We recognize that there are way too many significant and details to remember at the Wedding Tea Ceremony. Also, each culture as a little distinct style of arranging the tea ceremony. 48 Studio would like to break down in general How to Set Up Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony for you to use as a reference in this blog.
Etiquettes During Chinese Tea Ceremony
There are numerous items that need to be prepared before the tea ceremony, and we have produced a list to help couples in the last blog ‘Everything You Must Know About Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony’. Make sure you have those items prepared beforehand so you can have time to do other important things on the date.
During the tea ceremony, the bride and the groom are supposed to serve tea to the parents on each side in a gaiwan, marking the significant occasion when members of the two families become one We’ve included all the etiquettes that you will need to keep in mind before hosting the tea ceremony:
- The groom kneels on the right, while the bride kneels on the left
- The male relative will sit facing the groom, while the female relative will sit facing the bride
- Kneeling in front of the elders is proper tradition, but for families that are uncomfortable with kneeling, bowing when serving tea is also acceptable
- As a sign of respect, the pair should serve tea with two hands and accept gifts/angbao from the elder with both hands
- Hold the teacup saucer since it may be hot, and avoid filling the teacup too full to avoid spilling
How To Set Up Chinese Tea Ceremony
Step 1: Getting Ready
Welcome everyone to where the tea ceremony is held.
Step 2: Opening Statement
Parents of the bride and/or groom make an opening speech (or potentially an officiant/Lucky Lady).
Step 3: The Groom’s Family Is Offered Tea
After the Lucky Lady has a few words, the she or helpers will have four cups on the serving plate for you to pass through the elders. The groom addresses the male elder with his title “father please drink tea” then serves him a cup of tea.
The serving order within the family is based on seniority with the immediate, parents served first, the family’s oldest member is then served followed by the family’s youngest members. Don’t panic if you don’t know what your relatives’ formal titles are. To find out, we’ve prepared an easy-to-understand and accessible order for you to follow:
THE GROOM’S FAMILY FIRST
• Parents Of The Groom
• Grandparents Of The Groom
• Uncles & Aunts Of The Groom
• Older Siblings Of The Groom
• Older Cousins Of The Groom
FOLLOWING THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
• Parents Of The Bride
• Grandparents Of The Bride
• Uncles & Aunts Of The Bride
• Older Siblings Of The Bride
• Older Cousin Of The Bride
Step 4: The Bride’s Family Is Offered Tea (Same As Above)
There is certain etiquette involved in how tea is served. Both the bride and groom serve tea individually. As a result, each person should receive a total of two cups.
For instance, the bride may serve one parent while the groom serves the other, and then they may exchange so that both parents have gotten one cup of tea from the bride and husband (two cups total).
If there are more than two people (i.e. if you have a big family), the bride and groom should offer a cup of tea to one person at a time. As a gesture of respect, the cup should always be given with both hands.
Step 5: Receive Presents
After drinking the tea the elderly, the couple will bless you and present you with money (red angbaos) or gifts. If the elders present you with jewelry, they will immediately put it on you. If you receive gifts that aren’t jewelry, give them to your helpers to set aside
Bonus Tips!
While you will be busy paying your respects to your family, do pick a member of your bridal party to assist with the collecting of ang baos and presents that you will receive during the tea ceremony. Finally, for hygienic reasons, you have the option of using disposable cups for the tea ceremony or purchasing extra of the same cups so you can properly wash them between sessions.
