chinese wedding tea ceremony

The tea ceremony is the most significant event in a modern Chinese wedding.

The bride is formally introduced to the groom's family through the Chinese wedding tea ceremony. It will usually take place on the wedding day when most of the family members are present.

If some members are not available, supplementary sessions can be conducted at the wedding dinner or at other convenient times and locations.

When will you serve tea?

The tea ceremony for the groom's side is usually in the morning once the couple has settled down a bit in the bridal home.

Traditionally bride is fetched to the groom's home before daylight. If it is really too early and the groom's relatives have not arrived for the tea ceremony, the couple can have a short rest or an outdoor photo-session while waiting.

Tea ceremony for the relatives on the bride's side is usually held in the afternoon when the couple complete the "bride's home visit".

In some family, the bride (and some will choose to do so together with the groom) may serve her parents tea in the morning before she is married. When she returns for the bride's home visit, she is already a married woman.

Order of service, grandparents or parents first?

The order of service is usually

• parents,
• grandparents,
• grand-uncles and grand-aunties,
• uncles and aunties,
• elder brothers and sisters,
• elder cousins

However, there are also families that prefer to serve the grandparents tea before the parents.

Within each generation, father's relatives are served before mother's relatives.

Which tea set to use?

The tea set in the bride's dowry is used for the ceremony. The groom's sister or a relative will assist in pouring the tea and washing the cups.

To kneel or not to kneel?

In very traditional family, the young couple is required to serve tea while kneeling down. Most modern family only requires them to bow while serving tea.

Man on the left and Woman on the right, RIGHT?

The bride will stand to the right of the groom. The male elder being served will sit facing the bride. The female elder will sit facing the groom. The bride and groom will bow to the elders and greet them by their formal title in the family while serving them tea.

When do you serve an extra cup of tea?

If a living member of the elder couple is absent, the other will drink on behalf of the absent spouse. However, tea is not poured out for a deceased spouse.

Chinese Tea Ceremony gifts presentation

After drinking the tea, the tea ceremony gifts for the bride and groom will be presented on the serving plate.

The gifts are usually in the form of red packets or jewelery.

Some relatives prefer the bride and groom to wear the jewelery gifts immediately and will even put it on for them.

With generous relatives, you may look like a Christmas tree after the tea ceremony!

Unmarried elder siblings will not present the couple with gifts after drinking the tea. The bride and groom will present gifts to the younger siblings and cousins who serve them tea.