Chinese Paper

Red at Chinese WeddingsRed is the color theme of traditional Chinese weddings. It symbolizes love, joy, and prosperity. A Chinese brides wedding gown is often red, as are the wedding invitations, gift boxes, and envelopes for gifts. Even the homes of the bride and groom are decorated in red on the wedding day.Chinese Pre-wedding eventsBefore the wedding a Chinese bride goes into seclusion with her closest friends to symbolically mourn the loss of her family and friends. Often the grooms family will bring wedding gifts to the brides house in red boxes and baskets. One of the gifts will contain " "milk money". Other gifts will be personal gifts for the bride. Three days before the wedding the bride’s family will go to the grooms house with gifts for his family.Chinese Wedding DayThe day a Chinese wedding is carefully chosen to line up with astrological signs. Chinese weddings also start on the half-hour so that the wedding can start on an upswing, while the hands of the clock are moving up.On the wedding day the groom is dressed by his parents. The groom will arrive at the brides house with a gift of cash to give the brides friends for letting her go. Sometimes the wedding couple will serve tea to both sets of parents to symbolically ask permission to get married. The bride and groom then leave for the wedding sight together.Chinese Marriage Ceremony and ReceptionA Chinese wedding ceremony is normally only attended by the couples’ immediate families. After the ceremony and before the reception the bride will host a tea ceremony for her in-laws. The couple usually goes to get the formal wedding pictures before they go the their reception.

Red envelopes are traditionally given by chinese people on days of celebration filled with money. Instead, we asked that all guests at our wedding participate in our ceremony by writing their wishes for our marriage on a card and placing it in the red envelope. The brides- and groomspeople walked down the aisle with baskets