Engagement Process, Six Etiquettes, Taboos – All in One Informative Package!
Engagement Process, Six Etiquettes, Taboos – All in One Informative Package
Engagement Ceremony Procedure Introduction
Traditional Engagement Ceremony Procedure
The traditional engagement ceremony can be broadly divided into six steps, with each step containing numerous details. For a comprehensive guide, you can refer to this article：Follow the engagement process, and don't be nervous during the formal ceremony
Here are some approximate steps for your reference:
step 1‒Departure after Ancestral Worship by the Groom's Family
step 2‒Greeting, Dowry Collection
step 3‒Serving Sweet Tea, Pressing Tea Cup
step 4‒Exchange of Rings
step 5‒Gift Exchange (Bride's Family Responding)
step 6‒Proceed to the Venue for the Banquet
Simplified Engagement Ceremony Procedure
In the traditional engagement ceremony, the groom's family typically goes to the bride's home to conduct the ritual. After the ceremony, they proceed together to the banquet venue. However, if the preparatory steps seem cumbersome, couples can opt to host the ceremony directly at the banquet venue. This not only saves the groom's side from the inconvenience of travel but also reduces the elaborate preparations required at the bride's home.
step 1‒Head to the Venue and Get Ready in the Bridal Suite
step 2‒Dowry Collection
step 3‒Serving Sweet Tea, Pressing Tea Cup
step 4‒Exchange Rings
step 5‒Gift Exchange (Bride's Family Responding)
The difference with the traditional engagement ceremony lies in holding the entire event at the banquet venue, with the assistance of professional hotel staff. There's no need to worry about the details as the hotel personnel will take care of everything. This allows you to focus wholeheartedly on your lifelong commitment
What are the six traditional betrothal gifts?
After understanding the engagement process, let's talk about the betrothal gifts, commonly known as the six gifts and twelve gifts.
Six Gifts:
- Western-style wedding cakes or Chinese-style cakes
- Chinese-style cakes ( Especially all need to be sweet.)
- Gold jewelry and betrothal money (a complete set of gold jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, Wedding Rings, and varying amounts of betrothal money)
- Candle and firecracker
- Six-colored wedding candies (usually winter melon, longan, rock sugar, kumquat cake, crispy rice, peanuts)
- Head-to-toe gifts (giving the bride 6 or 12 items of clothing and accessories, or using red envelopes labeled "head-to-toe gift" as a substitute)
Understanding Engagement Customs: 3 Major Taboos to Be Aware Of
Please note that regardless of where the ceremony takes place, there are still some traditional taboos to be aware of. Remember the following 3 important points:
- Choose even numbers for quantities, avoiding the number "4" to ensure good luck in the engagement ceremony.
- The bride should distribute the wedding cakes received from the groom to relatives and friends, and she should refrain from eating them herself to preserve the auspiciousness.
- Friends and relatives of the groom should leave the banquet before it concludes and avoid saying goodbye to the bride's side to prevent any implication of "remarriage."
If you want to learn more about engagement-related taboos, you can refer to this article:：Engagement Customs and Taboos: Remembering for a Smooth and Auspicious Celebration
How to Pack Engagement Red Envelopes?
Finally, I believe everyone has heard that during the engagement and marriage process, couples usually need to give red envelopes to assisting friends and staff. But how much should the red envelope contain to avoid being impolite? As for the range of the red envelope, it varies from person to person. Generally, you can consider giving amounts like S$80/S$88/S$100, etc. If you have a closer relationship, feel free to increase the amount! However, remember to avoid odd numbers and the numbers 4. I believe on this joyous day, the couple can express gratitude to their friends, family, and staff through red envelopes, transmitting the happiness of your marriage to everyone!
