Emma & Corey
Tea Ceremony
What's a Chinese tea ceremony?
---
A tea ceremony is a Chinese tradition where the bride and groom serve tea to their respective families, including parents, grandparents, elder relatives and family friends. The couple receives well wishes and gifts, and it’s an act of welcoming and unifying the bride and groom's families. The tea ceremony is a touching symbol of the coming together of two families, and it gives the couple the opportunity to acknowledge the people who helped raise them. Likewise, it’s an opportunity for those close family members to personally and formally express their happiness, best wishes, and congratulations to the couple.
When is the tea ceremony?
---
The tea ceremony will begin at 5:15pm at the reception venue, the Women's Club of Glen Ridge. Please plan to arrive to the venue by 5:00pm (15 minutes early). The tea ceremony will be held in the room across from the main ballroom on the first floor. Typically, the Chinese tea ceremony is held in the morning on the day of the wedding wherever the bride is getting ready. However, with all the hustle and bustle of weddings today, it made more sense for us to host it after the ceremony and in the same place as the reception so we can flow from one right into the other.
Who goes to the tea ceremony?
---
Elder family members and friends from both the bride and groom’s sides are invited to the tea ceremony. These include parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, and close family friends. While any of the wedding guests are welcome to watch the tea ceremony, we’re aiming to keep the list of tea ceremony participants and the event relatively small.
What happens at the ceremony?
---
In the tea ceremony, there will be a small area of the room where the wedding couple will be serving tea to guests one (or if you’re a couple, two) at a time. A master of ceremonies will coordinate who will be going up to the couple to be served tea. Within each family, tea is served first to the parents, and then to other relatives in descending age order. All of the groom’s family & friends will be served first, followed by the bride’s.
What do I do at the ceremony?
---
When you’re called to be served tea, you’ll sit in the provided chairs with the wedding couple kneeling towards you. One of the attendants helping with the ceremony, usually a bridesmaid, will pour tea into teacups and hand them to the wedding couple. The wedding couple will then hand the tea to you and say “[title/name], please have some tea”. You’ll then take a sip of the tea and have an opportunity to say a few words to the couple, give your well wishes and extend your congratulations. At the conclusion, you typically present the couple a gift - usually a red envelope with money or jewelry.
What should I wear?
---
As the reception is immediately following the tea ceremony, the general wedding dress code of semi-formal/cocktail dress is totally acceptable. You’ll see the couple and potentially some other guests wearing traditional Chinese formal and wedding wear, such as a satin/silk jacket or dress.
What should I give as a gift?
---
Symbolic cash in auspicious amounts (e.g.lucky numbers like $88) for the couple’s future is common. Gold jewelry is also a traditional gift, but is becoming less common nowadays. This can also be an opportunity to give the primary wedding gift, but it does not have to be. A smaller amount of lucky money may be given, as it’s more about the gesture than the denomination.
How long is the tea ceremony?
---
The length of the tea ceremony depends on how many people we have participating. We're expecting to have this take around one and half hours. Before or after you are called to be served tea, you're welcome to mingle with the other family members and also observe other people being served.
Do I drink all the tea?
---
You're welcome to drink all the tea or just take a sip. It’s not frowned upon either way.