We recently had the privilege of participating in the wedding of some dear friends. They had a strong desire that their wedding (and marriage) would convey a special meaning, so they chose a hybrid of Chinese and Western traditions.
I reviewed the service with my interpreter,
the vocalist and accompanist prepared,
the guests arrived on time (surprisingly),
and one of the groomsmen got some last-minute nutrition:
Thankfully, everything went smoothly. It was sweet to see this couple exchange vows:
After the formal service, people took some random photos with the couple,
and a little girl chatted with Susan:
Traditional Chinese weddings are held at a nice restaurant. The guests are greeted at the entrance by the wedding party:
This restaurant had a beautiful view:
and some interesting food:
In traditional fashion, the couple showed deep respect to their parents:
In Western tradition, they lit a “unity candle”
then spoke to each other and their guests:
The bride changed to a traditional red dress and they visited each table to toast their guests:
If an appropriate red envelope is given to the couple, the groom is obligated to drink a bowl full of random hot sauces and drinks mixed by the table guests. Our table presented the challenge and the groom accepted:
Living in China can be difficult, but we are thankful for the relationships that we enjoy with special friends here:
That is a beautiful picture of y’all with the bride and groom! It looks like it was a lovely wedding!