现代的婚纱 Chinese wedding dress in modern time

中式的婚纱和装饰的设置主要为鲜红色，红色是中国人最喜欢的传统和神圣的颜色，因为它代表了快乐，活力，明亮和喜悦的情绪。此外，红色也被认为是驱使邪灵和好运的象征。 这与西方不同，西方的婚礼主要的颜色是纯白色和黑色。 中国北方的传统中式婚纱通常是一件旗袍，旗袍主要以红色为主，并绣有精美的金银色设计。 中国南方的新娘喜欢穿裙褂，因为裙褂精心装饰着金龙和凤凰，他们也常被称为龙凤褂（龙凤褂），即现代中国的龙凤褂。

The main color for Chinese wedding dresses is bright red. As you may know red is the most favored color by Chinese as it represents happiness, vitality, good luck and joy.  The traditional Chinese wedding dress in northern China usually is in one piece of frock named Qipao(旗袍), which it is  embroidered with gold and silver design. Brides in Southern China prefer to wear "two-piece dress" named Qungua or QunKwa(裙褂), as they are otfen elaborately adorned with gold dragon and phoenix,so they are often called longfeng gua(龙凤褂)or name as "dragon phoenix coat" in mordern China.

明朝婚纱(1368-1644) Chinese Wedding Dress in Ming Dynasty (1368——1644)

在明朝,结婚被誉为一种小型民事检查，所以新郎的结婚礼服是九级军官服装, 新娘服为凤冠霞帔。  凤冠是古代女性最尊贵的饰物, 新娘的凤冠霞佩包括凤冠，红色面纱，红色礼服，后代包，红色连衣裙，红色鞋等。 这件婚纱礼服被认为是所有中式婚纱中最经典，最具代表性的婚纱。

In Ming Dynasty, marriage was treating as handle a small civil case, hence the groom wear an officer’s costume as his wedding suit, while “feng-guan-xia-pei “ was the bride's wedding dress. The phoenix crown is the most valuable jewels for ancient women. The “feng-guan-xia-pei “ includes phoenix crown, red veil, red dress, bag,  red shoes and so on. The wedding dress can be considered as the most classical among others dynasty.

唐朝婚纱（618--907）Chinese Wedding Dress in Tang Dynasty (618——907)

唐朝婚纱结合了周朝婚纱的庄严和喜悦。 当新娘穿着绿色礼服时，新郎穿着红色礼服。 基于长发与花簪的修整，”钗钿礼衣”是在晚唐发展起来的。 服装的特点是有多层和长袖。 日本的和服是从这个婚礼服装发展而来的。 穿着这件婚纱，新娘必须搭配金属和珠宝制成的发夹。 唐代以后，精致的”钗钿礼衣”被简化了。

In Tang dynasty, the bridegroom wears in red while the bride wears in green dress. In late Tang dynasty, “chai dian li fu” become a famous and common wedding dress. “chai dian li fu”  is in long sleeves and has many layers. “Kimono” in Japan is inspired by the idea of “chai dian li fu”. To make the wedding dress look gorgeous, the bride has to match with a hairpin which is made from a lot of metals and jewels. At the end Tang dynasty, the “chai dian li fu” is being simplified.

周朝婚纱（公元前1046年 - 公元前256年）Chinese Wedding Dress in Zhou Dynasty (1046BC——256BC)

周朝的中式婚纱特点是谦虚和庄重。婚纱的颜色与后世不同。主色为黑色和浅红色，而晚年则是鲜红色。 新郎的头上戴着爵弁帽子，而穿着的玄端有两层，白色是内衣，黑色和浅红色是外套。 新娘穿着的纯衣纁袡，其中包括浅红色内衣和黑色外套。 此外，新娘必须用50厘米的发带和25厘米的发夹将头发绑起来。

The color of wedding dress for Zhou Dynasty is a bit different from the later generations. In the early of Zhou Dynasty, the main colors are black and light red, while in late Zhou Dynasty the wedding dress has change to bright red.  “jue bian” is worn on bridegroom’s head, and”xuanDuan” is worn on his body.”xuan duan”  has two layers, the white color one is the inner coat, while the black and light red color is the second layer coats. The wedding dress for the bride is called as” chun yi xun ran”. The inner coat is in light red and the second layer coat is in black. Besides, the bride must tie her hair with a 50 cm hair band and a 25 cm hair clip.

中式婚纱礼服的历史 The History of Chinese Wedding Dress

在中国古代历史上，每个王朝都有自己的婚纱礼服风格。 它可以分为3个主要类别：

在周朝，新郎服为”爵弁玄端”;和新娘服为”纯衣纁袡”;

在唐代，新郎服为”梁冠礼服”; 和新娘服为”钗钿礼衣”;

在明代，新郎服为: “九品官服”, 九品官服也被称为中国高级官员长袍。

In China ancient history, each dynasty has its own wedding dress style. It can be categories into 3 main categories which are:

In Zhou dynasty, they were 爵弁玄端 (pinyin: jue bian xuan duan) for groom and 纯衣纁袡 (pinyin: chun yi xun ran) for bride;

In Tang dynasty, they were 梁冠礼服 (pinyin: liangguanlifu) for groom and 钗钿礼衣 (pinyin: chai dian li fu) for bride;

In Ming dynasty , they were 九品官服 (pinyin: jiu pin guan fu) for groom and 凤冠霞帔 (pinyin: feng-guan-xia-pei) or called Chinese phoenix coronets and robes of rank.

15) 三朝回门 After 3 days of marry (San Chao Hui Men)

是婚后第三天，新妇由夫婿陪同下，带备烧猪及礼品回娘家祭祖。男家须带备烧猪一只﹝喻新娘的贞洁﹞、西饼两盒、酒一对、竹蔗两支、鸡一对、生菜、生果两篮、葱、伊面两盒、鸡仔灯笼金、猪肚及猪肉各两斤。给女家回礼的通常是男家送来礼物的一半，其中以烧猪最为重要，烧猪头、尾及手脚各一和猪舌半边，并放利是在烧猪盆上。

简化方法：

大部份可用利是代替﹝烧猪除外﹞，回门烧猪宜在女家附近订购。可于即日出门，或第二天回门，但却不可超过三天。而即日回门，是指新人在男家拜过天地及翁姑后，便即时返回娘家，进行回门的仪式，之后再返男家或直接到酒楼。事实上，即日回门的好处可省时省钱，一次过利用已租来的花车、裙褂，新娘亦毋须再另找发型及化妆师，又可在翌日开始蜜月旅程。

On the third days after marriage, the couple will go back to the bride’s house to pray her ancestor. Thing to bring along are: a roast pig, two boxes of cakes, 2 wine, a pair of sugar cane, a pair of chicken, lettuce, 2 baskets of fruits, onion, Lantern, two pounds of pork belly and pork. In return the bride’s family going to share the entire thing in half with the groom.

Simplified method:

All the thing which need to bring along can be replace by a red packet ”ang pow”.

14) 進洞房、坐財庫、食新娘圓 Ceremony in the bridal room

進洞房後，將米篩放在新床上，媒婆引領新人坐在墊有新郎長褲的圓椅上，意謂「坐財庫」，表示婚後兩人將同心協力。之後喝交杯酒、食新娘圓。湯圓數字以六為佳，好命婆先餵新娘再餵新郎吃，邊餵邊說吉祥話，之後新人再互換湯碗各吃一個

Tips.
新娘圓裡，可以放入紅棗、花生、桂圓、蓮子與湯圓一起煮，意謂「早生貴子」。

Inside the bridal room, a rice sieve will place on the bed. The matchmaker will led the couple to sit on the round chair with the groom's trousers, which means “sit in the treasury”, it also bring the meaning that the couple will work together after their marriage. After that, the couple has to drink a glass of wine and eat the “tangyuan”. A “lucky guy”(Hao ming ren) will feed the couple eat the “tangyuan” while saying auspicious words.

13) 进门 Arrived the bridal chamber

新娘子迎新车队到达新郎家时，由一位拿着橘子的小孩来迎接新人，新娘要轻摸一下橘子，并赠红包答礼。这两个橘子要放到晚上，让新娘亲自剥皮，意谓招来"长寿"。进门时, 若新郎还有未娶的兄长, 需在门前挂上1条长裤, 膜拜神明.

新郎的家人在进门的时候, 长辈都不迎接新人. 当新人进门后, 新郎的家人才迎接这对新人. 从女家带来的甘蔗, 分开绑在男家的打门口。

当新人抵达时, 新郎的家人将不迎接新人。在膜拜神明后, 新人将返回新房, 面朝房门坐在床沿, 新郎在左, 新娘在右, 像征双方平起平坐。

Tips.
1.請注意入房吉時。
2.火爐與瓦片的位置應放置在家門門檻外。
3.入家門時男方家長與長輩要迴避。
一說是因為怕煞到；二說是認為長輩在家中等候晚輩進家門不合體統。

When the couple reaches the bridal chamber, they are welcome by the youngest and a kid who holds an orange in his hand, while the elder have to stay inside the house. The bride has to slightly touch the oranges and give a red packet to the kid in return. The orange will be keep till evening and eat by her as a symbol of prosperity. If the groom’s elder brother is yet marry, he needs to put on trousers in front of the door to let the couple to pass under the pants. The sugar cane bought by the bride will be tie up separately at the front gate of the groom’s house. After praying and met the elder, than only the couple can go back to their room.

12) 出门 Go back to the bridal chamber

向父母三鞠躬, 表示恩重如山, 亲情深似海. 出门时, 新人应避免踩到门槛. 父亲会用一把红伞遮挡新娘, 母亲则把混合了 茶叶, 缘钱, 白米, 红豆, 绿豆, 菜籽等的打撒在新婚夫妇身上.. 新娘随后跟进, 然后去新郎的家.新人在离开家前, 岳父, 母会赐新郎1碗百合莲子糖水.岳父, 母会请新郎吃'鸡蛋茶'/”甜茶’, 新郎不可把它吃完. 若新娘还有未娶的兄长, 需在门前挂上1条长裤, 新人从裤下跨出门, 像征他们祝愿新娘的兄长财禄无疆. 新郎打开车门, 从右侧跨进车里.新人上车后, 新娘会把手帕丢掉, 像征抛离过往的童稚生涯与脾气, 从此改头换面做个好耐性的贤妻良母.

Tips.
1.有些家庭會以雞蛋茶取代甜茶。
2. 有一說法是新娘離開家門，直到乘車離去前都不可以踩到門檻及回頭。


After the ceremony, the parents in law will give the groom a bowl of lotus syrup and “egg tea” but the groom is requested not to finish all the “egg tea” as a meaning of good luck. Before leaving, the couple has to give 3 bows to the bride’s parent as a symbol of grateful. If the bride’s elder brother is yet marry, he needs to put on trousers in front of the door to let the couple to pass under the pants.  The bride’s father will use a red umbrella to help the bride block the sun, while the bride‘s mother will sprinkle the combination of tea leaves, money, rice, red bean, mung bean, rapeseed etc to the couple. The groom will step in the car from the right followed by the bride. After get in into the car, the bride will throw away a handkerchief as a symbol of throw away the bad temper.

11) 迎娶 Procedure during the wedding

游戏后…

迎娶:新人不能够脱鞋, 新娘先向新郎三鞠躬. 把一束襟花结扣在新郎大衣的翻领上. 新郎带著花束赠新娘. 新郎掀开盖著新娘脸的头纱, 亲吻新娘的脸颊. 双方交换结婚戒指, 膜拜神明. 烧猪交去厨房(只取中间部分), 其余的用红纸包好, 连同一件给新郎的裤(称为'女婿裤'), 2粒柑, 2粒苹果及1封红包, 一并送返准新郎的家。

After the game:

The couple cannot take off their shoes; the bride and the groom have to bow to each other for 3 times, the bride help the groom to pin a lapel flower on his coat, while the groom will pass the bouquet flower to the bride and threw back the veil covered on the bride’s face, and kiss the bride cheek. The couple will exchange their wedding ring. After the ritual is complete, the couple will pray inside the bride’s home. Part of the roast pig will leave at the bride’s house the rest will bring back by the groom, with pants, 2 oranges, 2 apples and a red packet(ang pow)

10) 迎娶前的游戏 Chinese wedding door games

新郎在迎娶他的新娘之前,通常须要通过一系列的有趣游戏测试, 来证明对未来的妻子的爱.

以下是我们将与您分享的一些游戏，这对您的新郎和伴郎来说肯定会有挑战性。

没钱，没宝贝！

游戏通常开始于新郎需要“贿赂” 她的伴娘。 新郎和他的兄弟们须与伴娘一起进行各种有趣的讨价还价游戏。红包的价钱通常是 RM888或 RM 999 ; 因为8和9是中国文化中的幸运数字它也意味着好运。 伴娘感到满意之后，才打开大门欢迎他们进入房子

酸甜苦辣

婚姻是关于两个人一起经历生活中的起伏和酸，甜，苦,辣。所以我们可以做些有创意的饮料或食物.你可以从中药店得到苦粉, 甜味可以用炼乳代替，苹果醋代表酸味，红辣椒可以 很好地代表辛辣。每试一种口味, 就要求新郎讲每一个与新娘联系的珍贵回忆.

问答环节

新郎必须正确的回答有关新娘的每一个问题。 对于每一个不正确的答案，新郎和他的随行人员必须要么仰卧起坐/或者要求新郎在结婚后做些什么。

跳Limbo

没有什么比观看一群成年男子试图在一根绳子或一块木头下面挣扎弯腰来得更有趣的了，而每一个通过的人都会得到人们的欢呼声。这是一个有趣游戏测试, 男人也可以通过游戏来证明对未来的妻子的爱！

爱的宣言 ：

就在新郎“迎娶”她之前，请新郎为新娘写一首浪漫的爱情诗,一份的信息，列出他爱她/她需要嫁给他的五个理由.

Tips.

1.新娘的姊妹朋友在闖關遊戲中故意阻饒新郎接新娘，為討吉利新郎會給予她們紅包，這舉動稱之為「討喜」。

Before the groom can claim his bride, he usually has to undergo a series of test in the form of fun game, also called "door games". In this section, the bridesmaids "ji mui" will pretend to prevent the groom & his groomsmen"heng dai" from taking the bride away from her home. This ceremony aimed to make the groom prove his love again to his future wife. Here are some games we are going to share with you that will surely be challenging for your groom and groomsmen.

No money, no honey!

The door games usually start with the groom needing to “bribe” his way to his loved one. The groom and his entourage have to go through rounds of fun bargaining with the bridesmaids. Choose your “Lai See” (red packet) carefully; $888 (8 is the lucky number in Chinese culture!) or $999 (the number 9 represents ‘eternity’ in Chinese) and so on are meant to represent good fortune. After the bridesmaids is satisfied with the Lai See amount, the gates open to welcome them into the house.

The Four Flavors of Life

Marriage is about going through ups and downs, through health and sickness – sour, sweet, bitter and hot/spicy (酸甜苦辣) –  together. Be creative and whip up some drinks or food that have each flavour – salt, sweet, spicy & bitter – you can get bitter powder from the Chinese traditional medicine shop, condensed milk can be the sweetness, apple cider vinegar represents sourness and red chilli is a good representation of spiciness. Spice it up by asking for the groom to associate a memory with the bride to each flavour. Prepare some water for the “Heng Dai” just in case the concoction becomes too strong for them.

  

Q&A

The groom must answer correctly every question asked about the bride and their relationship. For every incorrect answer, the groom and his entourage will have to either do presses or sit ups/or what the groom will carry out after the marriage.

  

Doing the Limbo

Nothing is more fun than watching a bunch of grown men try to limbo their way beneath a string or piece of wood while everyone one cheers them on through fits of laughter. It’s a challenge of how far a man will bend over for his loved one! 

Declaration of Love 

Right before the groom “picks” her up, ask him to write a love poem and prepare a romantic message to profess his love for his wife-to-be in the form of a love song. If he doesn’t consider himself as a love poet like Shakespeare or Taylor Swift, simply get him to list five reasons he loves her / she needs to marry him

9)到达目的地 Arrived the bride’s house

迎娶车队抵达新娘家前50公尺左右，应放鞭炮告知车队已抵达，女方家人听见鞭炮声响后，也要鸣炮回应。当主礼车抵达新娘家门时，由一名娶女方家中男童手持茶盘，上头摆放2颗橘子或苹果欢迎新郎，此时新郎要回赠红包给男童。迎娶队伍进入女方家后，女方家人为表示欢迎，需准备汤圆，甜茶供客人食用。新郎及兄弟在 新娘家门外喝茶稍侯，等待迎接新娘。

When the limousine arrived, the bride’s younger brother holds a tray with two oranges/ apples inside to welcome his brother in law. At the same time, he will receive a red packet (ang pow) from his brother in law in return.

8)大喜之日-出发之前 On the wedding day

点香膜拜神明. 妈妈为他穿上大衣. 捧一束花送给新娘. 新郎向爸爸妈妈三鞠躬. 步入事先装饰妥当的轿车, 与兄弟出发. 女家: 新娘的父母将拉下她的头纱, 盖住她的整个脸。

广东/客家: 随带一托盘全只烧猪（象征著新娘纯洁无瑕）及一封红包, 装有18粒柑和2袋花生的托盘, 2瓶洋酒, 2只鸡, 2片吊片, 2棵生菜, 2棵芹菜, 2棵青葱, 1瓶米酒(供祭祀新娘的祖先).

潮洲/福建: 随带一大对猪前腿, 8至12粒柑放进篮子里。

Tips.

1.出發前的迎娶用品如：車頭綵、米篩／黑傘、捧花。

2.迎娶人數包含新郎及親朋好友應為「吉數」，像是6位、10位或6的倍數。

The groom’s parents will help him put up his coat, and the groom gave his parent 3 bowing before departure. While for bride, the bride’s parents will pull down her veil to cover her whole face.

Guangdong / Hakka: Thing to bring along are: a tray of roast pig, a red packet (ang pow), 18 oranges, 2 bag of peanuts, 2 bottles of wine, 2 chicken, 2 dried squid, 2 Lettuce, 2 celery, 2 green onions and a bottle of rice wine as sacrificial to pray for the bride’s ancestors.

Teochew/Hokkian:  thing to bring along include a pair of pork front leg and 8-12 of oranges.