China Destination Wedding

Candy and Ken traveled all the way to Shanghai, China to celebrate their big day with friends and family.  The couple who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area not only had one wedding, but two!  They opted to share the moment with their American friends by hosting a local wedding before they jetted off to Shanghai for a more traditional Chinese wedding.

The couple’s destination wedding photographer, Jeremy Chou shared with us some of the customs and traditions from the day.  “The lovely bride and groom got ready at her childhood home, and actually inside the same bedroom she grew up in. Customary to many Chinese weddings, the red letter of ‘double happiness’ were visible throughout the house.  The groom had to go through a series of challenges to see his wife; including giving red envelopes (with money inside) to bridesmaids, uncles, and also complete a few challenges put on the bridesmaids. Once Ken finally makes it into Candy’s bedroom, he then had to get on his knee and ask her to marry him once again!”

“Traditional fire crackers were set off in an otherwise quiet neighborhood to bring good luck to the couple.”

“As part of the tradition, the bride’s feet cannot touch the ground until she’s safely in the car. So Ken had to carry Candy all the way down the stairs and into the car. Where her mother changed her shoes, which symbolizes the daughter is finally leaving the parents’ house!”

“The couple also performed traditional tea ceremony where they paid respect to their parents, and all the elders of the family. Greetings and words of wisdom were given to the new couple to welcome them to married life. Traditional rice ball soup was also prepared to symbolize good luck, and good fertility.”

Then the party began!  A brightly colored palette of pinks and purples filled the ballroom where more ceremony and celebration took place.

 Congratulations Ken and Candy!

Destination Wedding Photographer: Jeremy Chou Photography

Wedding Vendors: Location: Central Hotel Shanghai