What To Wear To A Chinese Wedding In Singapore?

The most common question asked about what to wear to a Chinese wedding is what to wear. Red is not the primary color, as most brides will change into several outfits. The tea ceremony is an intimate affair, usually reserved for relatives and close friends, where the bride and groom wear a traditional red qun kua on wedding day. Westernized wedding ceremonies will see the bride dressed up in white, but in Chinese custom, red is the color for luck, joy, and happiness.

The auspicious time for a Chinese wedding is in the morning, ending by 10:30am, or some are held in the evening from 7pm. In the case of a morning wedding, guests can attend the lunch buffet reception anytime from noon to 2pm. If the wedding is held at a temple, the Guo Da Li (过大礼) is considered the official wedding proposal and the very first part of the Chinese customs.

Men must wear a black tailcoat, a formal white shirt, a white vest and tie, white or gray gloves, and black dress shoes. Women should wear elegant, floor-length evening gowns. Traditional Chinese wedding attire places strong emphasis on bold red colors, often viewed by the Chinese community as a color that ushers in fortune.

In Singapore, it is advisable to wear something light and breezy to combat Singapore’s heat. Brides should choose a red qun kua to wear, and guests should always ask their wedding couple about the dress code.

How much to give as a wedding gift in Singapore?

Majority of Chinese couples will hold their wedding at a restaurant or hotel function rooms where the price range can vary widely.

Accordingto Seedly.sg, a goodamount to give would be from $98to $600depending on the wedding venue.

It is common among Chinese couples to organise a gatecrash ceremony, and it doesnt matter if the groom-to-be is dressed as an Emperor accompanied by his entourage of eunuchs and concubines.

The bridesmaids will put the ‘Emperor in unimaginable torture, and it can sometimes cost the groom a huge sum of red packet to please the bridesmaid.

What color to wear to a wedding in Singapore?

Unlike a black-tie or white-tie event, this dress code isnt time-specific, so youd definitely want to take the time of the wedding into consideration and make colour choices accordingly. We suggest opting for jewel tones and darker hues for evening or night time and lighter, or even pastel hues for day time.

Your best friend or your office work partner is about to get married. You excitedly rip open the gorgeously designed wedding invite only to scrunch your face in confusion. Formal or Black-Tie Optional? Semi-formal? White Tie? What do any of these words even mean?

Dressing for a wedding or special occasions can be tricky, especially if they’re not yours. After all, there’s a very fine line between dressing up as a means of respect to the person who invited you, and overshadowing them stylistically.

Whether you’ve been invited to an opulent wedding at a five-star hotel, or to a pastel-themed wedding by the beach, here’s our guide to navigating wedding dress codes and top tips on nailing them.

What to wear to a wedding as a guest female in Singapore?

While many Singaporeans interpret a formal wedding dress code to mean a maxi dress or a button-down shirt, that is far from the case. A formal dress code is actually very similar to a black-tie dress code. The choices for women are still a floor-length gown, a fancy cocktail dress, or a dressy pantsuit. For men, the options are a tuxedo or a dark suit with a white shirt and conservative tie.

Yanyee and Zenass Industrial Boho Wedding at Singapore Wine Vault with Warm Earthy Tones by Smittenpixels Co.

A balance between elegance and comfort, the cocktail wedding dress code is a popular one overseas. Its less dressy than black-tie and formal attire, so you have more versatility to express your style. Women wear a midi or knee-length dress instead of a floor-length one, although a maxi dress could pass for cocktail attire if the fabric and silhouette read more “dress” than “gown” (think flowy silhouettes and matte fabrics instead of fitted ones and satin). Men wear a suit and tie. Overall, the look is polished without being too embellished and fancy, so that you dont outshine the newlywed couple.

Can you wear black to a Chinese wedding in Singapore?

The most common question asked is what do you wear to a Chinese wedding. Its safe to say dont wear red. Most brides will have several outfit changes, with red being one of the dresses, if not the main one. Guests should avoid wearing red because this could be seen as upstaging the bride or competing for attention. You dont want to come off as impolite to the bride!

Dont wear white or black. These colors are often worn at Chinese funerals, and signify death and mourning. Its considered bad luck, so its best to stay away from wearing these colors. However, black or white accents are just fine!

Purples, pinks, and warm tones are great options to wear, as these colors represent the new life the couple will embark on. If you can, check in with the couple to see how formal the wedding will be, before purchasing your dress or suit.

Some outfit ideas may include the Tammy Bespoke Dress, a classic silhouette which comes in several color options and styles to your choosing. Our bespoke dress collection lets you customize your dress in a variety of colors and cuts, so the options are endless! Another fan favorite is theEsmé Dress, perfect for weddings that are a little more casual, yet still elegant enough to wear to any formal occasion. Take a look at more ideas for traditional dresses that arent red.

What is the etiquette for Chinese guests?

• Visiting. Invitations are usually used in formal settings. In other instances, people will arrive unannounced.
• When invited to someones home, Chinese are generally punctual.
• Guests are expected to exercise restraint and refrain from loud, boisterous actions and speech.
• Friends will often bring gifts like tea, cigarettes, fruit, chocolates or cake when visiting to show their ‘xinyi (‘blessings or ‘good intentions) towards the host.
• Hosts usually offer refreshments like fruit or nuts. If guests decline the offer, hosts will typically insist several times before accepting the refusal.
• Etiquette at dining tables shows deference to the social hierarchy of age.

• Eating. Food is often placed at the centre of the table, and there are usually multiple dishes to be eaten with rice.
• Place the foods that mix with rice in your rice bowl, and hold the bowl close to your mouth as you feed yourself.
• Try and taste everything served as this is considered polite when eating as a guest in someones home.
• Eating a lot of rice without complementary component foods indicates that you do not like the meal.
• Do not eat the last of anything left on a serving tray.
• If you want a second serving, refuse the hosts offer once before accepting it.
• Leave a small amount of food on your plate when you have finished eating. An empty plate indicates that the host did not provide enough food and that you need your plate to be filled again.
• Place any bones or seeds on the table beside your plate or in a provided dish. Do not put them back in your rice bowl.
• Do not leave chopsticks in the rice bowl after using them. Place them on the table.
• Avoid sticking your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice. This is seen to resemble the incense used during funerals and thus implies death.

• Gifts. Pass a gift to the recipient with both hands.
• A Chinese person may decline receiving a gift two or three times out of politeness before accepting.
• Gifts are not opened immediately or in the presence of the gift-giver.
• Careful attention is paid to the wrapping of a gift, as the first impression it gives is very important. The more elaborate the wrapping, the better. Gifts wrapped in red and gold paper denote luck, whereas white, blue or black wrapping has sour connotations.
• Do not give expensive gifts that are difficult to reciprocate or match. Such gifts will cause the Chinese recipient to lose {face}, resulting in a possible rejection of the gift.
• Sweets, fruits, flowers (excluding white ones) or spirits make for good gifts.
• Do not give gifts that add up to four in number. The pronunciation of the word ‘four sounds similar to the Chinese word for ‘death.
• Taboo items for gifts: sharp objects (e.g., knives, scissors), clocks, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, green hats, mirrors, and yellow or white flowers. See Other Considerations for more taboo items that are inappropriate as gifts.

What colours are auspicious for Chinese wedding?

Lucky Colors and Auspicious Symbols. Red and gold play a critical role in all Chinese wedding decorations. The former is linked to love, success, happiness, prosperity, luck, fertility, honor, and loyalty, while the latter is a symbol of wealth.

The Double Happiness symbol—composed of two identical Chinese characters meaning joy—appears in all Chinese weddings. “It can show up as traditional décor, made out of fresh red roses as a wall hanging for the tea ceremony, or as neon signage for an after-party,” shares Froelich. Other auspicious symbols include dragons, phoenixes, and mandarin ducks as they denote happiness and loyalty. A 24-karat gold pig necklace (pigs are emblems of fertility) is often gifted to the bride as part of her wedding jewelry to wear immediately.

Picking Up the Bride. While Chinese wedding traditions have modernized and no longer involve a large procession, the journey to pick up the bride is still a lively affair. It can involve anything from the use of firecrackers, playing of drums and gongs, or even a lion dance troupe. A child usually walks in front of the procession together with the groom to symbolize fertility.

What to wear to a Chinese wedding as a guest?

What Colors are Appropriate at Chinese Weddings?. Luckily, there are still tons of options available for wedding guests to marry. Warmer colors such as purple, pink, and peach symbolize new life and happiness in Chinese culture making them good options for guests. Orange and yellow are also acceptable colors. Dont be afraid of wearing patterns either!

Our wedding photographers have experience photographing Chinese weddings. What guests wear really depends on the venue, theme, and of course the couple. Some couples are more modern and maybe fine with guests wearing these colors. Others are more traditional and could be offended. If you are in doubt about what to wear check in with the bride and groom, or someone close to them such as a family member or member of the wedding party!

If youre looking for a photographer for your Chinese wedding contact AGI today!

Can you wear red to a Singapore wedding?

When to Avoid Wearing Red to a Wedding. In certain cultures, notably South Asian and East Asian cultures, red is considered lucky and auspicious, and thus, has been traditionally incorporated into wedding day attire the same way white dominates bridalwear in Western cultures. This means that if you are attending an Indian, Chinese, or South Asian Muslim Wedding, or any other wedding where the color may have significant cultural meaning, “avoid wearing red because it could be part of the couples attire,” says ONeal. At the same time, ONeal notes that you may want to avoid shades of white, as some non-Western cultures associate the hue with death and periods of mourning.

When it comes to Western weddings, in particular, if you really want to err on the side of caution—or, as Hurwitz puts it, “avoid stares from the older guests”—it may be best to keep away from wearing red in churches, country clubs, and other more traditional settings.Tradition dictates guests avoid wearing red out of fear that it could take attention away from the happy couple,” explains Hurwitz.”Visually, its quite bold. In a photo, your eye is immediately drawn to the color, especially if its next to neutrals like white, black, gray, or beige.”

Additional Wedding Guest Style Tips. Now that you understand the basics, for those planning to wear red to a wedding, there are a few style tips to know in order to appropriately dress for the celebration. Specifically, Hurwitz points out that “for a fall or winter wedding, look for moodier shades of red like cranberry, crimson, ruby, or wine. Rich, heavy textures, such as velvet and jacquard, will also heighten the luxury of your look—especially for a formal or black-tie wedding.

What to wear to a wedding as a guest female?

Women wedding guests should wear full-length dresses, be it a ballgown, a sheath or an A-line dress. High heels are strongly recommended. Feel free to accessorize with opulent jewelry and even elbow-length white silk gloves.

Can I wear jeans to a wedding in Singapore?

But dont dress too casually! You should never wear jeans, T-shirts, sneakers, and flip-flops at a wedding.

Themed. Some couples will have themed weddings. Celebrants usually base their themes on pop culture or past fashion periods.;

One detail to check from your invitation is the wedding venue and time.

Modest hemlines and light colors are most appropriate if youre going to a church ceremony. Indian weddings held in temples call for modest and colorful outfits.