Chinese wedding photography

As a documentary style wedding photographer I love photographing ‘moments’ and weddings in other cultures such as Indian and Jewish faiths have them in abundance, from the different traditions and colours to the spiritual moments and important moments during the ceremony. Chinese wedding photography is no exception!

I have photographed a number of Chinese weddings - all have been in the Manchester area, starting at hotels such as ‘The Midland’ and most have then moved on to the awesome ‘Glamorous’ restaurant above the ‘Wing Yip’ in Ancoats.

Tea Ceremony

The tea ceremony is an essential part of Chinese weddings. During this ritual, the newlyweds serve tea to their parents and older relatives as a sign of respect and gratitude. In return, they receive blessings, advice, and red envelopes (hongbao) containing money or gifts.

The Door games

One of my favourite parts of the day full of fun and often hilarious moments. Before the couple can enter their marital bedroom, they must go through a series of playful challenges set by the bridesmaids and groomsmen. These games are meant to entertain and test the groom's devotion. A personal favourite was when the groom had to shake a ping pong ball out of a tissue box attached to a nappy over the top of his suit before his groomsmen could do the same. You get the idea!

The food

Who doesn’t love Chinese food right? The Chinese weddings I have photographed have - as I mentioned - been at the Glamorous restaurant. The food there is simply fantastic, but also it’s large enough to cater for a wedding party, and, as it’s part of a car park, there’s loads of places to park your car! Before entering the venue firecrackers are traditionally set off to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck to the couple. Loud noises like drums and gongs are also used during the wedding procession.

During the wedding banquet, after the couple has completed their toasts, a lettuce or cabbage is tied to a string and hung up high, typically near the ceiling or in a prominent location within the banquet hall. The cabbage is often decorated with red envelopes (hongbao) containing money.

Then, a dragon dance performance takes place. The dragon, which is typically a long and colorful creature held up by multiple performers, "dances" its way toward the cabbage. The dragon's movements mimic eating the cabbage, and the performers may engage in playful and acrobatic actions to "consume" it.

As the dragon "eats" the cabbage, the red envelopes are collected by the performers or released into the air, symbolizing the spread of wealth and good fortune to the couple. This is often accompanied by cheers, applause, and well-wishes from the wedding guests.

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