So Werner, Ian, Sarah and I rolled up to this big building with several different weddings going on. We walked through the building, being stared at the whole time, until we got to the right wedding. We were seated at the very front right next to the stage, a place I thought would have been reserved for the closest family and friends, which we obviously were not. Uncle Dan promptly grabbed a box of beer for us to drink (at 11am).
The ceremony started with all the lights suddenly turning off and strobe lights going off and flashing all around us. Intense music started playing and we could hear a fog machine going off somewhere. When the lights came up the curtains on the stage were opening and a guy who looked like a TV presenter walked out welcoming us all.
So the whole ceremony works a little differently here. The groom walks to the back of the aisle to escort the bride to the front. The bride waits there the whole time so there's no real element of surprise. Then they light off a firework/sparkler thing together, drink some fruit juice in that fancy way, and pour some colored water into a bowl filled with goldfish. Instead of a first kiss there is a first hug. They do exchange rings, which apparently has only developed recently. Before the woman used to wear a gold or silver bracelet from the husband, who wore nothing himself. After the first hug, which seals the ceremony (and is followed by dramatic music and indoor fireworks), the bride and groom each call each others parents mother and father. The vows were super cute. The groom started bawling. I almost choked up and didn't even know the people, or what they were saying. Sarah actually did tear up.
Lighting a sparkler together:
Pouring colored water into a goldfish bowl:
Indoor fireworks after the first hug:
So after all the hoopla Sarah and I had to go and walk down the aisle with bouquets of flowers to give to the bride and groom. It was such a funny experience. People started cheering for us as we walked down it. Then we stood on stage for a while as the TV presenter dude tried to interview Sarah (who doesn't really speak Chinese). He asked us if we would dance for them later, I didn't really know how to respond to that. This was all followed with 'pictures with the foreigners' time. I was more than happy to oblige after essentially crashing this wedding.
Being 'interviewed' on stage with the couple after presenting them with flowers:
The foreigners, the newly wed couple and their families:
We then ate some food, which was mainly seafood and a whole pigs head. Needless to say I stuck to bread. A live singer serenaded us all during lunch until she got tired and they played some Western music, including the most romantic singer ever- Kesha. During all this the newly wed couple was walking around talking shots of baijiu with each table. They must have been hammered by the time they were finished. I tried to imagine something like that happening in the US. The couple taking shots with every table of wedding guests. What a nightmare that would turn out to be.
Some delicious pigs head?
Being serenaded by a live singer. This was pre-Kesha and other Western music:
So that was my first wedding experience. It was ridiculous, but so much fun and such an eyeopener to Chinese culture. I've heard the fireworks going off at 7am on Saturday mornings to signify a wedding, so to actually go to one was really cool.
In other news happy 23rd anniversary to my Mum and Dad!
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