We got to experience another first this weekend--our first Chinese wedding! We were invited to attend one of Kevin's former teacher's weddings on Sunday afternoon, and it was quite an experience! We learned a ton. . .
For starters, you don't show up to a wedding "on time". While the invitation said the wedding was to begin at 3:18pm, it didn't actually begin until well after 4:15pm! (Luckily, we had been warned about this beforehand, so rather than just hanging out there waiting with everyone in tow, we arrived with the kids closer to 3:45 as suggested by our friends.) Secondly, weddings are usually (almost always) held in restaurants. Which makes the food aspect much more convenient than dealing with a caterer, for sure! Before the bride walked down the aisle, she waited in a sheer covered canopy at the back of the restaurant. Then, as the Rocky-style music began to play, the groom walked down the carpeted path to the bride and escorted her to the front of the restaurant. Everyone is chatting during this time, snacking some on the nuts and drinks that are at the round tables at which we were seated (except for Kevin, who was following Noah around as he explored at the back of the restaurant, being entertained by about a dozen Chinese restaurant workers who were all in love with him!) After the intro, there were a few other Chinese-ee things--like bubbles coming out of a bubble machine right next to the bride and groom's heads and a few flaming torches (rather than our typical unity candle). But then the pastor delivered the message (who happened to be a western friend of ours from the language school), which was pretty much what we're used to (except in Mandarin, of course!).
One of the other differences is that they serve the cake before the meal comes out. And then the food just keeps on coming! The servers just kept piling plate upon plate onto our table, stacking them three to four dishes high! There was a great deal of seafood, which is considered "fine dining" in China (even though the heads, scales, and shells are still left on!), and a lot of new dishes that we had never had before.
The bride wore a traditional white wedding dress, but then changed into a different bright pink dress for her "reception" afterward--where she and the groom went from table to table while their guests were toasting them. The Chinese culture also finds pale skin the most attractive--so they do everything they can both to protect their skin from the sun as well as using products to make their faces especially more fair. So we've noticed that brides put a LOT of heavy whitening make-up on their faces for weddings (and photos, in particular). This was no exception! Oh, and rather than bringing gifts, everyone brings these red envelopes that you put cash into for the bride and groom. Guess it makes bringing the presents home a lot easier!
We stuck around for about 3 hours and then left as the kids were reaching melt-down point. It was really fun, even though the kids were disappointed that there was no dancing. We had had a busy Saturday, trekking to Beijing in order to meet with a US friend for lunch. We laughed that we traveled for three hours--including two taxi rides, one high speed train, and three subways, just to go one-way there in order to have a lunch meeting for two hours! I don't know that we would have done that necessarily in the States! Our trip was a success, except maybe for the moment I looked down on the subway where we were all crowded around one pole to hold our balance as it moved along, only to find Hudson LICKING the pole. That's right. Licking it with his tongue. And this is after I think I'd already gone through a whole package of anti-bacterial wipes on their hands trying to keep the kids as germ-free as possible in such a dirty environment! I considered trying one on his tongue, but figured it would probably be counter-productive (or maybe worse?!). What goes through the mind of a three-year old, I guess we'll just never know!
The photos I'm including are of our family with the bride and groom, the table we sat at which was covered with food, the bride and groom with the bubbles and the flaming torches blazing, and me with my teacher this semester who has become such a dear friend.
