Chinese marriages were first documented during the Warring States period (402-221 B.C.). Due to the vast expanse and long history, there are numerous customs depending on the locales although the general gist is similar. Visitors still get chance to witness traditional marriages in the countryside.

In the ancient times, it was very important to follow a basic principle of Three Letters And Six Etiquettes, since they were essential to a marriage.

Three letters include the Betrothal Letter, Gift Letter and Wedding Letter. The Betrothal Letter is the formal document of the engagement, a must in a marriage. Then, a gift letter is necessary, which will be enclosed to bride-to-be's family which list the type and quantity of gifts for the wedding once both parties have accepted the marriage proposal. The Wedding Letter refers to the document which will be prepared and presented to the bride's family on the day of the wedding to confirm and commemorate the formal acceptance of the bride into the bridegroom's family.

Six Etiquettes :

Proposing: If an unmarried boy's parents identify a girl as their future daughter-in-law, then they will find a matchmaker. The matchmaker would formally present his or her client's request to the girl's parents.

Birthday match: If the potential bride's parents did not object to the marriage, the matchmaker would ask for the girl's birthday and birth hour records to ascertain the compatibility of the potential bride and bridegroom. If their birthdays and birth hour does not conflict according to astrology, the marriage will take place. If there is any conflict, which means the marriage will bring disasters to the boy's family then no marriage takes place.

Presenting betrothal gifts: If the birthdays match, the bridegroom's family will then ask the matchmaker to present betrothal gifts, enclosing the betrothal letter, to the bride's family.

Presenting wedding gifts: After the betrothal letter and betrothal gifts are accepted, the bridegroom's family will formally send wedding gifts to the bride's family. Usually, gifts may include tea, lotus seeds, longan, red beans, green beans, red dates, nutmeg, oranges, pomegranate, lily, bridal cakes, coconuts, wine, red hair braid, money box and other stuffs, depending on local customs and family wealth.

Picking an auspicious wedding date: An astrologist will be called or a astrology book referred, in selecting an auspicious date to hold the wedding ceremony. Wedding ceremony: On the selected day, the bridegroom departs with a troop of escorts and musicians, which will play happy music all the way to the bride's home. After the bride is taken or carried to the bridegroom's home, the wedding ceremony begins.

American Wedding Customs

There are some essential steps that occur within the American wedding culture.

Basically, the wedding party will consist of a Bestman (which is the best friend of the groom) and the Groomsmen which are usually 2 to 6 other close friends or siblings of the groom. The bride will have a similar setup with her best girlfriends, called Maid of Honor (best girlfriend) and Bridesmaids (equal to the number of Groomsmen).

Other significant members of the wedding ceremonyÉ The Ring Bearer, which is a young boy, from the groom's family, who carries the rings on a small, fancy pillow, at the wedding. And immediately following the ring Bearer is the lower GirlÕ, from the bride's family, who carries a basket of flower petals down the aisle at the wedding strategically dropping them down the aisle. This is the beginning of the oohsÕ and aaahhhs from the wedding crowd.

The Bachelor Party is a rite of passage for the groom. This is typically a very wild and crazy night out with the boys Where almost anything goes and massive hangovers occur the morning after.

The night before the wedding, the entire wedding party will join together for a rehearsal dinner after practicing the ceremony at the wedding site. Customarily it's the groom's parents who host this dinner. Traditionally, the dinner includes the bride and groom; both sets of parents; bridesmaids; best man, groomsmen and ushers; the bride's and groom's siblings, grandparents; and any other family members involved in the ceremony. A priest (of the respective faith) is usually also invited.

Traditionally the groom waits at the altar, he has not seen his bride since the rehearsal dinner. The most popular custom observed at this time is for the bride to wear. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. the old symbolizes the bride's connection to her past, the new symbolizes her hopes for a bright future, the borrowed symbolizes friendship, and the blue symbolizes faithfulness.

In Old Times, female children were deemed to be the property of their fathers. When it came time for the daughter to marry and her father approved of the arrangement, he was actually transferring ownership of his daughter to the groom. Today, the act of giving the bride away is symbolic of her parents blessing of the marriage to the chosen groom. As the bride's father gives her away, he'll lift her veil and kiss her. Then he'll shake the groom's hand, which is the groom's cue to escort the bride-to-be up to the altar steps. The ceremony takes place and they are pronounced man and wife. They then kiss each other to profess their love for all to witness.

Prior to the dinner and once the glasses are all filled, the best man toasts the bridal couple. Dinner is served and then the music begins.

The first dance is reserved for the bridal couple and has traditionally always been a waltz - but that is changing too.