While you probably would get criticized as a racist for doing this in the US, here in Vietnam, it is unlikely that anyone will care. The Wedding Dress (Ao Dai) Ao Dai is the name of a traditional Vietnamese wedding dress. For example, the north of Vietnam is generally a little more traditional and modest than the south. Both the bride and the groom can wear it, although the color varies slightly. Avoid a white envelope, that's only used at funerals (in southern China at least). "For example, if the groom was born in the year of the dragon, the bride may incorporate fabric with a dragon design into her attire." 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This article walks you through what to say during your wedding tea ceremony to show respect and gratitude to your elders and unite your two families as one. It's safe to say don't wear red. It's also the time for the newlyweds to exchange their vows and rings. Even though centuries have passed, the beauty of traditional Vietnamese weddings remains and defies time. Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? Learn how your comment data is processed. Vietnamese wedding symbols appear on a pair of pilows of the couple, decoration items such as wall stickers, album covers, clothes used to cover the lacquered boxes (mm trp), invitation cards, etc. One bow represents our gratitude to our parents for raising us to who we are. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Brides usually wear a traditional Vietnamese wedding dress or modern ao dai, and the most popular colors are white and red. After marriage, Vietnamese women graduate to wearing richer, more vibrant colored o di. I know virtually nothing about Vietnam, I'll be there for the first time in my life. 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. Don't worry about not speaking Vietnamese, as little communication is needed for the groomsmen; they're mostly the bearers of the gifts. Attending a wedding of a Vietnamese couple soon? Shorts are also fairly common, as are sandals, for both men and women. It would surely impress the to-be-weds.". 3. The red color symbolizes good fortune, and it is the locals share the same thinking as the Chinese. A few choose their own designer to make their own wedding dress. We will help you learn about the types of costumes that will be used in Vietnamese weddings, including: The first thing to know is the different parts of a wedding. I wouldn't worry about it too much. The bride can choose to use one, two wedding dresses or maybe more at her wedding party. Purple florals represent sadness, and white florals represent funerals and death, so they are a big no for wedding guests. In regard to structure, the engagement ceremony or m Hi is "almost step-by-step a mirror of the wedding," explains Bui. Finally, the union is bonded by the candle lighting custom, where the couple light a dragon and phoenix candle. They will offer reasonable prices for the wedding dress, saving you a lot of money without renting a designer. The tea and candle ceremony is one of the most symbolic events. The gifts will be placed on or near an altar for the ancestors. It's popular for the parents to take the couple to a temple where a monk or even a fortune teller will choose a date for a ceremony. In other cities, almost no famous designer can be found. Family and friends who carry red gift boxes also wears ao daifor the ladies and pants and a shirt for the men. Of course, regardless of the choice, the beauty and splendor factor is still the top selection criterion of every Vietnamese bride. Auspicious Wedding Date Selecting a wedding date is one of the first steps in planning a wedding. Silk is smooth and soft feeling with a lustrous finish and chiffon is sheer and gauze-like. Afterward, the bride's family will offer gifts to the couple. Ao dai attire is still widely used in most of the Vietnamese wedding. 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. Most brides will have several outfit changes, with red being one of the dresses, if not the main one. Anything that could be construed as white or ivory is going to be frowned upon at a wedding. Therefore, avoid wearing something similar to what the bride will wear and try not to choose white, red, and pastel colors. Please fill out the form to contact us for any requests! Bright colors are a must. Keep scrolling to learn more about this unique Southern wedding tradition. Source: The Star, Her World Brides. Almost everyVietnamese man wears casual trousers or jeans and a shirt,unless they have a job that requires specific clothing or uniform. Should they are given one, they will receive an invitation to come inside where gifts are exchanged, and the ceremony can continue. A small number of young people or close friends can choose the modern Vietnamese clothes more freely, such as skirts, or fashionable dresses, but must ensure polite, discreet and bright elements. Give money, wear regular formal attire. In Vietnam, the bride and groom and the wedding entourage will wear elaborate o di at the traditional ceremony, then guests will show up for the reception in simpler but equally colourful designs. Although some Vietnamese couples prefer organizing modern Asian wedding ceremonies, the vast majority of them decide to stick to traditional ones. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, February-March 2023 Photo Competition: Renovated. Along with the Western wedding dress, brides also wear the o Di, the traditional Vietnamese dress. This is where the groom will present her bouquet to her. You caneven wear black, which is one of the unique things about Vietnamese wedding culture. ", Nguyen elaborates, sharing that "Vietnamese couples honor their elders by involving them in each step of the wedding process leading up to the reception. It appears that your cart is currently empty! Heres what to know about the traditional Vietnamese wedding gifts. We hope we were able to help you decide what to wear when invited to a traditional Vietnamese wedding. Red and Yellow are the traditional colors of a Buddhist fortune teller. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. In Vietnamese culture, there are three ceremonies: a formal engagement ceremony when the groom's family asks the bride's parents if their son can marry their daughter. In their mid to late 20's, Vietnamese women will wear pastel shaded ones. Except for some ethnic minority areas, the traditional costumes that Vietnamese brides use to perform important wedding ceremonies in their lives are ao dai and turban. By drinking the tea, the elders signify the acceptance of the couple's marriage and offer advice for a long-lasting, healthy marriage. The second is to acknowledge as we grow and become successful, our parents get older and weaker. 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. After the wedding ceremony, the bride should say goodbye to her parents and follow the groom to his house where the reception is held. Guests are encouraged to wear brightly colored clothes to signify happiness for the couple," advises Nguyen. I'll post my own findings as an answer because it's too long for a comment. Most noticeable and outstanding is the brides wedding dress. Once that has been dealt with, a bride's mother escorts her to her husband-to-be. The groom himself will be at the end of the procession, often carrying a bouquet. 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. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. How to derive the state of a qubit after a partial measurement? Since my parents were very poor and got married in a rush to flee Vietnam, they did not get to do many of the traditional things outside of both parents blessing the wedding. If you find yourself in a situation where you can have an intelligent conversation with a Vietnamese person regarding this topic,try to explain your sidewithout being too arrogant. As an accessory to the dress, they wear a headband resembling a halo - or rather, Khan Dong. This doesnt mean you have to. It's also very. Why did the Soviets not shoot down US spy satellites during the Cold War? The format is as follows: Upon the arrival of each guest, a couple will take a photo with them at the venue's entrance. They may challenge him to push-ups, jumping jacks and other activities to show that he is strong.". As for going shirtless anywhere besides the beach, that would be a no-no. Thats why I usually prefer an umbrella instead. At this point, the couple may exchange jewelry, placing wedding rings on each other's fingers, and if there was a gift of jewelry in the procession earlier, this will be ceremoniously put on the bride. 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. Can you see many wedding dress designers in Vietnam. What to wear in Vietnam is also going to vary by season. For example, in the northwestern highlands around Sapa, many women dress differently according to their tribe (see image above). A part of the ceremony is when we bow twice to our parents. You will find bottles of the most expensive Cognac, stick rice, luxury teas, desserts, fruits and items that symbolize prosperity, wealth and luck. Although local men dont usually wear tank tops, they are totally accustomed to seeing male travelers wearing them. Grooms can also wear suits and white dress shirts. Usually, a few rich people will ask famous designers (such as general clothing designers) to design and sew on demand. Here's what you need to know before relocating to Vietnam: Back to Cheongsam Corner | East Meets Dress. Because the price is quite high for choosing a specific designer for wedding dresses and suits, it seems impossible to find a designer specializing in wedding dress in Vietnam. It traditionally features a mandarin collar, long sleeves, and side slits that go down from the waist to ankle. Le don dau or Vu Quy (The wedding reception). The brides dress is mostly pink or red. Price levels depend on the fabric and the stores reputation. In the past, these could indicate a mans position in the social hierarchy. It traditionally features a mandarin collar, long sleeves, and side slits that go down from the waist to ankle. Today, it is possible to see men wearing these at celebrations like weddings in Vietnam or around TET (New Year). The groom, accompanied by the groomsmen and all of the groom's family goes to the home of the bride to claim her. However, since it used to be a French colony, French is the most popular second language. . The meals were as orchestrated as the whole event, which ended at 9 pm on the spot. ", Food is a big part of Vietnamese wedding celebrations as is alcohol, notably cognac. 4. Vietnamese wedding ceremony. If youre visiting in the rainy season, youre going to want to bring some clothing that can dry out quickly. It is best to avoid flamboyant or brought colors - typical, darker, or neutral colors are best. Sometimes the bride's family will challenge the groom to show that he has the strength to take care of his future wife. Ao Dai is the name of a traditional Vietnamese wedding dress. The gifts were to be placed into a box on a big decorated table near the entry of the hall. 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. This article walks you through what to say during your wedding tea ceremony to show respect and gratitude to your elders and unite your two families as one. Learn about the wedding traditions that make Czech weddings charmingly unique. There are no major surprises here. During this wedding tradition, two families are brought together to have aformal meeting during which the groom and his family ask for the bride's hand in marriage. Bridal gowns are mostly rented at wedding rental shops. Some travelers like to dress in an Ao Dai for taking pictures in Vietnam, just like many visitors to Japan dress up in a kimono. The first is the time of year that the wedding will take place. Most of the options are suit with trousers, white shirt, light tie, and elegant vest. It is a circular headdress for the bride and groom to wear during m Hi that typically matches their respective o di. The performance was widely panned for various reasons, but Bassett clearly thought the response was overkill. Think light, loose, breathable materials, especially if you sweat a lot. Is Koestler's The Sleepwalkers still well regarded? Tank tops are not OK, nor are sandals. A new wedding dress by hiring a designer can cost from 100 million to billions of dong. What to Say During Your Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony. Groom's outfit: 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. Just like at the ceremony, at the party, the grooms costume is not too fancy. "The bride's parents will escort the bride to finally see her partner. Once this is done, the bride will be escorted into the room to applause, and the groom may present the bride with her bouquet.". While red is the most well-known wedding color in Chinese culture, green is actually one of the traditional Chinese wedding dress colors. Can I use a vintage derailleur adapter claw on a modern derailleur. In HCMC typically people will go about 1-2 hours later than the invited time (i.e. When coming to the country as a tourist, it is important tounderstand how to properly dress in Vietnam, both toshow respectand tostay out of trouble. Heres a detailed guide to the weather by month across Vietnam. Brides typically have three outfit changes throughout the day. Family of the couple and wedding guests may also opt to wear an o di. Even though many Vietnamese couples nowadays decide to have amodern wedding, some still prefer to tie the knot in a traditional way. Chan explains that a lion dancer performance "is to bless the couple for a long and happy marriage. "Each family is different, the teapot can be filled with tea or it may be filled with alcohol. simple relocation to this beautiful country, The 5 Essential Elements of a Bridal o Di, Imaginative and Fabulous Wedding Venue Ideas. Family members are assigned to light candles and incense to honor their ancestors and serve tea to their parents, grandparents and elders. 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. Robertshaw mentions keeping in mind that, as a guest, you want the couple, as well as their wedding party, to stand out. It isn't particularly unusual as people in this country believe that holy matrimony isn't solely a union between a man and a woman. Vietnamese tradition doesn't neatly fall into any of the world's major religions, so the prayers are directed to the ancestors of the couple and involve an altar with lit candles and small offerings of food, sometimes as well as incense sticks that the penitents will clasp in their hands until their silent prayers are done, at which point after an obeisance, they will place the stick of incense in a small censer. Besides, although there is no mandatory rule on the color of the wedding dress, most people are aware that they should only choose to wear shirts and skirts with fresh and bright colors. View. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. This does not affect the fact that the couple is officially recognized as husband and wife. The most important thing you should pay attention to is, . However, it's not unusual that it's organized on the morning of the wedding day. Black and white should be avoided; these . 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