8 Tips on Planning a Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony

We love it when our couples include their cultural traditions and rituals into their wedding. Having done big and small, ultra traditional and modernized versions of the Chinese wedding tea ceremony. I’ve put together some tips to help you plan yours.

Here are 8 tips when planning your Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony:

Ask your parents who they’re inviting.
Some families like to keep it small, immediate family members only. Some families go ALL OUT, all the aunts and uncles and older cousins. Always ask your parents just to make sure. Don’t be caught surprised when 50 aunts and uncles show up.
Know who’s receiving tea and make an ordered list.
This helps with timing, number of tea cups you’ll need, and how much tea and food to prepare. So many times, we run into the hostess calling up family members out of order and unintentionally disrespect those who are supposed to go first.
Have a “lucky lady” to host the tea ceremony.
This can be a cousin, aunt, or friend who is married and have kids/grandkids. Preferably someone with public speaking skills to make introductions, explain the tradition, call up the tea recipients, and say phrases of well-wishes.
Hire a professional photographer or extend your current one. Chances are these VIP’s are your elders and it’s always great to have photos of family and extended family.
Ask your wedding party to help. You’ll need someone to assist with pouring the tea, handing you the tray, collecting the used cups, and hold on to the red envelopes after you receive it.
If the tea ceremony is on the same day as the wedding, don’t forget to order food or snacks for your guests. It will be a long day, we don’t want them to go hungry.
Make a list of items you need for the tea ceremony: tea set, extra cups, tea bag or loose leaves, kneeling pillows, double happiness sign or banners, box to hold red envelopes and gifted jewelry after the ceremony. Some families also add dried red dates, lotus seeds or longan to the tea to symbolize union and fertility.
Read about the tradition and understand the symbolism will make the ceremony more meaningful.