dress changes as part of their wedding celebration. It is customary for the bride to enter and re-enter the reception, changing gowns and accessories with each entrance. Brides should plan their outfit changes in advance to allow time to find dresses that suit their taste, budget, and overall needs. Multiple fittings and alterations may be required, so it is important to schedule enough time for these. Brides who want a more traditional look for their Chinese wedding banquet could try a wedding qipao or cheongsam.

When planning a Chinese wedding banquet, it is important to include traditional elements in the decorations, such as the colour red, the double happiness symbol, phoenix and dragon signs, lanterns, and lucky Chinese fruit like oranges and red dates. Banquet halls or upscale Chinese restaurants are ideal venues for the celebration.

The banquet is usually held after the wedding ceremony and is a time for the newlyweds to celebrate with their family and friends. It often includes fun games and activities that involve the newlyweds and the guests. Many Chinese-owned banquet halls provide emcee services, but couples can also ask a family member to emcee the event to add a personal touch.

To ensure the date you want is available, it is recommended to book the venue in advance. Once the date is set, the guest list can be determined and invitations can be sent out. Three to five months before the banquet, the menu should be finalised to include some traditional dishes, and the decor should be planned to include Chinese symbols.

Finalising the menu: include some traditional dishes

Finalising the menu is an important part of planning a Chinese wedding banquet. It's customary to include some traditional dishes, such as lucky Chinese fruit like oranges and red dates.

The banquet is usually held after the wedding ceremony and is a time for the newlyweds to celebrate with their family and friends. It's a chance to incorporate your culture into your special day and is traditionally a way for the couple's families to demonstrate their prosperity and generosity.

When planning the menu, consider the number of guests you'll be hosting and whether you'll be providing a full meal or just snacks and drinks. You may also want to think about any dietary requirements your guests may have.

In terms of traditional dishes, you could include some Chinese favourites such as dumplings, spring rolls, or sweet and sour pork. Noodles are also a popular choice as they symbolise longevity. If you're looking for something more upscale, you could consider dishes like Peking duck or braised abalone.

Don't forget to plan your drinks options as well! Tea is a traditional choice, but you could also offer Chinese rice wine or beer.

Decorations: feature the colour red, double happiness symbols, and lanterns

Decorations for a Chinese wedding banquet should include the colour red, double happiness symbols, and lanterns. You could also include phoenix and dragon signs, and lucky Chinese fruit like oranges and red dates. The banquet is usually held in a banquet hall or an upscale Chinese restaurant, and it's a time for the newlyweds to celebrate with their family and friends. It's also an opportunity for the couple's families to demonstrate their prosperity and generosity.

When it comes to the colour red, this is a traditional colour in Chinese culture and is often associated with happiness, good luck, and prosperity. So, incorporating red into your decorations is a great way to add a touch of cultural significance to your banquet. Consider using red tablecloths, napkins, or chair sashes. You could also use red flowers or red paper lanterns as centrepieces.

The double happiness symbol is another important element in Chinese wedding decor. This symbol, which is written in Chinese calligraphy, represents joy and good fortune. It is often used in pairs, as the number two is considered lucky in Chinese culture. You can incorporate this symbol into your decorations in a variety of ways, such as by hanging it on the walls, using it as a table centrepiece, or even incorporating it into your wedding favours.

Lanterns are also a traditional part of Chinese wedding decor. They symbolise the illumination of the path ahead for the newlyweds and are believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. You can use paper lanterns in a variety of ways, such as hanging them from the ceiling, using them as table centrepieces, or even creating a lantern-lit pathway to guide guests to their seats.

In addition to these key decorative elements, you may also want to consider other traditional Chinese symbols and motifs. For example, the dragon and phoenix are often used to represent the balance of yin and yang, as well as the union of two families. You could incorporate these symbols into your decor through artwork, table settings, or even cake designs.

Frequently asked questions