Wedding traditions are different in China than in Western cultures.  Most Chinese weddings are held in a fancy restaurant.  Guests are seated at 10-12 person large round tables with nearly table-sized lazy Susan, in the center are bottles of Coke, Sprite, juice, red wine and baijiu (Chinese alcohol).  Wedding favors like candy and cigarettes are also located at each place setting.   Fireworks are set outside the restaurant just before the bride comes into the banquet hall.   There may be a few words given by a friend or MC, then a tea ceremony with both sets of parents, then a digital photo presentation of the couple’s story, then the bride and groom will begin to make their way around to greet guests at each table.   Servers will begin to bring out very unique Chinese dishes.  Guests will pour baijiu and toast with the couple as they come the the table, then each guest at the table will hand the bride and groom a red envelope with money (this is their gift).  At some point the bride will disappear and change out of her wedding dress into another banquet dress.  Then continue greeting guests until the couple has made their way around to each table.  The bride may change dresses 3, 4 or 5 times during the celebration!

Our friend, whose English name happens to be Susan, got married this past weekend.  She and her husband are believers and wanted a more Christ-centered Western-style wedding ceremony.  A very talented event planner at our school helped to organize a beautiful ceremony in which Megan was the flower girl.    The location was a new “wedding chapel” type place with outdoor courtyards.

The guests were so surprised when the fountains started up forming an archway for Susan to walk down.  
Maddie captured these neat photos with water droplets from the fountains.

Exchanging of rings and vows.

Wedding cupcakes for the guests

Megan and Susan