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We got a call from Stuart, Trev's brother letting us know that he just got engaged. He took his girlfriend, Jen, out to Florida and got Micky Mouse to propose to her!!!! (the big sop!!!).
Anyway, they are also getting married next summer...in Tiwan!!!!!! Trev is the best man and I think I have to wear a traditional outfit (when I say "have to " I should say that I more than can't wait to wear!!).
Will be interesting to see what the wedding will be like. No doubt it will be quite different to ours!!!!!
What a busy few months all this will be!!!!! Have to go out now to Covent Garden to sing and raise the cash to go!
Has anyone here been to or know what Tiwan/Chinese wedding are like? I think I head that there are loads of course for the meal??? (hhhmmm!!!) and a lot of tea (not that much drink?). Should definatly be amazing experience!! Think I am looking forward to this as much as my own wedding!!!!
don't worry - have to get a digital cam for it!!!!
Yes, will pace myself! there really isn't too much to do where Tiwan is concerned - just turn up, be quiet and eat! Her family have no english so will not be talking to too many people sadly.
I found this article online, so hopefully it will explain a few things:
Have you ever seen any traditional Taiwanese wedding? It is very different Western wedding. They don’t only wear black and white. Actually it is more colorful. When I was young, I had been to several weddings in Taiwan, but I couldn’t remember clearly. When I told my mom that I’m going to give this speech, she told me everything about her wedding and showed me her wedding pictures. Here’s how it goes!
First I’d like to talk about engagement ceremony. Before the groom goes to the bride’s house, he has to pray to the ancestors for good marriage. And then he brings the presents and lights the fireworks. The cars they drive should be even numbers. Usually there are 6 cars. When the groom gets into the bride’s house, the matchmaker starts to introduce both of their families and friends. After that, the workers from the groom take the gifts inside and put them on the table. Meanwhile, the bride brings tea, We called it “sweet tea.” People have to say something good to wish the happiness for their marriage and give the bride red envelopes. And then there is a ceremony where the rings are exchanged. There are two chairs. When the bride comes, she sits on the higher chair and puts her legs on the lower chair. They wear them on their middle fingers, left hands. Then groom’s mother put the necklace and other jewelry on the bride. You can see after the ceremony, the bride has so many jewelry on her fingers, wrists and neck. That must be really heavy. The bride’s family has to give the groom’s gifts, too. Usually she has to prepare everything he needs for daily life such as clothes, pants, ties or underwear. After the ceremony, the bride’s family gives reception.
Here are some samples of Taiwanese invitations. They are usually in red because red is a lucky color of our culture.
On the wedding day, when the groom arrives to the bride’s house, the male children have to send teas to the groom. The groom has to give them red envelopes. In order to get into the bride’s room and give her the flowers, he has to pass different kinds of trials. After testing the groom, they have to say good-bye to their parents. The bride’s father covers the veil on her head for her. When the car starts moving, the family of the bride has to sprinkle the water and rice. It means leaving away daughter is just like the splashing water. They won’t ask anything about her anymore. They just wish her to be happy. When the bride gets off the car, the elder holds her hands to the dinning room. The groom takes the bride to pray to the ancestors to tell them the ceremony is finished. They go to the bridal chamber together. They cannot lay on bed or sit on it. It’s a bad luck. It means they might have to lay on the bed and be sick for the whole year. The best part of the wedding is to have friends of the groom and the bride go into the bridal chamber and play games with them or ask them to do something funny.
There are some very interesting wedding taboos. Before the wedding night, they have to find a young male child to sleep with the groom. Oh! Poor boy. In the ancient time, they think the groom sleeps alone before the wedding, it’s bad luck. During the wedding, when the bride leaves, everyone should cry. It is better if you cry harder. They think if you cry, they will become rich. So next time if you go to a Taiwanese wedding, don’t forget to bring your eye drops. Also, the bride’s clothes cannot have pocket. That way, she won’t take away her family’s money. She wears this kind of clothes on her wedding.
__________________ Diane & David, 9th September 2002, Carrickfergus Elim Church.
"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow."
"People will seldom remember the words you spoke but they will always remember how you made them feel."
The religious ceremony is usually preformed at home. A chapter of Buddhist monks is invited to bless the couple with prayers and chants. Holy water is sprinkled over the couple and their home. A brief sermon on the solemnity of marriage is given by the head monk. The social ceremony held later in the day is what guests witness. The couple kneel with palms pressed together in a gesture of reverence, their heads connected by sacred thread. Wedding guests arranged by seniority (first rank, then age) file pass the couple to pour holy water from a conch shell. When the couple have conducted themselves accordingly in the eyes of the law, their religion and peers, they are considered married and the feast begins.
__________________ Diane & David, 9th September 2002, Carrickfergus Elim Church.
"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow."
"People will seldom remember the words you spoke but they will always remember how you made them feel."
What a busy bunny your going to be!!! Itll be fab though and something to remember as itll be so different. It does sound good and i cant wait to see the piccies from this one x
Thanks for that Cariad!!!! This seems amazing. I feel so honoured to be part of it!!! I noted that there is not much of mention of alcohol....and I am not much of a tea drinker (mind you I don't mind the odd cup of green tea so should be ok)!!!
I knew about red being a lucky colour. Been looking for engagement cards with red envelobes as I think it would be a nice touch for Jen (the B2B) but no luck yet.
Also I must remember the tear drops!!! and waterproof mascara!
Wonder if there is anything that I should know about in terms of "not the done thing"? don't want to put my foot into it (which is something that I can do quite easily!!).
I think there are some colour taboos - such as white being the colour of mourning etc. Pink and gold are good colours, as is red, but this is usually worn by the bride.
Is this useful? I know one Chinese family up home were very upset to get a congratulations card in white - not lucky at all!
Made in Tiwan!
Ah those were the days!
All laying now.
Wife and mother to two cats 
13th August 2003
5th November 2005
EDD 10th March 2007
Diane & David, 9th September 2002, Carrickfergus Elim Church.
"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." 
Smuggie 28th June 2003
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