Going to a Chinese wedding, in China....
Discussion
Hi All,
Just a nothing thread really, but thought it might be of interest to some of you guys with an interest of the East.
I employ a couple of staff in China, who are marrying each other! Woo hoo!
Of course, we've been invited to the wedding, which is next Friday. We're off to China on Sunday morning.
Now, to give you guys an idea of how topsy turvy China is, I've seen the wedding 'photos already.
No, they're not married yet, but, I've seen the 'photos.
Apparently, it's the thing over there to have 'album' shots taken at a studio a month or so before the big day, so that you can put them on show at the wedding for people to coo over. Makes absolute sense, of course. The bride and groom are wearing different dresses/suits in each of the pictures, so god only knows what they'll be wearing on the day, mufti maybe?
Also, in honour of our being there, Mrs Maser has been asked to be a 'Wedding Sister', which is some way equivalent to a bridesmaid. There has to be 7 of them, no more, no less. The slight problem with this, is the bride (who is very pretty indeed), is about 4'2", and the groom about 3" taller than her. I'm about 5'11", but Mrs Maser and I are the same height.... I think Mrs Maser is a little worried about being at least a head taller (if not two) than everybody else there, but, we'll roll with it....
One of the roles of the 'wedding sister' is to make sure the groom doesn't have an easy time getting to the bride, after all, she's no soft touch, and he should love and respect her enough to try damned hard to get her down the aisle (as it were). For this reason, the bride, and her 'wedding sisters' stay at the bride's family home, and the groom comes to collect her. At this point, the wedding sisters say no, she is not so easy to just come and pick up, you must try harder, and we will protect her. (I think Mrs Maser won't say anything, well, maybe "bugger off" for what it's worth). Then, the groom, shows his love and devotion by bribing the 'wedding sisters' with trinkets and 'lucky money', to show he is a groom worthy of the magnificent bride. Eventually (hopefully), the 'wedding sisters' relinquish, and after a short but memorable struggle, the groom is allowed to get at his new bride. When I asked what I should be doing at this point, I was told to get outside and try to get the groom in.
I'm seeing a potential Battle Royal, but it all sounds quite sweet really.
This is all happening in a rural part of Southern China, and I've already been told that the locals will likely have never seen a Westerner before, so be prepared for a lot of staring. We've been there before, so are expecting this already, but we've never been to the countryside, only cities. It's a little odd, to walk down the street with kids following you at three feet away, in to shops, down back alleys, you really get quite a following, and that's in the cities, god only knows what the yokels will be like.
Poor Mrs Maser, she's going to stick out like a sore wotsit. They're all Chinese, about 4 feet tall, black hair, etc. Mrs Maser is tall, blonde, with blue eyes and a rather fair complexion. Now, I'm unlikely to blend in, but Mrs Maser....
Anyway, we'll be taking notebooks and diaries, for those odd little moments that you would otherwise forget, so if I can get internet access, I'll post again with some updates of how different things are.
I'm fully expecting something completely unexpected, like a brass band playing 'God save the Queen' or something, at least once, to be honest, the Chinese, lovely people that they are, are mad as a bag of Badgers.
So, quickly before I go, has anybody else on here ever been to a traditional rural Chinese wedding? Is there anything I need to know before setting off?
Wish us luck, I'm sure gonna need it, I'm a vegetarian....
Just a nothing thread really, but thought it might be of interest to some of you guys with an interest of the East.
I employ a couple of staff in China, who are marrying each other! Woo hoo!
Of course, we've been invited to the wedding, which is next Friday. We're off to China on Sunday morning.
Now, to give you guys an idea of how topsy turvy China is, I've seen the wedding 'photos already.
No, they're not married yet, but, I've seen the 'photos.
Apparently, it's the thing over there to have 'album' shots taken at a studio a month or so before the big day, so that you can put them on show at the wedding for people to coo over. Makes absolute sense, of course. The bride and groom are wearing different dresses/suits in each of the pictures, so god only knows what they'll be wearing on the day, mufti maybe?
Also, in honour of our being there, Mrs Maser has been asked to be a 'Wedding Sister', which is some way equivalent to a bridesmaid. There has to be 7 of them, no more, no less. The slight problem with this, is the bride (who is very pretty indeed), is about 4'2", and the groom about 3" taller than her. I'm about 5'11", but Mrs Maser and I are the same height.... I think Mrs Maser is a little worried about being at least a head taller (if not two) than everybody else there, but, we'll roll with it....
One of the roles of the 'wedding sister' is to make sure the groom doesn't have an easy time getting to the bride, after all, she's no soft touch, and he should love and respect her enough to try damned hard to get her down the aisle (as it were). For this reason, the bride, and her 'wedding sisters' stay at the bride's family home, and the groom comes to collect her. At this point, the wedding sisters say no, she is not so easy to just come and pick up, you must try harder, and we will protect her. (I think Mrs Maser won't say anything, well, maybe "bugger off" for what it's worth). Then, the groom, shows his love and devotion by bribing the 'wedding sisters' with trinkets and 'lucky money', to show he is a groom worthy of the magnificent bride. Eventually (hopefully), the 'wedding sisters' relinquish, and after a short but memorable struggle, the groom is allowed to get at his new bride. When I asked what I should be doing at this point, I was told to get outside and try to get the groom in.
I'm seeing a potential Battle Royal, but it all sounds quite sweet really.
This is all happening in a rural part of Southern China, and I've already been told that the locals will likely have never seen a Westerner before, so be prepared for a lot of staring. We've been there before, so are expecting this already, but we've never been to the countryside, only cities. It's a little odd, to walk down the street with kids following you at three feet away, in to shops, down back alleys, you really get quite a following, and that's in the cities, god only knows what the yokels will be like.
Poor Mrs Maser, she's going to stick out like a sore wotsit. They're all Chinese, about 4 feet tall, black hair, etc. Mrs Maser is tall, blonde, with blue eyes and a rather fair complexion. Now, I'm unlikely to blend in, but Mrs Maser....
Anyway, we'll be taking notebooks and diaries, for those odd little moments that you would otherwise forget, so if I can get internet access, I'll post again with some updates of how different things are.
I'm fully expecting something completely unexpected, like a brass band playing 'God save the Queen' or something, at least once, to be honest, the Chinese, lovely people that they are, are mad as a bag of Badgers.
So, quickly before I go, has anybody else on here ever been to a traditional rural Chinese wedding? Is there anything I need to know before setting off?
Wish us luck, I'm sure gonna need it, I'm a vegetarian....
ked!
maser_spyder said:
Eventually (hopefully), the 'wedding sisters' relinquish, and after a short but memorable struggle, the groom is allowed to get at his new bride. When I asked what I should be doing at this point, I was told to get outside and try to get the groom in.
I'm seeing a potential Battle Royal, but it all sounds quite sweet really.
Sounds like it could be a giggle. Use your imagination for a bit of fun and something to remember. I'm seeing a potential Battle Royal, but it all sounds quite sweet really.
As for walking down a rural village, chances are everyone will think you and Mrs Maser are ghosts. They might also say racist things so hopefully you don't speak a word of Mandarin so you won't be offended.
Was in Shanghai and Fuzhou most of last year. I know what you mean about the not blending in. Not so bad in Shanghai as it is a big metropolitan city but definitely Fuzhou.
The countryside as you say will be a different ball game.
I have seen some wedding videos of the sharade that you talk about. My girlfriend who is Chinese insisted we visited her friends and I saw a few of their wedding videos.
Its all a light hearted afair to be taken with a pinch of salt....so just relax and have a laugh really, that is the type of mood and information I got from the videos I've seen.
The pre-wedding photo shoots they do is a really good idea I think. They have some really nice pics taken of different situations, locations and clothes etc. and they send them out to their family and friends. Makes a refreshing change than the usual infront of a delapidated church in the pouring rain pics that are common here in England.
In the rural areas do be careful with the food. Just a quick check to make sure things are cooked fully before putting them in your mouth is all that is needed really.
Have a good time !
The countryside as you say will be a different ball game.
I have seen some wedding videos of the sharade that you talk about. My girlfriend who is Chinese insisted we visited her friends and I saw a few of their wedding videos.
Its all a light hearted afair to be taken with a pinch of salt....so just relax and have a laugh really, that is the type of mood and information I got from the videos I've seen.
The pre-wedding photo shoots they do is a really good idea I think. They have some really nice pics taken of different situations, locations and clothes etc. and they send them out to their family and friends. Makes a refreshing change than the usual infront of a delapidated church in the pouring rain pics that are common here in England.
In the rural areas do be careful with the food. Just a quick check to make sure things are cooked fully before putting them in your mouth is all that is needed really.
Have a good time !
Having just said all of that, and saying the place is rural....
I've just checked out the largest local town, Meizhou;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meizhou
Population: 5 million.
That is, basically, 5 times the size of Birmingham. Bloody China, I'm confused already!
I'm sure it will be 'rubbery', we've been to Chinese cities before, but they've been the larger ones rather than smaller, more rural (!!) places, where westerners (and arabs, russians etc.) are fairly common.
I know we're not exactly tall (although Mrs Maser's brother is 6'7", lucky he's not going), but compared to this lot, we're bloomin' giants!
I'll get some piccies and make some notes, I'm almost certain they'll be an 'oddity' per hour that's worthy of note.
From previous experience;
Baked Frog in Garlic on the menu
In Pizza Hut (getting some western culture...), watching a Chinaman eat a pizza with spoons. No hands, just two spoons.
A guy delivering 10 sheets of 8' x 4' plywood, pedalling along on a push-bike with the whole lot hanging off the rear mud guard.
A troupe of waiters and waitresses singing 'YMCA', impromptu, in a random restaurant.
Being served some green vegetable in soup in a tureen, given a bowl each, then some chopsticks laid on top of the tureen....
I've just checked out the largest local town, Meizhou;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meizhou
Population: 5 million.
That is, basically, 5 times the size of Birmingham. Bloody China, I'm confused already!
I'm sure it will be 'rubbery', we've been to Chinese cities before, but they've been the larger ones rather than smaller, more rural (!!) places, where westerners (and arabs, russians etc.) are fairly common.
I know we're not exactly tall (although Mrs Maser's brother is 6'7", lucky he's not going), but compared to this lot, we're bloomin' giants!
I'll get some piccies and make some notes, I'm almost certain they'll be an 'oddity' per hour that's worthy of note.
From previous experience;
Baked Frog in Garlic on the menu
In Pizza Hut (getting some western culture...), watching a Chinaman eat a pizza with spoons. No hands, just two spoons.
A guy delivering 10 sheets of 8' x 4' plywood, pedalling along on a push-bike with the whole lot hanging off the rear mud guard.
A troupe of waiters and waitresses singing 'YMCA', impromptu, in a random restaurant.
Being served some green vegetable in soup in a tureen, given a bowl each, then some chopsticks laid on top of the tureen....
Definitely start with some accent jokes.
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