Wedding Greetings! Just got engaged and need some help on the wedding planning... TIA!

[GoodSoul]

Hello! This is my first post although I have lurked for quite awhile. I consider myself being engaged since my FI had proposed (without the ring). We are still looking for the right stone (base on what we had learned from this wonderful site so far). Thank you!

Both of us are Chinese and we will be having the Chinese tea ceremony and Chinese wedding dinner. However, both of us are lost on how the chain of events would be given that the MUA and photographer do not do split shifts (since the tea ceremony is typically in the morning and dinner at night of course from where I come from).

Appreciate if you give me some ideas on how to plan our wedding if you had/are having a Chinese wedding or attended one.

We would like to keep it as simple as possible coz of us are pretty laid back and low key folks. I forgot to mention that we probably have an officiant on that day as well. I am also thinking of having a sand ceremony as well.... and not just 100% Chinese style wedding.

Thanks in advance!

P/S: This is one of the nicest and supportive forum that I had seen! Glad that I am somewhat part of it now!

 

[oobiecoo]

I don''t really know anything about Chinese weddings so I can''t help but...

Congratulations on being engaged!

 

[pjean]

It sounds as though you may get stuck either hiring a photographer for the entire day or effectively hiring one twice - once for the morning and once for the evening. MUA wise, could you have your makeup done in the morning and then have a friend touch it up for you, or would you need to have the artist twice?

I think though that if I were you, I would probably start by figuring out locations. Do you know what city you''ll be getting married in? Then work out where you would like the tea ceremony to be, and where the dinner will be.

I think once you have locations, that will give you something to work with as far as knowing how much money you''ll have for hiring photographers, etc. Then I think I might sort out how to structure the middle of the day (if at all). Will you need to arrange lunch for your guests? Where will you hang out? Is there something special you''d like to do during the day?

 

[GoodSoul]

oobiecoo : Thanks for your well wishes!

pjean : Thanks for your advices. We kind of have the location selected (Bay Area Chinese restaurant) and will be going down to make the deposit and ask more questions with regards to how we can use the venue. This will probably help in the planning by asking them on how the past weddings are being held. I think I may try to push the tea ceremony into the afternoon and hopefully that will reduce the cost.


Thanks!

 

[pjean]

That sounds very promising. Let us know how it goes!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Just wanted to say welcome to PS!!

And congrats on your engagement!

 

[GoodSoul]

Thanks for all the well wishes!

We went to the restaurant this morning to place the deposit. My FMIL said that the tea ceremony has to be in the morning and she has to check the Almanac for a good time for it. My attempts to have it in the afternoon is not an option anymore

Oh well, the 2009 Almanac will only be out nearer to the end of year. Till then, I won''t know what time my tea ceremony will be. I think it''s best for me to just plan for the out of town guests to do something in between.

 

[pjean]

Yay! Reception location booked! That''s major progress.

Date: 9/14/2008 1:31:43 AM
Author: GoodSoul
My FMIL said that the tea ceremony has to be in the morning and she has to check the Almanac for a good time for it.

Yes, I thought that might be the case. Heaven forbid you should have your tea ceremony at an inauspicious time!

The good news is that you won''t have to pick the time for the tea ceremony. Less planning, right?

You can certainly arrange something for your out of town guests to do during the day. Alternately, you could make up a list of attractions in the area and send it out with your invitations, and let them arrange for themselves. It depends a little on your style.

Do you want to be involved with your guests during the day, or would you prefer to do something with just your FI?

 

[GoodSoul]

Hi Pjean,

Thanks for you suggestion! I might just do that!

I am so glad that the photographer that I had shortlisted is able to do split shift!!! I see light at the end of the tunnel!!! YAY!!!

Probably going to chill out for now on the wedding planning since we have not even got the ring yet. It''s so hard to find the right stone. I''m waiting patiently for new stock to come in for some of the vendors.

Thanks!

 

[pjean]

Date: 9/16/2008 2:00:00 PM
Author: GoodSoul

Probably going to chill out for now on the wedding planning since we have not even got the ring yet. It''s so hard to find the right stone. I''m waiting patiently for new stock to come in for some of the vendors.


Thanks!

We can all certainly identify with that around here! We take our stones very seriously. Good luck finding The One. (Stone, I mean, you''ve already got a FI.

)

 

[ysj99]

Goodsoul, FI and I are Chinese as well and will be holding a tea ceremony. Our families aren''t super traditional, so what we plan to do might not be the most traditional "by-the-book" ceremony, but hopefully it will give you an idea!

First off, what is "MUA"?

We will be having our ceremony (1 hr), a cocktail hour (1 hr), and reception (American) (5 hrs). Our photographer will be with us for 8 hours. At the moment, we are planning to have a quick and simple tea ceremony either during the cocktail hour, or at the very beginning of the reception. Although, I''m not sure how that will work with changing into the cheongsam, because I don''t really want to change into the cheongsam until near the end of the reception. Our wedding is 1.5 yrs out.

But basically, we are keeping the tea ceremony small, opening it to only members of the family (grandparents and first aunts and uncles). Future MIL said that doing so should keep the whole thing under about 30 minutes.

Hope that made sense! Let us know what you plan to do!

 

[pjean]

Date: 9/16/2008 4:59:32 PM
Author: ysj99

First off, what is ''MUA''?

make up artist. (Just to jump in...)

 

[GoodSoul]

Thanks Pjean on the MUA note I seriously think that we would have bought a stone if I''ve not chanced upon PS. We getting so much more picky now with the knowledge that we gained here

YSJ99: Thanks for sharing your wedding plans. I see your point about changing into Cheongsam and back to the Wedding dress but I think it''s fine if it''s during the cocktail hour. Alternatively, you can do it before the ceremony and that''ll save you a change. Just a thought.

Unfortunately, our families (not us) are a little more traditional and we have to pick an auspicious date as well as time (which is probably in the morning). Since I don''t know the tea ceremony time yet, I can''t plan the day for now.. but it gives me time to do some ring shopping!! Yay!!

BTW, congratulations to your engagement!