Customs and Traditions

Chinese culture is often superstitious, so for as many auspicious aspects of a wedding that must be tended to, there are as many taboos and things to avoid. Some of these involve the bride and groom themselves, others are important for guests, and some include the décor or arrangement of activities.

Chinese weddings are filled with all sorts of playful customs to make the day as memorable and fun as possible. One such custom is the traditional bridal chamber party on the wedding night.

If your friend or family member is getting married and the couple has chosen to host a traditional Chinese wedding, you may be wondering how should you greet the couple on the big day. What are all those Chinese words and phrases being cast happily at the couple? China has a strong culture of idioms and proverbs, so there are many auspicious sayings that are traditionally used at weddings.

Flowers are both important and extremely meaningful in Chinese culture and are heavily incorporated as decoration in traditional Chinese weddings. As in the West, each flower carries with it a distinct meaning. When planning a Chinese wedding, it is important to choose flowers that are both beautiful and culturally appropriate.

In ancient China, before the advent of cars or even bicycles, sedan chairs were used to carry people from place to place. Sedan chairs, or jiaozi, were small boxes or rooms big enough to seat one or two people, which were carried by several pallbearers using long poles that protruded from the box.