Chinese Wedding Banquets

I just watched a 1990s movie of Ang Lee, entitled Wedding Banquet, on my laptop. The movie was set in New York, but the main characters where Chinese. As the title suggested, it's related to a wedding banquet. I found the movie interesting as despite the characters being in a foreign land, they still carried out the main traditions of the Chinese. That reminded me of our own wedding traditions here in the Philippines.

Wedding banquets are indeed very important among the Chinese. It may be true to many other cultures. A banquet of sixty to eighty tables may already be considered grand. Chinese want a lively party, the more guests, the merrier.

However, most of the Chinese here don't marry in their ancestors' traditional way. The trend here is marrying in churches. According to Mom, Filipinos usually hold wedding parties on Saturdays, while the Chinese on Sundays.

After the wedding ceremony comes the reception. Among the Chinese parties I've attended, I seldom encounter a buffet style party. Most of them likes wedding banquets, where several large round tables seat the guests and waiters serve food at the tables.

The programs during the banquet differ according to the preferences of the wedded couple. A live band may be present if the hosts can afford it. Or an emcee may be present to serve as facilitator of programs and performer. Other hosts prefer entertaining the guests themselves, by calling out family members, relatives, or friends to sing in front of the stage.

In between the entertaining programs, the prenup video presentation is shown. Pictures of the couple are also flashed on the screen. Wedding games are also conducted involving single men and single ladies. Close family members and friends may also come up on stage to give prepared/impromptu speeches.

The traditional wedding dance, slicing of cake, and sharing a toast are also present.

As the party ends, the groom, bride, and parents of both sides form a line by the exit. Guests leaving and shake hands with them while exchanging thank yous and congratulations and other pleasantries.