CHINESE WEDDING

TRADITIONS
Traditional Chinese Wedding Traditions

• During a formal Chinese wedding proposal, the groom’s family will

present different gifts to announce the engagement, which is
usually food and cakes. Both families send “Double Happiness
Cakes” to their relatives and friends, along with invitations. The
bride’s family provides a dowry list, and the groom’s family
performs a “setting bridal bed” ritual.
 Chinese Tea Ceremony

• Both families perform the hairdressing and capping rituals for the
bride and groom, similar to many other cultures. The groom then goes
to the bride’s home and is blocked by the bridesmaids.  Both families
are formally introduced during the Tea Ceremony and together they
drink Tsao Chün, a Chinese tea. After the Tsao Chün tea has been
finished, the couple would receive lai see, a lucky red envelope,
given by the family that is filled with money and sometimes jewelry.
 A feast is served at the end of the wedding ceremonies.
• For the groom, it is Chinese tradition for him to decorate the car.
He then picks up his bride and together they travel to a reception.
During the Chinese ceremony, the couple will exchange rings,
share a drink of Tsao Chün tea while crossing arms, which is part
of Chinese traditional rituals. The family are the only guests
invited to this ceremony, but once the banquet begins the rest will
join.
• On the wedding night, the newlywed’s room will be lit with a
dragon and phoenix candle, and the new couple will drink wine
from two cups tied together with a red string. The candle
represents good luck on the couple’s first night as husband and
wife. The bride is then offered raw dumplings symbolizing her
dedication to her future family and the power of giving birth.
• Although modern Chinese weddings are quickly catching on, there
are always a few Chinese wedding traditions that are usually
present. These tips include both traditional and modern elements:
 Traditional Chinese Wedding Invitations

• The typical Chinese wedding invitation is red, placed in a red

envelope, and usually has gold, vertical wording read from right to
left with the groom’s information presented first before the
bride’s. The invitation also usually includes the following – Chinese
calendar dates for the wedding banquet, order of birth and names
of the bride and groom, names of the parents, dinner venue, time
for the cocktail reception, and time for dinner. The double
happiness symbol is usually found somewhere on the invitation.
 Traditional Chinese Wedding Dress | Qipao

• It is Chinese tradition for the bride to wear a red dress, called a

qipao and to cover her face with a red veil on the wedding day. In
Chinese culture, red symbolizes happiness, prosperity and good
luck. Today, modern weddings call for the bride to wear a white
bridal gown, and third ball gown throughout the evening. Many
modern brides also change into a fourth dress at the end of the
ceremonies to send off their guests.
 Chinese Wedding Banquet

• This is a very lavish and usually expensive affair. Guests will sign their names in
a book or on a scroll to present their gifts. Once the dinner begins, the bride
then changes into a traditional red Chinese wedding dress. In traditional
Chinese culture, both sets of parents would have separate wedding feasts.
Many foods are considered symbolic in Chinese culture, like the whole fish for
abundance, and sweet lotus seeds for dessert, which symbolizes a wish for
fertility. There are usually six courses during the banquet, and both the bride
and groom change will clothing between the third and sixth courses.
 Three-day Symbolization

• Three days after the wedding, the bride and groom visit the bride’s family. At this time, the bride is no
longer considered a part of the family but still welcomed as a guest. The groom is expected to present a
roasted pig and enjoy a meal with the rest of the family.
• Color
In China, red signifies joy, love and prosperity and is a popular color for wedding attire and decorations.
• Date
The date for a Chinese wedding is chosen according to the lunar calendar. The day and month must be
lucky and fit well with the couple’s astrological signs.
• Time Frame
It is customary for a marriage to begin on the half hour rather than on the hour. This ensures that the
hands of the clock are on an upswing for the first minutes of the couple’s life together.
• Symbols
The Chinese symbol for double happiness is used in decorations, on invitations and on money envelopes
for a Chinese wedding, and is an important aspect of ensuring a happy marriage.
Post-Wedding

• The day after the wedding, the bride usually prepares a breakfast
for both families. She will receive a small gift from older relatives
as she is formally introduced to the groom’s family and they will
proceed to give the bride a formal title within their family.
Moldovan Weddings