Singaporean Chinese Wedding Customs
Depending on which ethnic group you belong to, the Chinese wedding customs varies slightly in different dialect groups.
As Singaporean are generally westernised, much of the traditions had been done away (unless insisted by some elderly in the family) retaining only the most basic Tea Ceremony and Chinese Wedding Banquet.
When both parties (bride's and groom's) agreed on the wedding date, there will have a formal session (over tea or meal) for both families to meet to discuss the neccessary procedures and to understand what type of formal gifts that the bride's family require.
A typical 'gift' would be the number of 'table' that the bride's family need during the wedding dinner. By 'tables', it means the number of dinner table the bridegroom's family is expect to pay for the bride's family. For example, 20 tables mean that bride's family is expecting 200 guests abd hence need to cater for 20 tables of Traditional chinese banquet for her family.
Tea Ceremony
On the wedding day itself, the bride and groom will need to go to the houses of both families. Tea with two lotus seeds or red dates will need to be served to both bride's and groom's parents. All in the family will be served the tea and in the order of seniority. The more senior or elderly will be served tea first and in return, they will present red packets (with money gift inside) or bridal jewelry to the bride and groom. What amount to give in the red packet is flexible, but it is usually an even sum like $4, $10, $20 etc..
The younger siblings, relatives or children will serve tea to the bride and groom and will receive red packets in return.
Wedding Banquet
In modern day, a wedding banquet is usually held at a restaurant or hotel on the same day of the tea ceremony. This banquet is a celebration cum witnessing of the union of the couples. Seats will be assigned and the immediate family members and relatives will be seated closest to the front stage nearest to the bride and groom.
Gift for wedding couples
The most common and practical gift in Singapore is 'Ang Bao' (money gift in a red packet). If you are invited to a wedding dinner, the norm is to give a red packet with monetary gift ranging between $60 - $120 depending on the dinner venue and how well you know the couples.
What to expect in a Chinese Wedding Banquet?
Singaporean Chinese Wedding Banquet is notorious for it's late meal time. The wedding invitation card may state that the dinner is at 7.30pm, however, the meal may not be served until 9.00pm. This is mainly of the need to wait for arrival of all guests (which can be difficult to ensure their puntual arrival).
Be prepared when you are going for wedding dinner, eat something light before hand or else you have to suffer the hunger pang.
Another common practise is the cheering session at wedding banquet. The bridegroom's friends will give a toast to the couples and in the process they have to yell a long 'yum seng' means 'bottom up'. The rowdier the cheer, the better it is for the couples.
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