Hence, attending a wedding in white may come off as offensive or rude. The 25 Most Expensive Places to Get Married in the US, The Average Wedding Guest List Size in the US, 15 Traditions Commonly Seen in Chinese Wedding Celebrations, Czech Wedding Traditions to Fill Your Day With Heritage, Malaysian Wedding Traditions That are Rich in History, Say "I Love You" with 136 Love Quotes for Her, The Best Wedding Vow Examples From Real Couples, Relationship Quotes to Make Every Couple Feel All the Feels. We were only four non-Vietnamese and sat next to some close relatives of the groom, (brother, uncle, niece IIRC), who all spoke English fluently. Bright colors are a must. A very few close friends of the bride and groom will receive the honor of attending this ceremony. We cover this topic more in depth in our guide to when to visit Vietnam. Famous clothing designers concentrate in Ho Chi Minh, and Hanoi. Finally, the bride's family will bring out the bride to join the couple together. Avoid a white envelope, that's only used at funerals (in southern China at least). The bride will greet all the family members. Auspicious Wedding Date Selecting a wedding date is one of the first steps in planning a wedding. What to Say During Your Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony. The dress is usually worn with matching high-waist trousers, which are floor-length as well. Cognac and Lots of Food 11. They believe it's a union of their entire families as well. Can non-Muslims ride the Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia? I'll post my own findings as an answer because it's too long for a comment. Our East Meets Dress bride, Renee, shares her wedding story and how she found the perfect Chinese bridal hairpin to complement her modern wedding qipao. Dark colors such as black, gray, or purple are considered the color of bad luck, bringing a breakup to the couple. No surprise there, as khn ng literally means wrapped towel"! A wedding venue decor usually consists primarily of two colors - red and gold. Sometimes the bride's family will challenge the groom to show that he has the strength to take care of his future wife. For women, if you want to play it safe and respectful, it is best to cover your shoulders and knees while traveling around in Vietnam. In other cities, almost no famous designer can be found. Great diligence seemed to be spent on the distribution of the guests over the many big tables in the hall. Chan explains that a lion dancer performance "is to bless the couple for a long and happy marriage. Traditionally, they are red envelopes of money, other congratulatory gifts and words of wisdom. And, you will attend a Vietnamese wedding but dont know what to wear? Almost everyVietnamese man wears casual trousers or jeans and a shirt,unless they have a job that requires specific clothing or uniform. In this article, well lay out everything you need to know about how to dress in Vietnam, including what the locals wear, what tourists should wear, business and teaching attire, and what NOT to wear in Vietnam. Vietnamese-American couples often hold another ceremony after the Vietnamese tea ceremony where the bride gets her chance to wear that elegant white dress and the groom wears a traditional tuxedo. If on the wedding day, the bride is required to wear a traditional Vietnamese dress ao dai, for the groom, the clothing element is much simpler. "Interestingly, compared to a western ceremony, there isn't a single moment in time in which the couple crosses over from being 'unmarried' to being 'married' and there isn't any officiant in charge of the proceedings, so each side of the family has to know what to do next," explains Bui. Furthermore, in Vietnamese culture, families are involved in the wedding as much as the bride and groom themselves. I know the groom very well, but I have seen his parents only once. For men can use a shirt, trousers, possible to add a vest. It is a frustrating fact that women are still struggling to gain equal rights in Vietnam and that we are the ones who need to adjust. Although local men dont usually wear tank tops, they are totally accustomed to seeing male travelers wearing them. Vietnamese weddings truly stand out, andconsider yourself lucky if you ever get the chance to experience one. Doing a traditional m hi is not too common these days but back in antiquity, the m hi was sometimes the event where the groom met the bride for the first time, so you can imagine that this ceremony, when it exists today, is quite amended to be more of an engagement party that, together with the m ci, bookends the engagement period of the bride and groom.". The couple, knowing about our European understanding of weddings, took us to a bar afterwards. This makes the special party of the bride and the groom more lively and radiant. What to wear in Vietnam is also going to vary by season. Young Vietnamese girls wear white o di as part of their school uniforms as a symbol of their coming of age. The only mandatory element for the grooms outfit is to be polite and bright. Brides typically wear a red Ao Dai, while grooms wear a blue one. That way, the party for newlyweds becomes more radiant and lively. For example, you may seem them in hoodies or winter-like jackets when you still think its shorts and T-shirt weather. The important suggestion is that you should ask the host about how you should dress to suit their wedding ceremony in order to be more prepared carefully. "Prior to the m Hi is the Dm Ng (also known as the m Ni), during which the parents of the bride and groom come together to first discuss a pending engagement for the couple after the couple has expressed their intent for marriage. To better understand the customs often included in traditional Vietnamese weddings, we tapped a few wedding pros to offer their expert insight. Therefore, avoid wearing something similar to what the bride will wear andtry not to choose white, red, and pastel colors. It can get especially cold up in the highlands, so dress appropriately. At this time, there will be a candle and tea ceremony between the families. Suitable colors to wear to a Chinese wedding are peach, pink and purple, as these represent new life and happiness. A Guide to Libyan Wedding Traditions and Customs, Lebanese Wedding Traditions to Include in Your Wedding, Get Our Wedding Planner App On Your Mobile Device. After the wedding ceremony, the bride should say goodbye to her parents and follow the groom to his house where the reception is held. In the far south, by comparison, like Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, it is not uncommon for young women to wear short shorts and more revealing tops. ", Some people may be surprised to learn that there isn't a specific moment in Vietnamese ceremonies where an officiant pronounces the couple married. This particular event is when a formal meeting between two families occurs. Cognac and a ton of food are considered a standard part of Vietnamese wedding traditions and customs. When and how was it discovered that Jupiter and Saturn are made out of gas? Usually, a few rich people will ask famous designers (such as general clothing designers) to design and sew on demand. The wedding ceremony There is almost only one dress code for guests attending a wedding party that is beautiful, new, and bright. The groom's outfit or the male equivalent of the ao dai is called the ao gam. ", Overall, a traditional Vietnamese wedding looks very similar to m Hi, the traditional Vietnamese engagement ceremony and engagement party. As a token of appreciation, the bride and groom will visit each table at the reception and greet their guests. The most common colors are red, soft gold, pastel pink, and white. ", During the m Hi, Chan advises that "the groom's side lines up with offerings of food and alcohol. Guests should avoid wearing red because this could be seen as upstaging the bride or competing for attention. The traditional dress of the bride for a wedding ceremony can be from 2,000,000 VND to 10,000,000 VND. How did StorageTek STC 4305 use backing HDDs? Brocade fabric is made of colored silk and other blends with raised opulent designs. To ensure solemnity and courtesy for the ceremony, most attendees in the wedding have to choose their outfits carefully. However, nowadays, most couples choose a, Before we give you tips on what you should wear, here's what you can expect to see the bride and groom wear. Apart from white, you should also avoid colors like ivory, beige, off-white, cream, or eggshell. As far as food is concerned, there are no less than eight courses served during each reception in most cases. The groom asked me then to be on a bunch of pictures with his and his wife's family, which must have been some privilege, because they did pose only with a few of all the 600 guests. Meanwhile, when Vietnamese women are invited to attend the wedding ceremony, most are required to wear traditional long dresses (Ao dai). From customary colors and fashion choices to rituals involving tea, candles and honoring elders, we're taking a look at the Vietnamese wedding traditions you can expect to see. That said, the following colors flatter most skin tones: Red Ao Dai Asian people consider red the color of fortune and happiness. Even though black is a symbol of elegance in fashion, it was seen as a bad luck sign in Vietnamese belief, we only wore black to attend funerals. The brides dress is mostly pink or red. When it comes to wedding decorations, the home where the wedding is taking place is usually "decorated with a traditional altar with red and gold, double happiness symbols, traditional candles and incense," says Chan. If youre traveling when its hot, aim for thin, light, breathable materials. During the reception, the bride and groom "cho bn", which is the customary process of going from table to table to personally thank guests for their well wishes and to collect cards and gifts. However, it's not unusual that it's organized on the morning of the wedding day. There are many fascinating wedding traditions all around the world, and the Vietnamese culture certainly doesn't lack them. When attending a traditional Vietnamese wedding, make sure you are wearing something formal. A big difference comes from various materials, decoration on the dress, hiring a designer or available in shops on the street. Depending on the size of this family, this may take some time, but it demonstrates respect and togetherness. Another symbol of prosperity, apart from the red colors, is the odd number of these . Nguyen goes on to share that, "similar to the Western tradition of an engagement and engagement party, the m Hi is the ceremony during which the groom officially asks for the bride's hand in marriage. The north of Vietnam, including the capital Hanoi and other cities/areas like Ninh Binh and Halong Bay, as well as Central Vietnam, like Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An, is noticeably more traditional and modest than the far south. Of course, costumes that are too colorful, sophisticated, or outfits only for funerals and worshiping occasions should not appear at a wedding party. Today, it is possible to see men wearing these at celebrations like weddings in Vietnam or around TET (New Year). This is also where both sides will introduce themselves with family introductions, a welcome speech and prayer. Important Colors and Attire 7. Upon arrival, the groom and his family will ask for permission to marry. Besides shoes, a pair of sandals will be of much use when traveling in Vietnam. The most important thing you should pay attention to isnot to upstage the bride. Chan explains that "parents typically take the couple to a temple to find an auspicious date and time. At the wedding of my brother, the wedding location was used as stand in for both of their homes. Bride Spotlight: How to Complement Your Wedding Qipao with the Perfect Hair Accessory. As far as the venueis concerned, it tends to be influenced by the couple's religion, with Catholic churches possibly being the most popular choice. "A lot of weddings are using whites and neutral tones for their colors, so I'd steer clear of thoseespecially cream, ivory . Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? The larger number of gifts are, the more significant amount of wealth is displayed. Hannah writes and edits articles for The Knot Worldwide, with a focus on real wedding coverage. Having covered traditional Vietnamese clothing as well as what most Vietnamese wear on normal days, lets now address the burning question youre probably asking: what should I wear in Vietnam? This breakdown of the 5 essential elements of a wedding o di will hopefully help you navigate through choosing or designing an o di for your big day. One of the most interesting things about traditional Vietnamese weddings is that theBuddhist monk or a fortune-tellersets the wedding date. Due to this, it gives the illusion of a taller bride. These two shades combined are thought to represent ''double happiness'', thus guaranteeing a good start to a marriage. Although some Vietnamese couples prefer organizing modern Asian wedding ceremonies, the vast majority of them decide to stick to traditional ones. Here are the things you should rememberNOTto do or wear or do while in Vietnam: Here are some situations and times when youMUSTbe covered up, which means, cover up from shoulders down to below your knee(about 3 inches below the knee is recommended): Here are some additional clothing tips for you while visiting or living in Vietnam: Following the above dress code for Vietnam shows respect to a culture that is different from yours. I know virtually nothing about Vietnam, I'll be there for the first time in my life. Vietnamese business people wear pretty typical international business attire that means suits for men, and formal shirt/blouse or suits for women. The bride can choose to use one, two wedding dresses or maybe more at her wedding party. The ceremony is significant in Vietnamese culture, as marriage is not only viewed as a union of two people, but also the union of two families." Well, they are popular for a reason they are not only light and comfy but also suitably modest. 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