Chinese Weddings

October 1st is China’s National Day, and the whole country gets a week off. Since it’s one of the few long holidays of the year, many people choose this time to have their weddings. In fact, my own wedding took place during this holiday – time flies, that was already four years ago! As you might have guessed, today’s topic is all about Chinese weddings!

10月1日是中国的国庆节，全国会放七天假，由于这是一年中为数不多的长假期，很多人会选择在这个时候结婚。包括我自己的婚礼也是在国庆假期举行的，时间过得真快，那已经是四年前了！可能你已经猜到了，今天的内容与中国的婚礼有关！

First, let’s talk about the bride's favorite part before the wedding: the wedding photoshoot. The photoshoot usually takes place a month or even a few months before the wedding since photographers can be fully booked. Some couples choose to travel for their shoot, while others stay local, often splitting the photos between studio shots and outdoor locations. Chinese brides take their wedding photos very seriously, and most couples invest a lot of time, effort, and money to make sure they get pictures they’re happy with. Some photos are made into albums as keepsakes, others are framed and placed in their new home, and one is often turned into a large poster to greet guests at the wedding. If you ever get the chance to see your Chinese friend’s wedding photos – especially a Chinese girl's – make sure to shower them with compliments! Here are some phrases you can use:

• 你们照得太好看了！(Nǐmen zhào de tài hǎokàn le!) - You guys look amazing in these photos!

• 这张，你的气质好好！(Zhè zhāng, nǐ de qìzhì hǎo hǎo!) - This one, you look so charming!

• 我喜欢这个，感觉太美了，你们的动作也很自然！(Wǒ xǐhuān zhège, gǎnjué tài měi le, nǐmen de dòngzuò yě hěn zìrán!) - I love this one, it’s so beautiful, and you both look so natural!

• 这个场景太浪漫了，有种电影的感觉！(Zhège chǎngjǐng tài làngmàn le, yǒu zhǒng diànyǐng de gǎnjué!) - This scene is so romantic, it feels like something out of a movie!

首先我们来聊一聊准新娘在婚礼前最期待的部分：拍婚纱照。婚纱照一般会安排在婚礼前的一个月甚至几个月，因为有时候摄影师档期非常满。有人选择旅拍，有人会在当地的婚纱摄影店拍，即使在当地拍一般也会有摄影棚和室外两部分。中国女生对婚纱照非常重视，大多数情侣都会在婚纱摄影上花费大量的时间，精力和金钱，为的就是能够拍出令自己满意的照片。这些照片有的会制作成相册留念，有的用相框装起来放在婚房中，还会选一张做成海报当作婚礼当天的迎宾照。如果你有机会看到中国朋友，尤其是中国女生朋友的婚纱照，一定要努力夸🤭。下面的句子你可以酌情选择使用：

你们照得太好看了！

这张，你的气质好好！

我喜欢这个，感觉太美了，你们的动作也很自然！

这个场景太浪漫了，有种电影的感觉！

Modern young couples usually have their weddings in hotels, blending both Chinese traditions and Western elements. On the wedding day, the groom goes to the bride’s home (or to the bride’s hotel if she’s from another city) to pick her up, which is known in Chinese as 迎亲 (yíngqīn). During this process, the bride’s friends will set up some games and challenges for the groom, and only after he completes these tasks can he 'win' the bride.

现代年轻人的婚礼一般在酒店举行，仪式融合了中国传统和西方元素。婚礼当天新郎会去新娘家（如果新娘家不在同一个城市，会去新娘住的酒店）接新娘，中文叫迎亲。在这个过程中，新娘的朋友们会设置一些游戏和任务，考验新郎，新郎完成这些任务后，才能接到新娘。

After the groom picks up the bride and they arrive at the wedding banquet hotel, the ceremony takes place there. Besides exchanging vows, there’s usually a tea-serving ritual (敬茶 jìng chá) where the couple shows gratitude to their parents for raising them. In return, the parents give them red envelopes (红包 hóngbāo) as a gift.

新郎接上新娘到达婚宴的酒店后，婚礼仪式会在这里举行。仪式上除了新人互相致誓词，一般也会有向双方父母敬茶的环节，表达自己对父母养育之恩的感激，同时父母会回赠红包。

After the ceremony, the newlyweds will go around to each table to toast with their relatives and friends. As a friend, you can say to them:

• 新婚快乐！(Xīnhūn kuàilè!) - Happy wedding!

• 希望你们长长久久！(Xīwàng nǐmen chángcháng jiǔjiǔ!) - Wishing you a long-lasting marriage!

• 祝你们幸福美满！(Zhù nǐmen xìngfú měimǎn!) - Wishing you happiness and a wonderful life together!"

仪式结束后新人会向每桌亲戚朋友敬酒，这时作为朋友的你可以对他们说：新婚快乐！/ 希望你们长长久久！/ 祝你们幸福美满！

On the wedding day, the bride usually changes into several outfits. Typically, she wears a traditional Chinese xiuhe suit (秀禾服 xiùhé fú) for the bride-picking part, a wedding gown (婚纱 hūnshā) for the ceremony, and a different dress for the toasting session. The style of the toasting dress varies according to personal preference, with the qipao (旗袍 qípáo) being one of the most common choices.

新娘在婚礼当天会换几套衣服，一般在接亲时穿中式秀禾服，婚礼仪式时穿婚纱，敬酒服可能根据每个人喜好不一样大不相同，旗袍是常见的敬酒服之一。

When attending a wedding in China, we usually prepare a red envelope. Of course, with the popularity of mobile payments, many people nowadays simply transfer money through Alipay (支付宝 zhīfùbǎo) or WeChat (微信 wēixìn). The amount depends on your relationship with the bride and groom, and if you’re unsure about the appropriate amount, you can discuss it with friends who are also attending. Just remember to avoid the numbers 3 and 4, while 6 and 8 are considered more favorable.

在中国参加婚礼我们会准备红包，当然随着手机支付的流行，现在很多人也会直接支付宝或微信转账。金额根据你和新郎/新娘的关系而定，如果你不太确定多少合适，可以和一起参加的朋友商量着来。不过3和4这两个数字一定要避开，比较受欢迎的是数字6和8.

What I’ve mentioned today is just a common form of many weddings, but in reality, every couple's wedding will differ based on factors like region, personal preferences, and family traditions. Regardless, I hope today’s content has helped you gain a better understanding of Chinese weddings.

今天我所提到的只是许多婚礼的常见形式，实际上每对新人的婚礼都会由于地区，个人喜好，家庭传统等等有所不同。无论如何，希望今天的内容有帮助你更加了解中国婚礼。

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