Customs and Traditions

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.

So, the big day is over and you’ve been blissfully married to your love. Now what? Though the chaos of the wedding day might be over, there’s still more to come. Chinese tradition stipulates that several rituals be performed in the days following the wedding ceremony to make sure that appreciation has been shown to both the bride’s and groom’s families.