chinese wedding ceremony

One month ago one of my old Chinese friends got married. I met him when I was in Shanghai. We have done so many things together. We used to eat out, used to have good times together. He was always helping me to improve my Chinese. I still remember I asked so many questions, and he answered them consistently. He corrected my pronunciation mistakes, showed me how I should start to write a character, told me what is the best way to learn Chinese in the shortest time possible. I learned a lot in his hands.
He used to come to my room and cook Chinese foods. Thanks to him I got used to eat Chinese foods. I invited him to eat Turkish foods too. I also was invited to his home to have a dinner. His mother cooked assorted foods for us. That day was the birthday of his mother and we celebrated it as well. It was a good and unforgettable night.
Due to different cultures, sometimes we really had difficulty to understand each other. Once we went to an amusement park and went boating on the small lake. After a while, I bored with rowing. I begun to plash water on him for making him laugh and making environment funnier, but he looked at me as if I was out of my mind. He asked why I did it and didn’t believe when I said it was just a joke. After explanation he finally convinced that it wasn’t intentional.
We were really bosom friends till I left from shanghai. We are still good friends of course but I am afraid not as good as before. Thanks God I am still working to keep in touch with him. That is why I was invited to wedding. :))
It would be the first time for me to attend a Chinese wedding. I actually didn’t like any kind of ceremony such as wedding, engagement, funeral and so on, but you can understand it is necessary after growing up. Because you are invited personally. I asked some married Chinese couples how a Chinese wedding take place and what should I do during the wedding ceremony. They told me that I must get an envelope – it should be red, coz red color is regarded as chance in Chinese society- and put an amount of money and give it to bridegroom before entering the ceremony. Bride & Groom already welcome you before the door of the saloon. You should offer the red envelope to the bridegroom at that time.
They showed us a table to sit at until the wedding started. I sat with some of bridegroom’s relatives. We talked each other all during wedding. They were very friendly, hospitable, thoughtful and nice people. In the beginning of the wedding, bride and groom were called to the stage; and asked some questions such as where they did met and how, how much they love each other and a dozen of such question. :)) Then both of bride and groom told to each other good and romantic words and they also told to the guests the qualities they like in each other. Then dinner was served to the guests. And another thing attracted my attention was that bridegroom have walked around the tables one after another and propose a toast with the guests sit round the table. When the wedding finished, bride already have gotten drunk and he had difficulty in standing. I didn’t know how they have slept at that night after got drunk like that. J J ahahaha It is none of my business
In Turkiye you can see some wedding dinner ceremonies but most of wedding held without serving meal. In the days of old, people serve dinner during ceremonies and it was a custom in Anatolia but today weddings are arranged and held at wedding salons and it is only served cake and drinks. And it takes maximum three hours. My friend’s wedding ceremony was so monotone at least it was so in my sight. Let alone guests, even bridegroom didn’t dance. In our marriage ceremonies not only bridegroom but also people who come to wedding – especially youngs – dance named halay in Turkish. Every part of Turkey has its own kind of dance style. Chinese culture is a different culture. I didn’t find any fun while Chinese people had a great time during wedding. Yeah, they were content with the situation. :))
I don’t want to get marry with a Chinese girl, so my wedding ceremony won’t be like this at all. Actually I don’t like any kind of marriage ceremonies, I want to have a simple ceremony when I marry if my wife agree with me. I hope she would agree. :))