From India to China, there are countless traditions to be celebrated at Asian weddings. Some are fun, while others may seem complicated, but they all add to the richness of a wedding. We spoke with Nicole Froelich, expert destination wedding planner who has pulled off picture-perfect nuptials in Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and more to learn about some of the most interesting wedding traditions across the region https://asianbrides.org/indonesian-brides/.
According to Chinese custom https://www.thesundaily.my/style-life/tips-to-make-long-distance-relationships-work-NE9240942, before a wedding is finalized, the couple will consult with a monk or fortune teller to choose a good date. They also take into account their birthdates to make sure they avoid unlucky dates.
Then, the groom’s family will go to the bride’s house to present the betrothal gifts (known as suan ming). These usually consist of items like food, clothes and gold jewellery.
This part of the ceremony is sometimes referred to as the ‘door games’ and is where the groom must prove himself worthy of marrying his bride-to-be. He does this by entertaining the bride’s family members with a series of entertaining games.
If the matchmaker is satisfied with the results of the suan ming, they will give their blessing and formally propose the couple. This is followed by the marriage ceremony and a feast.
The couple will then bow to the altar, either at their own home in a Shinto shrine or at a sanctuary set up for the occasion. The altar is filled with offerings of rice water, salt, fruits and sake – everything needed to sustain life. In return, the bride and groom will receive red envelopes or hong bao (Hong Bao in Cantonese) filled with money or jewellery from their family members.
