Weddings require lot of planning and preparation. Wedding ceremonies tend to differ from country to country, culture to culture and couple to couple. A couple’s choice of wedding ceremony depends on personal beliefs, religion, culture and personal preferences.

For the Chinese, there is no better way to celebrate the union of Chinese partners than with a grand and highly ceremonial Chinese wedding.

History of Chinese Weddings

Chinese weddings have a history that spans over 2,400 years of customs and traditions. Today’s Chinese weddings are credited to the academics and scholars from the Warring States period. The main basis of a traditional Chinese wedding comes from the crucial texts in the “Book of Rites,” the “Baihu Tong Three Covenants and Six Rites,” and the “Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial.”

Rites and practices mentioned in these texts were considered all-important elements needed for a successful marriage; however, these combined rites became so elaborate and complex that necessary revisions and alterations were made to make the Chinese wedding simpler.

What remained intact out of all these practices was the general goal of bringing together two families and ensuring great familial wealth, happiness and numerous descendants.

Traditional Chinese Wedding Customs

Traditionally, Chinese couples were brought together through an elaborate process of proposal and acceptance. A go-between acted as the buffer between the groom’s and the bride’s families.

Negotiations are first made between both families, and then gifts are given to the bride-to-be and her family. The groom’s family would then ask their ancestors to give omens to stop the wedding should it prove to be a fruitless endeavor. Should no contestations be met, information about the couple is presented to an astrological expert to confirm the couple’s compatibility.

When the heavens agree, the bride’s family undergoes the same process. If all the outcomes are favorable, then both families meet and the couple becomes betrothed.

During the betrothal, gifts are once again exchanged between the couple’s families. Engagement tokens are later given, and the date of the wedding is finally set for an auspicious day that has been suggested by the family of the groom-to-be. A couple’s betrothal may last for a year or two, sometimes longer or shorter depending on the couple’s arrangement.

Before the actual wedding, the bride experiences a “retreat to the cock loft,” where she spends the night with her closest friends. The bridal bed is also installed at a lucky hour by the good luck man or woman. After the installation process, the children are invited to spend time on the bed as a symbol of fertility.

The bride also experiences the Hair Dressing ritual, in which her hair is styled for good luck. The groom undergoes the Capping ritual.

A procession then takes place, beginning at the groom’s house and moving to the bride’s dwelling place. The bride, carried by the daijin, is brought to her groom. Fireworks are used to keep evil spirits away from the blushing bride-to-be as she makes her way to the groom’s house.

Once she gets there, the bride and the groom partake in a simple wedding ceremony held in front of the family altar where the couple is expected to pay homage to the Heaven and the Earth.

Traditional Chinese Wedding Garments

The cheongsam is no doubt one of the most popular articles of Chinese clothing available. Cheongsams or qipaos are considered the epitome of Chinese female clothing in China and in Hong Kong. They are characterized by a form-fitting, one-piece design and unique Nehru collar. The cheongsam is the perfect wedding dress for the modern Chinese bride.

For brides and grooms who are looking for wedding attire that’s both elaborate and elegant, there’s the Hanfu. The Hanfu, also known as the Chinese silk robe, refers to the multi-layered historic clothing worn by the Han people prior to the Qing dynasty. It can be worn by the traditional Groomsman or traditional Chinese bride.

Common Contemporary Wedding Practices:

Today’s Chinese couples choose to go for something a little less extravagant compared to traditional Chinese weddings. Modern-day Chinese weddings are still set for auspicious wedding dates with the help of either a fortune teller or an astrological expert, but most young couples today choose to forgo steps like the “installation of the bridal bed,” the “capping ritual” and the “hair dressing ritual.”

If you enjoy reading this article, you’ll surely be interested in learning The Guide To Weddings and how to prepare for marriage.

See the traditional chinese wedding ceremony done in modern times. Just watch the video below.