Chinese weddings are very popular in Thailand, especially among Thai Chinese. These ceremonies can be very elaborate and lavish, from the preparations to the actual wedding banquet. It is a very lengthy and complex process.

Before the wedding

Wedding preparations begin with the bride retreating to a secluded part of the house with her closest friends. There, she sings and laments her impending separation from her family. This often takes place in the attic, and the moment the bride reappears on the wedding day is commonly referred to as "coming out of the attic."

Secondly, the groom must prepare the bridal bed before the wedding. A man or woman sets up a newly purchased bed, symbolizing many children or spouses and promising a prosperous future. Once the bed is ready, the children are invited onto it as a symbol of fertility. The more children, the stronger and more fruitful the omen. The bed is also sprinkled with fruits such as peanuts, seeds, and oranges.

wedding anniversary

The transition of the bridal couple into adulthood is a very important part of the wedding rituals. The bride undergoes a hair-styling ritual, while the groom puts on his cap.

The hair-styling ritual takes place on the morning of the wedding day or the night before. The bride bathes in pomelo-infused water to cleanse herself of evil spirits and prepare her skin for the wedding. She then sits before already lit dragon and phoenix candles. A good luck charm accompanies the ritual, styling the bride's hair while reciting words befitting a married woman. Once her hair is styled, the bride, carried by the good luck charm, emerges from her seclusion. She wears red shoes, symbolizing joy, as well as a skirt and jacket. Her face is covered by a red veil suspended from the bridal phoenix crown.

The bridal headdress ritual begins with the groom wearing a long gown, red shoes, and a silk sash, which also symbolizes joy. The groom kneels at the family altar while his father places a headdress adorned with cypress leaves on his head. The groom bows to heaven and earth, as well as to his ancestors, parents, and all other family members present. The father then places the silk ball from the groom's sash onto the litter.

Once the ceremonies, including putting on the headdress and styling the hair, are complete, the bride is given away to the groom. The start of this process is announced by loud gongs and drums. These announce the groom, who leads the procession, usually with a child symbolizing his future son. The groom is also accompanied by the bridal litter, wedding guests, musicians, and so on. Upon arrival at the bride's house, the groom and his entourage must present the bride's family with red purses to negotiate their agreement to release the bride to the groom. The ceremony varies from family to family. The ceremonies are always highly symbolic and of great importance to the Chinese wedding.