Invited to Chinese Wedding

Re gift, avoid any thing with contains "4" I heard, last time I was busy to attend the wedding of an office girl, so I intended to put $400 in a red envelop to send up along with others girls, they were shock and told me either $300 of $500. Advice taken but I feel it's very strange!

that is only becasue the pronounciation of the number 4 in cantonese has similarities to the cantonese word for death, you may notice that some buildings have no fourth floor.

...or 14th! And to cover both camps the building I live in has neither a 14th floor nor a 13th floor. And the room numbers on each floor also jump from **12 to **16.

Foolonahill said he/she is just attending the ceremony at the church.... not going to the banquet !


Anyways, if you are going to a ceremony at a church. It tells you something... this couple is doing it the western way. But the typical chinese way is to pick up the bride in her "kwa" (red dress), then go to the groom's place to give " tea" to the new in law parents.... this is actually the traditional ceremony. It's the MOST important ceremony to many chinese families. After the tea ceremony at both families and parents.... it's actually consider that the couple is married already (chinese way). b/c that's the way they did it in the ancient chinese days.


With Church ceremony, typically after the couple exchange vows, then photos, then bouquet toss, then friends and families give good wishes, and departs until banquet time.


With your gift/money- Buy a nice card or moneyholder card, insert your money or a gift cheque from the bank ( it's actually nicer).... but doesn't matter, money is money, it's welcomed in all shape or forms. Put the money in a red envelope and put inside the card.


Last I heard, if you know this person well, then $ 500 is the typical standard amount.

If you're only going to the church ceremony, you don't need to give money red packet. Just a card and small gift will do if you don't know her well