by Karen Vander
I had another opportunity to attend a Chinese wedding this weekend in Manhattan. I was told this was a Cantonese style wedding. Last weekend I attended a Fujianese wedding. To an outsider, which I am probably classified as, both weddings’ traditions and styles may look the same. However I was awarded with an honorary Asian membership from my club of Asian friends and have learned a great deal about the subtleties between the various factions of Chinese groups. I think I may know a thing or two but certainly correct me if I am wrong.
The brides are on a honeymoon. This is not a photo of the actual bride of the weddings I attended. (Photo source: Oriental Wedding Studio of NY Inc.)
To an outsider looking at both weddings, it would look the same because the themes and colors are greatly similar. Red and gold are widely used. From red table cloths to red napkins to gold letterings of the bride and groom’s last name pasted on the wall, it was the same for both weddings. The way the meals were served was the same. Yummy courses after courses kept on coming nonstop the whole night.
This wedding banquet started with appetizers which consisted of various sliced meats, jellyfish, and various types of nuts shaped like dragons and phoenixes and served chilled. I found out every meal has a very special symbol behind it. Even the number of courses is also significant. At a Chinese wedding, eight courses are usually served. In Chinese, the word “eight” sounds like “good luck in making a fortune”
Here’s my best recollection of what was served at the wedding:
Appetizer meal
Sliced meats, jellyfish, seaweeds served chill
Roast Suckling Pig - Roasted pork is a symbol of virginity.
Shark fin soup symbolizes wealth
Shark’s Fin Soup - The soup symbolizes wealth because this delicacy is very expensive.
Red is the color for happiness
Peking Duck and Lobster - Red is the color for happiness. Serving Peking duck and lobster would symbolize joy.
Abalone for long life.
Abalone - A delicacy to wish long life. If you think lobster and filet mignon is a pricey ticket item, think again. This is the mother of all shellfish. This goes for $50-$75 per pound wholesale.
Butterfly Mayo Shrimp - Not sure what this means, but it was very delicious.
Fish - The word fish “fish”” sounds like “plentiful” in Chinese. This meal hopes to bring the couple a fulfilling life of having everything they dreamt about.
Sweet Red Bean Soup - The hot sweet red bean soup contained lotus seeds and a bark-like vegetable to wish the newlyweds a hundred years of togetherness.
Seafood fried rice and noodles - The noodles served at the end symbolize longevity because noodles come in long strands. Its also used to fill you up in case you were busy all night drinking and socializing missing all the yummy meals.
The meals served at this Cantonese wedding varied greatly with the courses served at last weekend’s Fujianese wedding. Without going into great details about each course, but the following delicacies were served at the Fujianese wedding:
Snails, large steamed shrimps, lobsters, frogs, seafood soup
Snail served at the Fujianese wedding
All the above photos are for reference only. Not actual photos of the dish I had
It’s a lot different then the Western type wedding where you often presented with 3 or four choices of Filet Mignon steak, shrimp, chicken, or sea bass fish. You only get to pick a single dish. The dishes served at this wedding are memorable that I certainly recommend regardless what nationality and what type of wedding you are having, you should consider having your wedding food in Cantonese style!
Now that you seen all the delectable meals. See the brides in action in a future coming article. These brides are currently on their honeymoon.
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