Category Archives: Chinese Wedding Custom

Chinese wedding shoes customs

don’t take off your wedding shoes to enter the homes! Traditionally chinese wedding shoes were usually red or pink with embroidery of double joy [双喜], peony [牡丹] or other auspicious flowers. As shoes [鞋] “xie” sounds like harmony [偕] in mandarin and are of a pair [一双一对] they became an important icon in chinese weddings. […]

Western wedding veil or chinese phoenix crown?

Of course the wedding veil is the obvious choice as most modern chinese bride chooses to wear the western style wedding gown to start off the wedding. The bride may change into traditional chinese wear to reflect the heritage later in the day. Traditional rainbow robe and phoenix crown 凤冠霞披 The traditional chinese bride was […]

Deliver the chinese dowry 送嫁妆

Deliver the chinese dowry 送嫁妆 The chinese dowry may be delivered with the return gifts on the day of betrothal or delivered a few days before the wedding. Some people have the impression that chinese weddings are expensive affair for the groom’s parents since they have to pay for the betrothal gifts, bride price and […]

Wedding games and Gate-crashing the bridal chamber

Wedding games are played when well wishers in ancient chinese wedding gate-crashed the bridal chamber to tease the bride and groom. Some believed this tradition originated with good intentions. The groom’s relatives and friends wanted to frighten off any evil spirits lurking nearby by making the bridal chamber noisy and crowded. In the past when […]

Bride’s home visit 三朝回门

Traditionally the bride’s home visit is three days after the chinese wedding ceremony. For efficiency, modern chinese wedding usually compressed all the necessary events into a single day. One costume change equals three days! After the tea ceremony at the groom’s family home, the bride will change out of her western style wedding gown. This […]

Chinese wedding tea ceremony-the most significant ceremony in the modern chinese wedding

The tea ceremony is the most significant event in a modern chinese wedding as the traditional three prayers ceremony is usually not practiced. The bride is formally introduced to the groom’s family through the chinese wedding tea ceremony. It will usually take place on the wedding day when most of the family members are present. […]

Traditional chinese wedding ceremony

Heaven and earth shall witness your marriage. The three prayers of the traditional chinese wedding ceremony contained elements of Taoism. The chinese were mainly Taoists or ancestor worshipers before foreign religions such as Christianity, Muslim or Buddhism entered ancient China. Taoists believed in the power of heaven and earth to witness important events on earth. […]

Enter the groom’s home

under his brother’s pants! Before the bride enter the groom’s home, the groom’s family and friends will hide in the house to avoid clashing of luck. When the bride has entered the bridal room, the family and friends will return to the family hall. Even if the newly married couple is not staying with the […]

Fetch the bride

Fetch the bride – your groom’s quest of the day To fetch the bride, your groom and his troop of brothers must remember to bring all necessary items for their quest and complete all the challenges. Necessary items for the quest Some family requires a matchmaker to accompany the groom when he arrives at their […]

Chinese wedding day program

Prepare it! Prepare the chinese wedding day program based on discussions with the bride’s and groom’s parents. Include the wedding coordinator when finalizing the wedding day schedule. Allow some buffer time in the schedule to allow for unforseen delays such as traffic jams, detours required or having to socialise longer at any of the stops. […]

The timeline for the chinese wedding begins with…

Proposal/ Decision to get married He has proposed! You’re going to get married! 1. Announcement There’s always someone to tell! Who shall hear it first? Your best friends or your Mum? To your Mum, THIS is the official start of timeline for the chinese wedding… 2. Selection of auspicious dates Auspicious dates are required for […]

Traditional chinese wedding ceremony

Heaven and earth shall witness your marriage. The three prayers of the traditional chinese wedding ceremony contained elements of Taoism. The chinese were mainly Taoists or ancestor worshipers before foreign religions such as Christianity, Muslim or Buddhism entered ancient China. Taoists believed in the power of heaven and earth to witness important events on earth. […]