Tea Ceremony
The Wedding Tea Ceremony is the most significant part of a Singapore Chinese Wedding. During the Wedding Tea Ceremony, the bride is formally introduced into the groom’s family as the bride and groom offer tea to their elders from a kneeling position.
This ceremony usually take place on the actual wedding day at the Groom’s place after the gatecrashsegment.
Although it is best if all family members are present during this ceremony, it is getting increasingly common to conduct supplementary sessions at the banquet venue or on another date altogether.
When will you serve tea?
The Wedding Tea Ceremony takes place as part of the actual wedding ceremony that is usually held first at the Groom’s place then at the Bride’s place.
However, there are some family that require the bride to serve her parents tea in the morning before the groom arrives. During this ritual, the bride is offering her thanks to her parents for bringing her up. When she later return with the groom for the tea ceremony at her parents’ place, she is serving tea as a married woman, introducing her husband to her family.
Standing Position
The wedding tea ceremony involves the bride and groom serving tea to their elders. In a traditional tea ceremony, the bride and groom stand together, with the bride to the groom’s right hand side. The groom will face the mother and the bride the father.
Order of Service
The couple will offer tea in the following order:
-Parents
-Grandparents
-Great uncles/aunts
-Aunts/uncles
-Older brothers and sisters
-Older cousins
In the case where a relative is absent, his/her spouse will be served an additional cup of tea that will be drunk on the missing relative’s behalf.
This extra step is not necessary if the relative is deceased.
Gifts
The elders will bestow a gift to the bride when they are served their tea. However, unmarried elder siblings are not required to do so.
In the case of younger siblings and cousins, the bride and groom are required to present gifts (usually red packets) to the younger siblings and cousins who serve them tea.
Attire
The Bride usually don traditional costumes like the Kua or Cheongsam during the tea ceremony.
Tea Set
The tea set used in the Tea Ceremony is more often than not, the same one which the Bride’s parents have included in her dowry. This Tea Set is later on kept by the bride and in some cases, reused again when her daughter get married.
The Tea
Typically, Lotus seeds and two red dates are used in the tea. The popularity of these two ingredients is due to their symbolism: Blessings for Children and a Happy Union.
This ceremony usually take place on the actual wedding day at the Groom’s place after the gatecrashsegment.
Although it is best if all family members are present during this ceremony, it is getting increasingly common to conduct supplementary sessions at the banquet venue or on another date altogether.
When will you serve tea?
The Wedding Tea Ceremony takes place as part of the actual wedding ceremony that is usually held first at the Groom’s place then at the Bride’s place.
However, there are some family that require the bride to serve her parents tea in the morning before the groom arrives. During this ritual, the bride is offering her thanks to her parents for bringing her up. When she later return with the groom for the tea ceremony at her parents’ place, she is serving tea as a married woman, introducing her husband to her family.
Standing Position
The wedding tea ceremony involves the bride and groom serving tea to their elders. In a traditional tea ceremony, the bride and groom stand together, with the bride to the groom’s right hand side. The groom will face the mother and the bride the father.
Order of Service
The couple will offer tea in the following order:
-Parents
-Grandparents
-Great uncles/aunts
-Aunts/uncles
-Older brothers and sisters
-Older cousins
In the case where a relative is absent, his/her spouse will be served an additional cup of tea that will be drunk on the missing relative’s behalf.
This extra step is not necessary if the relative is deceased.
Gifts
The elders will bestow a gift to the bride when they are served their tea. However, unmarried elder siblings are not required to do so.
In the case of younger siblings and cousins, the bride and groom are required to present gifts (usually red packets) to the younger siblings and cousins who serve them tea.
Attire
The Bride usually don traditional costumes like the Kua or Cheongsam during the tea ceremony.
Tea Set
The tea set used in the Tea Ceremony is more often than not, the same one which the Bride’s parents have included in her dowry. This Tea Set is later on kept by the bride and in some cases, reused again when her daughter get married.
The Tea
Typically, Lotus seeds and two red dates are used in the tea. The popularity of these two ingredients is due to their symbolism: Blessings for Children and a Happy Union.