Wishing you the best today and always
Congratulations on your engagement! Planning your wedding is an exciting journey, and if you're considering incorporating traditional Chinese customs into your celebration, we're here to help. While being in the UK offers some flexibility, embracing key traditions can add cultural richness and meaning to your special day.
Betrothal Gifts (Guo Da Li)
Exchange gifts with your partner's family as a gesture of respect and gratitude. Traditional gifts include items symbolizing prosperity and happiness like jewelry and tea. These gifts hold symbolic significance, representing the groom's sincerity in seeking the bride's hand in marriage. The bridal family often returns half of the total gifts, symbolizing their acceptance of the proposal.
Li Jin
In Chinese traditions, the gift of bridal money, known as 'Li Jin', signifies respect and gratitude while also demonstrating the groom's readiness to provide for his future wife. As part of the tradition, the bridal family customarily returns half of the Li Jin, symbolizing their acceptance of the proposal and blessing the couple's marital journey ahead."
Wedding Date Selection
Consider consulting with a fortune-teller or using a Chinese lunar calendar to select an auspicious wedding date. While flexibility is key, choosing a date that aligns with favorable astrological signs can bring added blessings to your marriage.
Tea Ceremony
The tea ceremony is a beautiful tradition symbolizing respect and gratitude towards your parents and elders. Serve tea to them as a sign of appreciation, receiving their blessings and well-wishes in return. Personalize the ceremony to reflect your unique family dynamics and preferences.
Red Color and Double Happiness Symbol
Incorporate the color red and the double happiness symbol (囍) into your wedding attire, decorations, and invitations. While red symbolizes joy and good fortune, the double happiness symbol represents marital bliss. Whether it's through attire accents, floral arrangements, or stationery, these elements can infuse your celebration with cultural significance.
Wedding Banquet
Host a grand banquet to celebrate your union with family and friends. Focus on traditional Chinese wedding dishes to provide an authentic experience for your guests. Consider including symbolic dishes like whole fish for abundance and longevity. Toasts, speeches, and entertainment can add to the festivities, creating cherished memories for you and your guests.
Hair Combing Ceremony
The hair combing ceremony is a meaningful tradition symbolizing the transition to adulthood and the beginning of a new chapter in your lives together. Participate in this ritual with your parents to honor family heritage and create a heartfelt moment before your wedding.
Picking Up the Bride and Door Games
As the groom and groomsmen journey to fetch the bride, they engage in a series of door games set by the bridesmaids. These door games often include daring challenges, physical exercises, and interactive tasks, each designed to test the groom's dedication and determination. In the spirit of teamwork, groomsmen lend a helping hand to the groom, supporting him in overcoming some of the door game challenges. As part of the challenges, the bridesmaids may request red pockets (hongbao) from the groom and his party.
Congratulations on your engagement! Planning your wedding is an exciting journey, and if you're considering incorporating traditional Chinese customs into your celebration, we're here to help. While being in the UK offers some flexibility, embracing key traditions can add cultural richness and meaning to your special day.