Weddings in China have a long history of Chinese traditions. The traditions practiced today are done so in honor of family value and respect. Chinese weddings are less about the couple, and more about celebrating and thanking the families who raised the bride and groom.

Introduction

Parents of the bride and groom are involved in the marriage from the beginning. It is tradition for the parents of the bride and groom to meet and set a wedding date that will be good luck. Gifts are given by the groom's family to denote fertility and prosperity. Now, the bride and groom are officially engaged.

Before modern times, Chinese women were not allowed to choose who they wanted to marry. This was done by her family and was based upon the needs of reproduction and honor. Now, women are free to choose who they want to marry. However, a bride price is still expected. In recent years, bride prices have become expensive. Often brides ask for apartments and cars.

Hair Dressing Rituals

Hairstyling, or Shang Tou, is an important step because it denotes that the bride and groom have entered adulthood. The bride gets her hair done by a good-omen woman (a woman who's parents are still alive, is married, and has children) while uttering words of good luck. The groom also receives a "capping" ritual, as well.

Bride's Attire

Today, there is more than one dress that the bride will wear. The first is the a white dress with a veil, worn during the ceremony. The second is a traditional Chinese wedding dress, worn during the banquet. Some brides choose to wear the traditional Chinese red and gold wedding dress exclusively.

Chinese Door Game

Before the ceremony, the groom and his groomsmen go to the bride who is behind a locked door with her bridesmaids. The groom must perform whatever it is the bridesmaids tell him to do. This can be anything from singing a song to answering questions about the bride to prove he loves her. The groom will try to buy his way in by presenting "Li Shi", which is money packed in red envelopes.

Chinese "lucky" red envelopes.

Ceremony

During the ceremony, the couple exchanges vows. Traditionally, the bride and groom kneel or bow at the family altar and pay respect to heaven and earth, to ancestors, to parents, then to each other.

Bowing and paying respect is done to gain approval of the marriage from gods, divinities, ancestors as well as from parents, older generations, relatives and neighbors in the mortal world.

Tea Ceremony

After the ceremony, the bride and groom serve tea to their parents. This is a sign of respect and gratitude to their families.

After they finish drinking the tea, the parents bless the newlyweds and give them a gift of 24-carat gold. Money in red envelopes is also customary.

Tea is a symbol of purity, stability, and fertility.