traditional chinese wedding

Its special, at least to me. A traditional chinese wedding is basically the tea ceremony, where the ceremony itself is chockful or traditions and quirks to follow. Of course, before the morning of the tea ceremony, there's the obligatory bachelorette night, at least in my case, because the one getting married this time is my cousin sister.

Nothing beats dinner under the stars, with the cool night air. If it rains, thats a completely different story, but lucky for us, there was nary a sign of rain.

For the helpers like us, the day starts as early as 7.30AM, as in you have to be there by that time, and not wake up by that time. But for the family of the bride, it starts much much earlier. If I'm not mistaken, my aunt woke up at 6.30AM, as did I, since I had to get ready to go there.

For a wedding like this, various things need to be prepared before anything actually starts. Don't think that a wedding runs like clockwork without the behind-the-scenes work do you?

There will be the work by the aunts, who are busy cutting up the snacks and stuff to feed the groom's best men, as well as the bridesmaids, who would already be there to help the bride, and their torture equipment, ready. (More on that later.)

The tea set for the ceremony to take place.

And the fireplace for the bride and groom to crossover, apparently to burn your bad luck away, I think.

The glutinous balls to be eaten, to signify a family that is long lasting together.

The deities of the house has to be prayed.

And the egg noodles, half of it to be eaten by the bride, and the rest has to be finished by any siblings the bride has.

The table outside has to be set with snacks and drinks for incoming guests.

And while everything is being done by family members, the bridemaids would be upstairs getting ready with the pretty dresses and makeup. After they're done, they would head down for breakfast first, as would the family, before the arrival of the groom at a designated, prosperous time. If they were to reach the area earlier, the car of the groom would have to wait somewhere else until said time, before he can come.

While the bridemaids will be having breakfast, the parents of the bride would go upstairs to the dressed bride for the veiling ceremony, for the veil to be placed over the bride, and then a picture taking session commences. But then again in a wedding, there'll be multiple picture sessions. xP

When the time reaches, the grooms car, all gorgeously decorated, would arrive with much pomp. That would include, the driver of the groom to honk as loudly as possible, and for a long time, to tell everyone that the daughter of the family is getting married. I find it quite a cute tradition actually, despite it being a complete and utter annoyance at wee hours of time such as 9am in the morning, but at the same time, very festive. xP

For the day of the wedding, the groom is not allowed to open the door of his car, so someone has to be on hand to open it for him, and thus the person who opens it will get an ang pow. Of course, for the day, the groom has to prepare a huge stack of ang pow? What for?
As bribe, because the bridesmaids has 'kidnapped' the bride, and the groom will only get his bride if he fulfills the requirements of the bridesmaids.

Though sometimes, its really humiliating for the tasks. The groom owes his groomsmen bigtime. xP

There are, of course various stages to pass through. Even after he gets through the gate, he still needs to pass through the room door where the bride sits behind waiting.

But the prize is always the sweetest, no? xP

They would come down after the picture session after the groom 'saves' the bride, and then they would do the necessary ceremonies.
Which includes praying to the heavens.

Praying to the deities of the house.

And then the ancestors of the family.

And then the proper tea ceremony proceeds. It starts with the eldest matriach of the family, usually the grandparents. My family only had my grandmother, so she starts first.

Proceeded by the parents.

And then they go by sequence, from the eldest aunt/uncle, to the youngest.

Then the bride and groom themselves sit, and the siblings would present tea to them, before followed by the cousins. But the cousins wouldn't need to present tea, just greet the new bride and groom would do.
Obligatory picture taking session.
And then the fireplace is prepared, the fire started and then let die to leave hot embers, before a pre-mixed of salt, tea leaves, and rice grains. Its scattered over the embers, and then the bride and groom has to step over it. The groom has no problems, but the bride...


Ooh sexy. xP

The bride and groom will get in the car, and the fan that the bride was holding previously? Thats an old fan. She would have to drop it outside of the car, and her mother would give her a new one. I'm not so sure what it symbolizes... away from the old family and in to the new? Since daughters are meant to stay with the husband's family once they get married.

The car will drive them once around the neighborhood, and then they'll come back again to drink the glutinous rice made for them.

Its symbolic to a long life of a family thats together. The crossing hands is just a request from the photographer, but heck its cuter that way? xP

And then the bride and groom would leave to perform the same ceremony at the groom's house.

Amusing? Interesting? I find it so. Traditions are well adored, and some very symbolic too. They shouldn't die down, just because its very amusing to learn.