by Tiffany Lott

Created on: December 01, 2008

Anytime you are attempting to plan a wedding of a different culture that you may not be intimately familiar with, it is always idyllic to research that information. You may find things of great importance, and you do not wish to insult those that may be attending your wedding, such as your in-laws, because you did not familiarize yourself with their customs. For example, Chinese have different views of the colors that we Westerners typically use. Of course, they have variances in their traditions based on status and region just as we do.

One example is the emphasis that is put on colors. In our society, when the bride wears white, it symbolizes virtue, but for the Chinese, it is a representation of death. Needless to say, they tend to refrain from including white in a wedding. Instead, they place quite an emphasis on the color red, which represents happiness and joy.

The bride commonly wears a silk, red gown known as a Qi Pao. This is a long, fitted dress with a high neck and slits up the sides to facilitate walking down the aisle. On the gown, symbols of various colors, such as gold or silver, are woven into the fabric, usually including the symbol of Double Happiness called Shuang Xi. This emblem is formed from two strong Chinese animals: the Phoenix and the Dragon. Standing alone, the Phoenix represents good fortune, luck, and strength; the Dragon alone stands for good fortune of energy as well as fresh beginnings (a good parallel with a marriage). The Dragon is a symbol that is combined with several other animals to symbolize various things; however, the Dragon united with the Phoenix represents victory, alliance, wealth, and love.

The groom also tends to wear a silk, tunic-like jacket that is fastened in front, and falls to the length of the hip or even as long as the knee. This male Chinese jacket is known as a Da Gua.

So, how do you find all of this information, and more? Well, you have already started in the right place. The internet can be a very useful tool when researching things you know little about. Just enter "Chinese Wedding Traditions" in the search engine, and hundreds of sites will appear at your convenience. Other sources could be books at your local library, or the easiest of all, would be to just consult with those around you who are familiar with the Chinese customs and practices. They will be able to better explain what is acceptable by their experience.

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