In the Chinese wedding tradition, everything has to be done at specific time for the sake of the couple to have a happy marriage.
Schedule of the tea Ceremony works around the below 2 times. That mean the time frames that the couple has to leave the bride’s house and enter the groom’s house respectively.
Walk out time 出門時間
Walk in time 入門時間
These are picked by a Sifu based on the dates and times of birth of both family(Bride, Groom, both sides parents).
After makeup and hair done. Photographer will start taking photos for the bride to put on her QunQua. The bride will wear the red pyjamas for this. The Qun Qua set will be put on by the help from bridesmaids and bride’s mother. Putting on the skirt is often help by bridesmaids’ and jacket will be completed by the bride’s mother. The bride will then hide in her room until the games is done. (Solo photos of the bride often be taken in her room at this time)
Red packet for door opening 開門利是 (5 mins)
The groom and his team arrive at the bride’s house.
Bridesmaids stop them at the gate and ask for red packet
If the amount(money amount sometime discuss in advance to save time) in the red packet is accepted, the bridesmaids will open the door for the groom’s team.
Game (10-20 mins)
The games prepared by bride’s team often require physical strength or answering questions about the couples
Those games that look funny on photos are often picked (Funny dance to video, yoga poses etc.)
Love Declaration 愛的宣言 (5 mins)
After (winning/ passing?) all the games, the groom will read his love declaration to the bride who is still behind the door
It is sometimes prepared by the bride’s team or written by the groom.
If the bride accepted, the door will be opened and she will be taken out by her father/parents
The Tea Ceremony starts after the bride’s father pass the bride’s hand to the groom.
Tea Ceremony at the Bride’s House(20-30mins depending on how many family members will need to be served)
Things to be prepared
Tea - One lotus seed and one red date in each cup (mostly 4 cups per set)
Kneeling Cushion
Jobs
Lucky Lady / Bridesmaid A - say the blessing phrase at each step when drinking tea
Bridesmaid A - Pass the tea to the couple
Bridesmaid B - Pass the tea to Bridesmaid A
Bridesmaid C - Wash cup and prepare Tea
Bridesmaid D - keep extra gold ornament and red packet for the couple
Tea Ceremony start with the couple serving tea to the bride’s Parents/ Grandparents
The couple kneel down on the red cushion in front of the parents
Bride serves tea to her mother (with Lucky lady saying blessing phrases)
Groom serves tea to his mother-in-law (with Lucky lady saying blessing phrases)
Bride serves tea to her father (with Lucky lady saying blessing phrases)
Groom serves tea to his father-in-law (with Lucky lady saying blessing phrases)
Parents will then give the Gold ornament(mostly a pair of gold bracelet for the bride and gold ring/necklace for the groom) and red packet to the couple as a blessing.
Then repeat the steps with other family member in the bride’s house. This has to be completed by the Walk out time 出門時間.
Walk out 出門 (5-10mins)
The couple has to walk out the bride’s house before the walk out time.
One bridesmaid will hold a red umbrella for the bride when walking out
The bride’s and the groom’s team will throw red rice over the umbrella after they have left the bride’s house
Transportation (15-30 mins depending on distance. Many couple now book 2 rooms in hotel to save time)
Walk in 入門 (5 mins)
The couple will enter the groom’s house by the Walk in time 入門時間
The groom will say he has got his bride loudly to the family
Tea ceremony will start if no other family tradition
Tea Ceremony at the Groom’s House(20-30mins depending on how many family members will need to be served)
The couple kneel down on the red cushion in front of the parents
Groom serves tea to his mother (with Lucky lady saying blessing phrases)
Bride serves tea to her mother-in-law (with Lucky lady saying blessing phrases)
Groom serves tea to his father (with Lucky lady saying blessing phrases)
Bride serves tea to her father-in-law (with Lucky lady saying blessing phrases)
Parents will then give the Gold ornament(mostly a pair of gold bracelet for the bride and gold ring/necklace for the groom) and red packet to the couple as a blessing.
Then repeat the steps with other family member in the Groom’s house. These complete the whole Tea Ceremony as Walk in 入門
These step often complete in the morning of a day followed by lunch with the family or next activity(church ceremony/ civil ceremony/ cocktail/ banquet). Sometimes it is simplified by skipping all the games and only serve tea to both side parents.
Although there are some variation at every wedding, here are some traditions that mostly followed at weddings that I have worked at.
Bride’s mother putting on the Qunqua for the bride
Real gold bracelet and red packet gifted by parents
Walk out time 出門時間 and Walk in time 入門時間 picked by Sifu
And there are something that are sometimes simplified
No game
Regular tea was served with no lotus seed and red date
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