Wedding custom 

Part 1. Engagement

In feudal China, if an unmarried boy’s parents find a girl they interested in, they will find a matchmaker to make the proposal.

Once the two families agree about the matter,  the bridegroom’s family will present engagement gifts to the bride’s family.

In the west, the proposal 

has a  ritual quality.

The man, you just need

an engagement ring, 

flowers or gifts are not necessary ,

and go down on one knee,

a question

 “will you marry me?”

Part 2.Main tone

 The entire wedding's main color is red, this is also the representative of the traditional Chinese festivity color. This change will enable the wedding jubilation. 

The wedding of west is a romantic type, and  white usually is the familiar tone, which is standing for allegiance and chastity.

Part 3.Wedding Location

In feudal China, the wedding letter is the document to be presented to the 

bride’s family.

婚礼地点  Wedding Location

对于我们中国人来说,婚礼要办的隆重热闹,邀请众多的亲戚朋友,所以婚礼举行的地点一般都选在交通方便、空间宽敞的院落或酒店。

A white wedding will typically take place in a church, the most beautiful church.

         西方婚礼突出庄重和圣洁,婚礼一般都是在教堂(church)或其他较为安静的地方举行,婚礼井井有条,但是相对来说就不如中国婚礼那么热闹。 

But sometimes, it can also be held at the family’s home, a private club or somewhere special like a beautiful beach, a botanical garden, etc.

 Part 4.Wedding Dress

China

the bride wear red Luoyi and Fengguan, 

and still above a red scarf. 

 the groom wear

a red long gown,

   red shoes

a red silk sash with

 a red silk ball in a shape of flower on his chest. 

West 

The bride's wedding veil is generally white.

the groom is black dress, so that the whole wedding was the solemn

seriousness.

服饰  Wedding Dress

中国婚礼的主色调是红色,这是中国传统的代表喜庆的颜色,新娘一般都穿红色的礼服。家里到处都贴有红色的喜字,新人身上佩戴红花,新房里的物品也大都是红色。

典型的中国传统婚礼服饰为凤冠霞帔(a chaplet and official robes )、状元服 。

   现在由于受到西方婚礼习俗的影响,越来越多的中国人也接受了白色婚纱(wedding veil )。但是新娘一般都是在迎娶的时候和婚宴开始的时候穿白色的婚纱,之后就会换上红色或是其他比较喜庆的颜色的礼服。

西方的婚礼的主色调是白色。在西方婚礼中,新娘一般都会一直穿着白色的婚纱,代表圣洁和忠贞。新娘的捧花、周围环境的装饰都是以白色为基调的。

Part 5.Weddingceremony

祭祖--出发--燃炮--等待新郎--拜别--出门--燃炮--摸橘子--牵新娘--举行仪式--喜宴--送客--闹洞房--三朝回门

1 来宾入席 

2 奏婚礼进行曲 

3 牧师领唱诗班进场

4 牧师宣布婚礼开始 

5 伴郎、伴娘、新郎进场 

6 女方家长携新娘进场

7 女方家长入席

8 唱诗班吟唱圣歌 

9祷告、献诗 

10 神父证婚

11 新郎、新娘签字 

12 互戴戒指、宣誓 

13 揭纱 14 献诗 

15 谢恩  16 礼成，晚宴

婚宴（wedding banquet）    

    中西方的婚宴也有很大不同。中国人一般都在婚宴所在地举办结婚典礼。中式婚宴的酒席很大一部分的内容是亲朋好友热闹地聚在一起进餐,另外还设有一些余兴节目。

     在西方国家,婚宴通常是在教堂的结婚典礼结束之后举行。婚宴中通常伴随着舞会,婚宴舞会可能会有一些特别的模式。宴会会在互相敬酒与庆祝中进行,一直到新人们坐上车子离去为止。新人会在家人朋友的欢送下开始蜜月旅程。 

相似的习俗  similar custom

      中西方的婚俗有相似的地方。例如，中国古代有抛绣球(throw an embroidered ball)迎亲的习俗；而西方的新郎新娘在教堂举行婚礼后，会把手中的鲜花抛向空中，如果有人接到的话就预示着他将很快结婚。 

As the wedding march rhythm, the bride pull her father's hands go to the groom.

The priest will ask the bride and groom on the other side to make a lifetime commitment.

 They will 

exchanged rings ,

 kiss each other. 

Part 6.Wedding banquet

The banquet is always abundant, and the new couples have to toast to every one .

Part 7.Bacchanal

Spree in the bridal chamber

On the wedding night, all friends and relatives will tease the newlyweds in very well-meant ways.

Dancing party

the bride and groom get the first dance called the “bridal waltz”.

 after the first dance ,a dance between the bride and her father is traditional.

总结

        中西方在婚俗上面有以上种种的差异，这和中西方人在思想思维的差异有直接的联系。中国人比较保守，喜欢热闹，所以在中国历史几千年的时间里整个婚礼的习俗并没有多大的变化。近代西方的文化传入以后，中国的传统文化才开始向西方转化，但在很大的程度上仍有中国传统婚俗的礼仪。