I attended my co worker's Taiwanese wedding yesterday and it was very interesting. It felt more like a reception. I do remember seeing it written on the calendar as a wedding banquet. I think the term banquet is more of a correct way to describe the event. There were some differences compared to the weddings that I have attended in America. For example, the bride changes into 3 different dresses during the event. Not once, did she sit down to eat and there was no dancing. Let me give you a rundown of how things work.
First you arrive and give your gift to the people in charge of receiving the gifts. Here, they don't go to a department store and do a registry. They simply give money in a special red envelope. The person at the table takes the envelope, writes down your name, and then writes down the amount that you gave in a book. If or when you get married or have some big life changing event, they will give you the same amount.
Next, if you are a female, then you are given a gift. My gift was a box of cookies made by Rivon-The Exquix (Love & Life). I'm assuming these are very popular. All the females that were in attendance received a box. Next, they help you find your table and you have a chance to look around at the decorations and read the menu. Of course, our menu was in Chinese. One of the guests at our table read it in English for us. The food wasn't brought out until the bride made her first appearance. She wore a beautiful white gown. She looked like a Barbie doll or a princess. Here comes one totally different part; there were 13 courses! I don't see how these little people can eat so much! I started getting full after #6. I decided to take bits and pieces from each course that I could make it through #13. My favorite was probably the duck, pork, and spinach spring rolls. The taro we had for dessert wasn't too bad. I liked the toasted almonds on top.
In between some of the courses, there was some form of entertainment. While the bride changed into dress #2, there was a light show. Basically, they turned off the lights and they had some people in a line (maybe 6 or 7 people). The first and last person had a sparkler and the people in the middle held trays that had some lights on top. I'm not sure when they did it, but somehow the candles on our table managed to be lit without us knowing it. They walked around the room and weaved around the tables several times at a fast speed. After the light show, we continued to eat and talk to each other at the table until the bride came wearing another pretty dress.
She stayed in view longer this time around. The groom gave a speech in Chinese and one in English (for us foreigners). After the speech, everyone was asked to raise a glass to toast to the new bride and groom. Each table continued to receive food and socialize. If there was food left over that you wanted, then the servers would pack it up for you and put it in a nice little bag. During this time, I noticed the bride, groom, and the parents of both walked around to each table. At each table, the guests and new couple would share thoughts, prayers, and wishes for a happy life together followed by a toast. When they got to our table, the groom's father spoke in Taiwanese and no one was able to translate for us. After the toast, he looked down and saw me (I couldn't stand up because the couple was standing directly behind me and their were cameramen surrounding them). He asked me where I came from and I responded with from America. I'm not sure if he didn't believe me, didn't understand me, or was just trying to process, but he had this indescribable look on his face. He said something else to me in Taiwanese and then took another drink. Someone tried to translate and thinks he said something about being happy that we were there. I don't know and probably will never know. It was just weird. Now, this couple had 300 guests with around 10 people per table. That gives you around 30 tables! That is a lot of toasting and standing on your feet. I hope she gets a lot of rest today. After they did a toast at every table, the couple showed a photo slide show of how they met and the friends and family members that were in their lives. I happen to be in one of the photos (from Chinese New Year's). That was a surprise!
The bride left again to change into dress #3. After the dessert and fruit platters came out, people began getting ready to leave. I was surprised and then was told that a lot of people come for the food. So, after we finished dessert, we took a few photos and began to walk towards the entrance where the bridge and groom would be standing. In the entrance, they give you candy and you take a photo with them. Once again, the groom's father spoke to me, but this time in English. He asked how I was doing, bowed to me, and gave me candy. It was still a little weird, but I felt more comfortable the second time around. We took a photo with the couple and left. Before I left, the bride's mom gave me a hug goodbye. She was the first adult in Taiwan that asked me for a hug and she will always have a spot in my heart. She is truly a sweet and high spirited person. She looked elegant like a queen. It's amazing how these two little women (barely come up to my shoulders) have grown on me so much. There are quite a few people that I will miss once I return to the States. Until then, I plan on enjoying the rest of my stay.
First you arrive and give your gift to the people in charge of receiving the gifts. Here, they don't go to a department store and do a registry. They simply give money in a special red envelope. The person at the table takes the envelope, writes down your name, and then writes down the amount that you gave in a book. If or when you get married or have some big life changing event, they will give you the same amount.
Next, if you are a female, then you are given a gift. My gift was a box of cookies made by Rivon-The Exquix (Love & Life). I'm assuming these are very popular. All the females that were in attendance received a box. Next, they help you find your table and you have a chance to look around at the decorations and read the menu. Of course, our menu was in Chinese. One of the guests at our table read it in English for us. The food wasn't brought out until the bride made her first appearance. She wore a beautiful white gown. She looked like a Barbie doll or a princess. Here comes one totally different part; there were 13 courses! I don't see how these little people can eat so much! I started getting full after #6. I decided to take bits and pieces from each course that I could make it through #13. My favorite was probably the duck, pork, and spinach spring rolls. The taro we had for dessert wasn't too bad. I liked the toasted almonds on top.
In between some of the courses, there was some form of entertainment. While the bride changed into dress #2, there was a light show. Basically, they turned off the lights and they had some people in a line (maybe 6 or 7 people). The first and last person had a sparkler and the people in the middle held trays that had some lights on top. I'm not sure when they did it, but somehow the candles on our table managed to be lit without us knowing it. They walked around the room and weaved around the tables several times at a fast speed. After the light show, we continued to eat and talk to each other at the table until the bride came wearing another pretty dress.
She stayed in view longer this time around. The groom gave a speech in Chinese and one in English (for us foreigners). After the speech, everyone was asked to raise a glass to toast to the new bride and groom. Each table continued to receive food and socialize. If there was food left over that you wanted, then the servers would pack it up for you and put it in a nice little bag. During this time, I noticed the bride, groom, and the parents of both walked around to each table. At each table, the guests and new couple would share thoughts, prayers, and wishes for a happy life together followed by a toast. When they got to our table, the groom's father spoke in Taiwanese and no one was able to translate for us. After the toast, he looked down and saw me (I couldn't stand up because the couple was standing directly behind me and their were cameramen surrounding them). He asked me where I came from and I responded with from America. I'm not sure if he didn't believe me, didn't understand me, or was just trying to process, but he had this indescribable look on his face. He said something else to me in Taiwanese and then took another drink. Someone tried to translate and thinks he said something about being happy that we were there. I don't know and probably will never know. It was just weird. Now, this couple had 300 guests with around 10 people per table. That gives you around 30 tables! That is a lot of toasting and standing on your feet. I hope she gets a lot of rest today. After they did a toast at every table, the couple showed a photo slide show of how they met and the friends and family members that were in their lives. I happen to be in one of the photos (from Chinese New Year's). That was a surprise!
The bride left again to change into dress #3. After the dessert and fruit platters came out, people began getting ready to leave. I was surprised and then was told that a lot of people come for the food. So, after we finished dessert, we took a few photos and began to walk towards the entrance where the bridge and groom would be standing. In the entrance, they give you candy and you take a photo with them. Once again, the groom's father spoke to me, but this time in English. He asked how I was doing, bowed to me, and gave me candy. It was still a little weird, but I felt more comfortable the second time around. We took a photo with the couple and left. Before I left, the bride's mom gave me a hug goodbye. She was the first adult in Taiwan that asked me for a hug and she will always have a spot in my heart. She is truly a sweet and high spirited person. She looked elegant like a queen. It's amazing how these two little women (barely come up to my shoulders) have grown on me so much. There are quite a few people that I will miss once I return to the States. Until then, I plan on enjoying the rest of my stay.
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