A Chinese Bride

Last weekend, my coworker, Elsie was married to her love, Gracen. Elsie was gorgeous in a high necked, capped sleeved wedding dress. I absolutely loved the lace & neck on this dress. Her dress looked timeless but still didn't lack the Chinese flare, the bling. Most Chinese dresses I have seen include touches of to entire bodices lined with the Chinese bling, large faux diamonds. Elsie's dress had touches of these around her waist, but they added to her classic look, without being too over the top or gaudy. This dress, she so loved, was rented. Most Chinese brides rent their wedding dresses. Wedding dresses are expensive, they're only worn once & they argue that they're too big to keep with such little space in their apartments, so renting is the way to go in China.  It makes sense but I'm not going to lie, I love that I still have my wedding dress & that I was the only bride to wear it & then "not" wear it our wedding night, if you get my drift. ;) In China, renting is normal, so of course they don't mind about any of those things. Elsie's dress also had a bit of a train, which she told me about a few days before. She was super excited about this! Trains are all the rage in China. Have you heard of the Chinese brides competing for the longest train title? They get crazy long & people spend ridiculous amounts of money to add meter after meter to their dresses. One bride just last week broke the record with a 3,000 meter long train (about 3 miles!!!). Elsie's train length was perfect, though. Have a look at this beautiful Chinese bride, Elsie, as she prepares for her big day.

 

 

Congratulations Elsie!

Photos by Grand Photography

Red Dresses & Congratulations Punch

Last Friday, I was invited to a Chinese wedding dinner of the art teacher at our school.

Never having gone to a Chinese wedding related anything I for sure had to go! 

As is custom, the bride wore red! Red is one of the most popular colors here in China! I can see why! Against her ivory skin and black hair, she looks awesome! 

In Chinese culture, there are tons of wedding festivities. 

These two had already had two weddings, one in his home town and one in hers, as well as other wedding dinners. 

This dinner was a "thanks" dinner especially for their current and previous coworkers. 

They had 6 rooms, one for each job they've had. 3 rooms full of his previous & current colleagues and 3 for hers. 

Teachers at our school.

In our office only 2 of us decided to go because as is also custom, you must bring a red envelope. 

And in China a red envelope equals money. 

The standard for a single person is about 200 yuan. 

But of course the better job you have, the closer you are to the couple, etc. 

the expected amount goes up.

Red envelopes are given for most major holidays and events. 

via

Ka Ching!

There was a box at the entrance, where the bride and groom stood, greeting guests. 

The red envelope I slipped into the box felt like our "ticket" to get in.

Dinner was great, of course. 

We had tons of Chinese dishes to pick from on the lazy susan in the middle of the table. 

Supposedly a famous Qingdao dish. A gelled something. 

Beef and hot peppers.

More goodness.

The bride and groom stayed on their feet the whole night, going from room to room, given toasts and being toast. {ya? being toast? Being toasted?? }

They probably were "toasted" from all the drinks they had to drink in the process! 

Every time they entered we all had to stand to receive and give toasts. 

The girls made a "Congratulations Punch" for the groom made of beer, wasabi, oil, and any kind of juices they could get off the plates of food. 

Deciding wether or not he should drink it with a spoon.

Being a true man he gang be'd {bottoms up!} the whole thing. 

The group of us from Grand School!

Catherine came as my date, instead of Zachary, who was a bum and didn't want to go.

Can you spot her?? 

We had a good time at our first Chinese Wedding dinner! 

Oh, I forgot! 

When we got there in Chinese everyone has to say,

"Have a baby quickly!" 

Like as a blessing or a well wish. 

This is the customary thing to say to a married couple in China.

Hahaha. 

Can you imagine?!

If people said that to me on our wedding day I would have freaked! 

I love finding all of these fun cultural differences!

Have an awesome weekend!