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Chinese Wedding Frequently Asked Questions, for Brides & Groom
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When should
I start preparing for my wedding?
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How do I
choose an auspicious wedding date?
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I want to
have a Chinese wedding, but my in-laws are Christians, how can I combine a
church wedding with a traditional Chinese wedding?
|How
many dresses should I prepare for my wedding, and what kind of dresses do I
need? |
Some of the
Grand Gifts are hard to find, can I substitute with something else?
| Planner |
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You should
start preparing 6 months before the wedding. Since marriage in Chinese
culture is considered the joining of two families, you need to arrange a
proposal and betrothal meeting for parents from both families. You will
also need to make arrangement for wedding gown, banquet venue or church if
you so choose. (...back)
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You should
choose a even number date for the wedding. The more even numbers the
merrier, e.g., Saturday, October 28, 2004. Sometimes, people choose date
with special meaning, e.g. lunar calendar September 9th is a festival for
family reunion, and the Nine means "forever". (...back)
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In modern
China, more and more young couples favor a church wedding for its solemn
surrounding and the holly wedding vow. You may combine the two styles
together and cater to both families. First, perform traditional Chinese
rituals at home, e.g., hair-dressing ritual, tea ceremony, etc. Then after
the bride has served tea to her in-laws and bowed to the ancestral
tablets, proceed to the church to exchange wedding vows. After the
banquet, you can continue to have the traditional bridal chamber party at
the wedding night. (...back)
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The bride
change dresses a few times during the wedding while the groom changes once
or does not change. In the morning, the bride is usually dressed in
traditional Chinese wedding gown. She won't change until after she
has served tea to her in-laws. Then she changes to western style
white wedding gown for the ceremony in which the newlyweds will bow to the
heaven and the earth, the ancestor's tablets and to each other. At the
wedding banquet, the bride changes to a formal day time gown, and the
newlyweds will serve wine to every guests at the wedding. The last one is
a night gown she wears when she sees the guests off at the end of the
banquet. The groom usually is dressed in a Chinese men's traditional
gown in the morning, then change to cocktail suit before the banquet.. It
is also acceptable to wear a formal suit instead of cocktail suit.
(...back)
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Generally speaking, you can always
substitute Grand Gifts with cash, particularly named Li Shi, usually
wrapped in red envelope. The Li Shi money usually comes in $99 or $999, as
the pronunciation of Nine is the same as "long and forever." However,
presentation of Grand Gifts is a symbolic gesture of appreciation to the
bride's family for raising her and marrying her away.
(...back)
The following schedule is
meant to help you organize the weeks and months before your wedding. You
will find that being organized will not only help to save you money, but
will significantly reduce the stress and anxiety level surrounding your
special occasion.
|
6 months - 12 months before the wedding |
4
to 5 Months before the wedding |
2
to 3 Months before the Wedding |
1 Month
before the Wedding |
2 Weeks
Before the Wedding |
2 Days
Before the Wedding |
1 Day
Before the Wedding |
6 months - 12 months
before the wedding
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Inform
parents of bride's and groom's about the upcoming wedding.
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Formally
introduce parents from two families to meet and discuss the upcoming
marriage and wedding. The parents will decide which family pays for what
part of the wedding.
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Select a
wedding date and decide the wedding style.
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Decide
either to have a simple wedding, Chinese wedding or western wedding.
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Decide
on a wedding budget.
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Check on
your financial status and possible contribution from both families.
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Decide
the banquet style, venue and time, then book the restaurant.
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It's
important to decide and arrange the banquet long before the wedding to
avoid last-minute rush. Restaurant with great location and food runs out
fast in peak wedding season.
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Make
fitness and facial plan.
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Start
contacting stylist to make a practical plan to keep fit in the next six to
twelve months in order to display that glowing charm of the newlyweds.
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Either
buy or rent a new home , you need to start early. (...back)
4 to 5 Months before the wedding
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Contact
wedding host for your reception.
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A
wedding host is either a professional wedding coordinator hired from the
agency, or a respectable elder relative from either family. This wedding
host is responsible for the smooth procession of the wedding. If you
decide to have a wedding at the church, contact the pastor and ask for the
rules of church wedding, such as documents, decoration and photography.
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Book the
reception site if you want a church wedding.
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Draft guest list along with both parents.
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Start
selecting invitation.
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Draft invitation literature, decide on design and price. You may print the
directions to your wedding reception site. Note: you need to proofread the
content before having the shop print all copies.
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Invite
bride's maids and best men as well as party attendants.
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Decide
on wedding dress.
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Bride should decide weather you want the wedding gown tailor-made or
rented; collect fashion and style information; order or rent Chinese
traditional wedding gown, night gown, matching jewelries, headpiece, etc.
Groom should order or rent tuxedo or suit.
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Select
dresses and suit for bride's maids and best men.
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Choose a
theme color of your wedding and then select dresses and design
accordingly. Usually you can take into account the color of your reception
site
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Design
on interior design of your new home, make a list of furniture and
accessories...Furniture & Interior design
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Select a wedding registry, choose wedding gift you want and inform
relatives and friends, if such service is available
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Make
honeymoon travel plan.
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Decide on travel budget, destination and itinerary; do research on local
weather, language and currency; check passport expiration date; apply for
visa.
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Pre-wedding medical check-up. (...back)
2 to 3 Months before the Wedding
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Go
to the marriage registration office to officially register.
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Groom's family purchase Grand Gift items.
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Bride's family prepares for dowry.
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Decide
on music and band.
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For
church wedding, consult with the pastor on chore, music and speech. For
Chinese wedding, contact respectable elder relatives to deliver greeting
speech at the reception.
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Book
photographer and videographer.
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Make
sure the duration of the service and amount of photo to be taken. Picture
session usually covers the bride's first emergence from her home till the
end of the banquet.
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Decide
on banquet menu, order wine or liquor.
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Book flowers for bridal bouquet, suit-front, church wrath and the car...Florist
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Book
wedding cake from the bakery.
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Intensive fitness care, including body fitness, facial and hair care.
Decide on stylist for wedding day make-up and hair-do.
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Purchase
travel accessories for honeymoon trip. ( ...back)
1 Month before the Wedding
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Proposal
& Betrothal Meeting.
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The
groom's family will present the Grand Gifts to the bride's family.
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The
bride's family sends over the dowry with inventory list.
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Decide
on final list of guests and party attendants.
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Decide
on ritual formalities to be performed at the wedding.
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Decide
on rehearsal time and location. Chinese wedding usually skips rehearsal.
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Decide
on the seating arrangement for the wedding banquet.
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Mail
invitations. Invitations to close relatives and friends are attached with
dragon-phoenix cake as a form of announcement.
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Try out
wedding gowns, make necessary alteration.
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Book
matching shoes for the gowns; try on jewelries, head piece, red veil and
other ornaments; buy underwear and gloves.
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Purchase
gifts for bride's maids, best men and party attendants.
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Contact
travel agent, book tickets and hotel for honeymoon. (...back)
2 Weeks Before the Wedding
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Confirm
with the pastor on the delivery of wedding documents.
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Invite
bride's maids, best men and party attendants to dinner.
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Confirm
banquet menu and the number of tables.
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Purchase
Guest Book, dragon-phoenix banner for signature and red envelopes for Li
Shi money.
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Try on
wedding hair-do, make-up and wedding gowns.
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Take
out-door wedding photos.
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Pack
accessories for moving to the new home 1 Week Before the Wedding
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Church
rehearsal, inform essential attendees.
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Decide
on one friend who will take care of the bride's personal belongings on the
wedding day.
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Bride
invites the sister's team for lunch. Groom invites brother's team for
lunch. Don't wait till the night before the wedding day to avoid
exhaustion. ( ...back)
2 Days Before the Wedding
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Confirm
with "good luck woman" on the date and time of hair-dressing ritual.
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Order
roast suckling pig for Three-Day Return visit to the bride's home.
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Explain
wedding details to parents and party attendants, confirm everybody's duty
at the wedding.
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Decorate
the church or reception site, and banquet site.
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Shave,
manicure, and facial.
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Prepare
enough cash for church, restaurant, open-door Li Shi, tips.
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Prepare
iron board, iron, mirror, needle and thread for emergency.
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Remind
the guests and party attendants by phone.
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Pick up
air-tickets, packing for honeymoon trip. ( ...back)
1 Day Before the Wedding
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Bride's
hair-dressing ritual performed by "good luck woman" or elder female
relative.
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Send out
wedding procession list and seating arrangement form.
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Pack
accessories for the wedding.
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Confirm
with stylist and hair dresser and photographer for time of arrival.
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Take a hot bath or apply aroma therapy.
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Go to
sleep early. (...back)
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