Lap Chai仪式通常在婚礼当天之前的周末举行，从这一天开始直到婚礼结束的第二天，红色的彩旗或chye kee将被悬挂在大门上,表示该住宅即将发生吉祥的事情。通常，新娘和新郎的代表都已确定最终要交换的礼物清单，这些礼物因家庭而异。 传统的礼物包括一对红色的龙凤烛。如果没有龙凤烛,可以用红包代替。嫁妆还包括 “ wang tetek”，一套衣服，珠宝和食品。 一般的规则是，返还所提供的一半，并用其他类似产品代替； 或将其替换为具有相似或相同价值的衣服和配件。通常嫁妆会被归还， 如果嫁妆被拿走了，那么这笔钱就应该用于购买新婚夫妇所需的物品。
The Lap Chai ceremony is normally held on the weekend prior to the actual wedding day which may coincide with the prenuptial dinner hosted by the bride’s family. Officially, the red bunting or chye kee is hung at the main door beginning from this day up to the day after the wedding is over. The hanging of the chai kee indicates that an auspicious occasion is about to occur in that home.
In most instances, both bride and groom’s representatives had determined and finalized the list of gifts to be exchanged and these gifts may differ from family to family. Traditional gifts will include a pair of red candles emblazoned with dragons and another pair attached with the phoenix cutouts. The candles may be dispensed with and replaced with an angpow instead. Also included is the dowry and ‘wang tetek’ (breast money – money remitted to the bride’s mother for her breast-fed milk), a set of clothing, jewellery and foodstuff. A general rule to follow is to return half of what is given and replaced with other similar produce in the case of foodstuff and candles; or to be replaced with something similar or same value for articles of clothing and accessories. The dowry is usually returned as accepting dowry is akin to the parents selling their daughter. If the dowry is taken, then the money should be channeled to purchasing items needed by the cash strapped bridal couple.
