Let's talk Chinese Wedding Culture today. Though I am a Chinese, I don't know much about the chinese wedding culture. All I know is that it is all RED, GOLD and FANCY.
Joe is a Caucasian, and he is very interested in finding out everything about the chinese wedding culture. With my limited knowledge, I decided to turn to the internet for help. So, here is what I have gathered so far...
Three Letters and Six Etiquette
Three Letters
Request Letter: This letter confirms the formal arrangement of a marriage. It is sent by the groom's family to the bride's family. This letter is normally presented with the initial gifts for the bride's family.
Gift Letter: This letter accompanies the formal gifts for the Bride's family. It is actually a gift list that records the description and quantity of the gifts.
Wedding Letter: This letter is presented to the bride's family on the day of the wedding. It confirms the act of bringing the bride into the groom's family.
Six Etiquette
Request for Marrying the Bride: This is the most important thing in a marriage. After the groom's family has spotted a young girl whom the groom wants to marry, the family will hire a spokeswoman to communicate their wish to the potential bride's family.
Request for Bride and Groom's Birth Dates: The groom's family will request for the bride's 'Eight Letters' through the spokeswoman. That is the bride's name and birthday.
After obtaining the 'Eight Letters' of the groom and potential bride, a fortune-telling master will be hired to determine whether the two match each other.
Initial Gifts for the Bride's Family: If the potential bride's birthday is acceptable, the groom's family will request the spokeswoman to send some initial gifts accompanied by the gift letter.
Formal Gifts for the Bride's Family: The groom's family will pick a 'good day' and send the bride's family the following bridal gifts: gifts, cash, cakes and food and sacrifices for worshipping the ancestors. This act confirms the marriage agreement between the two families.
Select the Wedding Date: The fortune telling master, hired by the groom's family, will select a 'good day' according the bride and groom's and their family's birthdays.
Wedding Day: The groom will go to pick up the bride.
.... I am glad that I live in the 21st Century that the whole procedure of "Three Letters and Six Etiquette" is no longer popular and necessary.
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