One of the most mesmerizing moments to watch is an Asian tea ceremony. There are very particular customs the bride and groom do and it's completely surrounded by a family oriented philosophy-- something I really respect. So what exactly is the meaning of a ceremony, what does it achieve? Generally, what happens is a low table is set up with prepared tea, and before the groom arrives, the bride serves her parents tea to thank them for raising her, as a sign of respect. In a way, the parents accepting the tea is a sign of them accepting the daughter's decision and that they are ready to embrace her new life.
Next, the groom enters and they both kneel on pillows, holding a cup of ready tea with particular seeds called Lotus seeds, which the ancients believed would help the bride and groom have children early in their marriage. It is a very sweet tasting tea, which portrays an embracing future and sweet relations between the families.
Next to them is someone called a Lucky woman, who knows the customs in and out and helps them serve the tea, and helps them if they forget their positioning or any of the steps. She is also there to wish them luck and happiness.
Typically, the bride is in front of her father in law and the groom is in front of his mother. They are addressed by their formal names. After the groom's parents, the ceremony proceeds in order of the oldest family members to the youngest. These typically can include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings.
At the end of the ceremony, the bride and groom are offered money and other valuables in red envelopes.
The vintage wedding film below is of a Korean tea ceremony, where the bride and groom wear outfits of the noble class. The groom's outfit represents fidelity and faithfulness to the bride, showing her parents that he will stay with her until the end. The bride's outfit is to ward off evil spirits.
Untitled from Jon Gangwer on Vimeo.
