求婚 kau4 fan1 To proposal, proposal

訂婚 ding6 fan1 To be engaged; engagement

提親 tai4 caan1 To ask the bride’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage

送贈 sung3 zeng3 To give

聘禮 ping3 lai5 Betrothal gifts

嫁妝 gaa3 zong1 The money that the groom’s family gives to the bride’s family as betrothal gift

選擇良辰吉日 syun2 zaak3 loeng4 can4 gat1 jat6 *Note: Usually colloquially simplified as “擇日” zaak3 jat2 with the “日” jat2 pronounced with tone 2 to have a staccato effect.

準備 zeon3 bei6  To prepare

婚禮 fan1 lai5 Wedding, can also be

婚宴 fan1 jyan3 Wedding banquet, usually used to specify the grand banquet held to celebrate the marriage. Traditional dishes and a ceremonial toast are part of the celebration.

發送請柬 faat3 sung3 cing2 gaan2 Sending out invitations

婚紗 fan1 saa1  A western style wedding dress

裙褂 kwan4 gwaa3 A traditional Cantonese wedding dress that usually has auspicious designs such as flowers on it. Designs with dragons and phoenixes are usually referred as 龍鳳褂 (lung4 fung6 gwaa3 Dragon-Phoneix Kwaa)

傳統服飾 cyun4 tung2 fuk6 sik1 Traditional outfits

婚禮當天儀式 fan1 lai5 dong1 tin1 ji4 sik1 The Wedding Day Rituals

敬茶儀式 ging3 caa4 ji4 sik1 Tea ceremony – The couple serves tea to their parents and elderly relatives as a sign of respect and to receive blessings.

敬茶 ging3 caa4 To present a cup of tea respectfully with both hands, and ask them to drink tea by saying the name or relationship title that you are to call them + 請飲茶. Example: 老爺,請飲茶 (lou5 je4, cing2 jam2 caa4 Father-in-law, please drink tea).

迎娶儀式 jing4 ceoi2 ji4 sik1 Bride’s departure Ritual – The groom and his entourage arrive at the bride’s home to pick her up. This involves various playful and symbolic rituals, such as passing through a series of “tests” set by the bride’s friends. Many weddings today take inspiration from TV game shows such as 掌門人 (TVB’s Super Trio game show) to make an age-old tradition lively and fun with a modern twist.    

婚宴安排 fan1 jin3 an3 pai4 Wedding event; the wedding event organization

婚後儀式 fan1 hau6 ji4 sik1 Post-Wedding Rituals

回門 wui4 mun4 Procession to the Groom’s Home – The bride is escorted to the groom’s home, often accompanied by a procession and sometimes with a lion dance for good luck.

三朝回門 saam1 ciu1 wui4 mun4 The couple returns to the bride’s parents’ home on the third day after the wedding to pour tea and honour her parents.