Shanghai is the largest city in China with numerous five star hotels that can provide luxurious locations in which to celebrate your wedding in this rapidly growing, modern metropolis. The relative lack of English language service providers compared to other cities in Asia means that it is usually best to let the hotel take care of all the arrangements, alternatively you can hire the services of an experienced English speaking wedding planner in Shanghai to help organize your event. Couples can also choose to engage the services of wedding professionals based in Hong Kong, many of these companies are available for travel to Shanghai and are familiar with local Chinese customs and traditions. You can browse suitable companies in our Hong Kong Wedding Directory.
Weddings in China are usually separated into three parts that take place on different days, unlike a western wedding which includes everything on one day. Couples first have their marriage certified at a local government marriage registry office where they can obtain their official marriage certificate. On a second day they will have a pre-wedding photography session, usually in a specialized studio where the pictures can be taken in their wedding attire against backgrounds with various themes. Some couples choose to have their pre-wedding photographs taken in locations around the city, either by the studio, their on day wedding photographer or a separate photographer that is familiar with the city.
The final stage will be the wedding banquet itself which will usually take place in a Shanghai hotel ballroom or a restaurant. By splitting the wedding into three parts it is more manageable, however some couples choose to include a second wedding ceremony on the day of the wedding or during the banquet since the actual wedding ceremony at the marriage registry is not attended by family and friends.
The three phases of a wedding in Shanghai can be interchanged depending on the couples preference or financial situation. For some couples the wedding photographs are taken up to two years after the wedding day since a lot of money needs to be saved for the wedding banquet itself. Most of the decorations for a wedding in China will be red or gold and feature the traditional double happiness symbol (囍) and pairs of mandarin ducks, dragons or phoenixes.
In China the date that is chosen for the marriage is very important and special auspicious days (or years) are popular, during these times it will be harder to book a venue or to find wedding service providers. Traditionally, local couples would consult with a feng shui master or fortune-teller to select a suitable date, more recently it has become common for an older relative to be asked to check the dates, the couple should not perform this task themselves as it is considered bad luck. Auspicious dates are based on the year, the couples birth dates and the Chinese zodiac signs. It is considered to bring good luck if a couple marries on an even day and month of the year, it is also important to check for "unlucky days" when joyous events such as weddings must be avoided.
A standard feature of a Chinese wedding is the tea ceremony where the bride and groom meet each others families and serve them tea while kneeling. During the ceremony the older family members give the couple red envelopess (called hóngbāo) that contain cash gifts and signify good luck. The couple are also expected to give red envelopes to unmarried younger relatives at this time. Other traditions include the hair combing ceremony, conducted by a "good fortune woman" and installing the bridal bed where the couple prepare a bed with new linens, preferably red to symbolize good fortune.
The nearby city of Suzhou is a major center for the manufacture of wedding gowns and is known in particular for its silk industry. This picturesque city is a couple of hours drive from Shanghai and has row upon row of small wedding gown shops that are the outlets for the many gown factories in the area. Prices are low, ranging from RMB 200 (US$30) to RMB 2,000 (US$300) but the general level of quality is lower than in high end Shanghai bridal boutiques. However, it is possible to pick up some nice gowns, including ones made from Suzhou silk that would not look out of place in a five star hotel. Suzhou is also know as a favorite destination for honeymoons or for couples who wish to get married in a quieter location surrounded by some of the best scenery in China. English is not widely spoken in Suzhou so bring a translator or a guide with you.
For more information about the traditional and cultural aspects of weddings in Shanghai please visit our section about weddings in China.
