My Birthday/The Wedding

My birthday was October 28th. I turned 23 (I feel so OLD!). It was also the day of Grace and Paul's wedding.

Grace is a high school teacher in Anshun. Paul works in the government. They're both Chinese and have Chinese names which I don't know. I know them because Grace knows Joni. And we got an invitation to the wedding!

Here's how the day went.

We met Joni at her apartment at 12:30 for lunch. When we got there we also found out that we were going to be making the bouquets! It was rather informal, but a lot of fun. We made the bride's bouquet and two bridesmaid's bouquets, plus a dozen corsages/buttoniers.

At 2:30 we all went to the church. Joni had made a groom's cake which we brought in the taxi with us.

Joni was doing the service, so she was all dressed up. The rest of us wore jeans. [Kris said that the first wedding she went to in China she wore a dress; and that she was the only person besides the bride to wear a dress!].

We brought a boom box for music and all of the flowers. The wedding was supposed to start at three, but Grace didn't come until almost 3:30. We were all a little worried...

The ceremony was very similar to an American wedding. There was a processional, the father gave the bride away, there were vows, rings were exchanged... it was very nice, but not very Chinese.

In China a wedding lasts two or three days. The first day is the "Bride's day". There is a ceremony, usually at a restaurant, and a big banquet thrown by the bride's family.

That night the friends and family go to the bride's house. They tell stories and play practical jokes. The groom comes to take the bride, but the family and friends won't let him. He must give money and gifts to the bride's family. Finally, they let him take the bride. This happens at 3 or 4 in the morning.

The next day is the groom's day. They have a ceremony and reception with the groom's family.

The bride can have up to six different wedding dresses that she wears for all the parts of the ceremony.

It is unusual to have a church wedding in China, but it was important to Grace and Paul, and it was very sweet. After the ceremony we had cake and then went to the restaurant. There was an emcee who welcomed everyone. As we entered we were offered sunflower seeds (a favorite snack here), candy and cigarettes.

Then we waited a long time (that part was like American weddings!) for dinner. We had a small opportunity to talk to Grace and Paul. They both looked so happy.

It's also traditional for the bride and groom to go to every table and toast with hard liquor. Thankfully, they don't drink! So there was only one toast for the whole reception.

We ate banquet food including turtle soup with a whole turtle in it. I have decided that I prefer cheap food to fancy food here in China. Fancy food is "delicacies" like chicken heads and pig's feet. I can live without those kinds of delicacies!

We didn't leave the restaurant until 8. It was a long day, but it was such fun to share in the joy of the wedding!