What could be the noisiest, smokiest unruly event you may
attend in China?
A wedding of course!
What is this ceremony like, might you ask?Imagine the union of the crowd at a Greyhound bus terminal mingling
with the rambunctious cast of one of those Bridezilla shows. The dress code, in typical Chinese fashion, includes everything. The bride was wearing a cinderella like gown while her parents were clad in traditional chinese jackets. And oh yes, the mother of the bride proudly wore a pink baseball cap.
Now Jeff expectsto wear to future nuptials.
But parents of the bride are the same in any country. The mother’s
eyes hold back crocodile tears, while the father somberly thinks to himself, “How and I going to pay for all of
this?”
Lots of the matrimonial chaos is caused because it’s the union of two
worlds: City acquaintances are gathering with village folk. They are as out of
place in Kunming as a page of Nat Geo is in Vogue magazine.
This is one of usually three Chinese wedding
ceremonies: the bride and groom will also go to the home towns for repeat
performances.
But instead of giving guests miniature cups filled with
assorted nuts and pastel pillow mints, guests get peanuts and cigarettes, which
you are welcome to light up during the ceremony.
And they did.
In return, guests bringing small red envelopes filled with
money in lieu of blenders and other gifts selected from a bridal registry list.
The ceremony was held in a hotel banquet room so with waiters bringing out plates of food as
the bride and groom finished their vows. They brought out bowls of thick long noodles
mixed with a dark firey sauce and strips of cham
(Chinese spam), but no cake.
About three and a half hours after you took your sit, the
ceremony is over. It’s picture taking time.
Many wedding pictures in Kunming are taken at Lake Dianchi,
the big resort lake on the south side of the town. Brides and brides to be and
brides that have been rent dresses for a day and take photos to put on their
invitations or framed on their walls. You can rent these dresses almost
anywhere short of a public toilet.
I’m tempted to rent a dress myself. On the 18th of April, Jeff and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary. We are planning on renewing our vows at the school where Jeff overseas as principal, inviting 150 of our shortest friends.
However, smoking will not be allowed. Rumor has it that
cigarettes can stunt ones growth.
February 25th, 2012 at 4:38 pm Wish we could come to the ceremony.
February 25th, 2012 at 5:36 pm I’m short…am I invited??!!
February 26th, 2012 at 8:47 pm April 18th is my birthday. If only it were my 13th. Hope you both are well. Miss you. MMO