Betrothal Gift Exchange (Guo Da Li 过大礼)
There are just too many Chinese weddings customs in Singapore. I actually heard from friends from China that they dont even practise all these in China now and were surprised that a modern and cosmopolitan country like Singapore is still so traditional when it comes to wedding.
For the benefits of future brides to be,
I have included the information which I have followed
The Below is an extract from the famous Feng Shui Master David Tong from Chinese Metaphysics Global Consulting http://cmgconsulting.com.sg/
The number of gifts to be exchanged is not restricted/limited to the items listed below and can be substituted, reduced or increased accordingly.
Purpose:
This is for the groom to show the bride's family his financial stability and to reassure
their future parents-in-law that the bride will be well taken care of after marriage.
Normally, the bride's parents will return a portion of the gifts to avoid the impression that they are selling away their daughter.
When & how to do it:
2 weeks to 1 month before the Customary Wedding.
An auspicious date and time will be given to you. On that date and time, the groom will step into the bride's house with all the bridal gifts. Traditionally, a matchmaker (elderly) will follow the groom to the bride's house. Nowadays, a good friend or sibling can accompany the groom.
It includes (but not limited or restricted to) the following items:
From the groom:
l. Wedding Cakes (to be distributed to relatives as part of the wedding invitation)
2. 2 bottles of Brandy or any other liquor - to celebrate the joyous occasion
3. 2 pairs of Dragon & Phoenix candles 龙风烛
4. Even numbers of oranges (in a wedding basket) - for good luck & fortune
5. Even number of cans of pork trotters (Cantonese will give the roast pig on AD) - to signify
prosperity
6. I red packet with the "Pin Jin" 聘金 inside (amount requested by bride's family)
7 . Even number packets of peanut candies - signify sweet beginning in marriage
8. Jewellery (4 piece jewellery 四点金 for Teochew, Dragon & Phoenix bangle 龙风琢-for
Hokkien/Cantonese) for the bride
9. Six types of grains consisting of:
Red Dates, Red Beans, Green Beans, Dried Longans, LotusSeeds, Lily Bulbs - signify abundant food for couple
From the Bride's family to the groom's family:
2 bottles of orange syrup in exchange for the 2 bottles of Brandy/Liquor
2 Phoenix candles (The Bride's family will keep the pair of Dragon candles and give back the
Phoenix candles). Parents from both sides will light the candles on the customary wedding day
morning together. No timing is required for this. Just ensure both sides light at the same time
will do.
Even number portion of gifts that the groom gave
2 red packets for the groom's parents to buy shoes, towels etc
Even numbered portion of the "Pin Jin" will be returned in a red packet
To bless the newly weds and to symbolize that the bride is mature enough and ready to take on the role of wife and mum.
When to do it: The Dowry set will be given to the bride and future son-in-law by the bride's
family on the same day as the Guo Da Li.
It includes (but not limited or restricted to) the following items:
l. 1 tea set for the wedding tea ceremony (for Groom's side)
2. A pair of red bedside lamps - signify, healthy offspring
3. I baby's bath tub - signify healthy offspring
4. Beddings such as pillows, blankets, comforter, bed sheet etc
5. 2 pairs of wooden clogs - signify smooth advancement in career
6. I sewing kit (consisting of thread, needles, pincushion, scissors etc) - signify wife's ability to
take care of her husband
7. I ruler - bless the couple with great wealth
8. 1 baby prosperity set (plate, mug, potty, basin, toothpaste, toothbrush)
9. 1 comb
10. A set of Dragon and Phoenix bowls with 2 pairs of chopsticks and one thermal flask - to
represent abundance of food and drinks
For the benefits of future brides to be,
I have included the information which I have followed
The Below is an extract from the famous Feng Shui Master David Tong from Chinese Metaphysics Global Consulting http://cmgconsulting.com.sg/
Betrothal Gift Exchange (Guo Da Li 过大礼)
The items to be exchanged in a Chinese Customary Wedding depend on the dialect group and in some instances, agreements between parents of the bride and groom. It is purely a customary practice and a form of Chinese culture and beliefs. It is not part of Feng Shui or any form of Chinese Metaphysics.The number of gifts to be exchanged is not restricted/limited to the items listed below and can be substituted, reduced or increased accordingly.
Purpose:
This is for the groom to show the bride's family his financial stability and to reassure
their future parents-in-law that the bride will be well taken care of after marriage.
Normally, the bride's parents will return a portion of the gifts to avoid the impression that they are selling away their daughter.
When & how to do it:
2 weeks to 1 month before the Customary Wedding.
An auspicious date and time will be given to you. On that date and time, the groom will step into the bride's house with all the bridal gifts. Traditionally, a matchmaker (elderly) will follow the groom to the bride's house. Nowadays, a good friend or sibling can accompany the groom.
It includes (but not limited or restricted to) the following items:
From the groom:
l. Wedding Cakes (to be distributed to relatives as part of the wedding invitation)
2. 2 bottles of Brandy or any other liquor - to celebrate the joyous occasion
3. 2 pairs of Dragon & Phoenix candles 龙风烛
4. Even numbers of oranges (in a wedding basket) - for good luck & fortune
5. Even number of cans of pork trotters (Cantonese will give the roast pig on AD) - to signify
prosperity
6. I red packet with the "Pin Jin" 聘金 inside (amount requested by bride's family)
7 . Even number packets of peanut candies - signify sweet beginning in marriage
8. Jewellery (4 piece jewellery 四点金 for Teochew, Dragon & Phoenix bangle 龙风琢-for
Hokkien/Cantonese) for the bride
9. Six types of grains consisting of:
Red Dates, Red Beans, Green Beans, Dried Longans, LotusSeeds, Lily Bulbs - signify abundant food for couple
From the Bride's family to the groom's family:
2 bottles of orange syrup in exchange for the 2 bottles of Brandy/Liquor
2 Phoenix candles (The Bride's family will keep the pair of Dragon candles and give back the
Phoenix candles). Parents from both sides will light the candles on the customary wedding day
morning together. No timing is required for this. Just ensure both sides light at the same time
will do.
Even number portion of gifts that the groom gave
2 red packets for the groom's parents to buy shoes, towels etc
Even numbered portion of the "Pin Jin" will be returned in a red packet
Dowry (嫁妆）From the bride's parents to the couple
Purpose:To bless the newly weds and to symbolize that the bride is mature enough and ready to take on the role of wife and mum.
When to do it: The Dowry set will be given to the bride and future son-in-law by the bride's
family on the same day as the Guo Da Li.
It includes (but not limited or restricted to) the following items:
l. 1 tea set for the wedding tea ceremony (for Groom's side)
2. A pair of red bedside lamps - signify, healthy offspring
3. I baby's bath tub - signify healthy offspring
4. Beddings such as pillows, blankets, comforter, bed sheet etc
5. 2 pairs of wooden clogs - signify smooth advancement in career
6. I sewing kit (consisting of thread, needles, pincushion, scissors etc) - signify wife's ability to
take care of her husband
7. I ruler - bless the couple with great wealth
8. 1 baby prosperity set (plate, mug, potty, basin, toothpaste, toothbrush)
9. 1 comb
10. A set of Dragon and Phoenix bowls with 2 pairs of chopsticks and one thermal flask - to
represent abundance of food and drinks
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