Once the couple decided to get married, their parents will bring their birth'dates to a fortune teller to perform an analysis and then choose an auspicious day for the wedding, by referring to a chinese horoscope book "Tong Shu".
Several months before the wedding, the groom's family will send their relatives (usually married couple) to the bride's family to discuss about the marriage arrangement: The dowry, bridal cakes, gifts...
The couple will then research on the wedding package and take wedding photos.
Photos source:Wei Wei Bridal Shop
Photos source:QIQ house
About one month before the marriage, the bride will choose a day according to the chinese horoscope, to decorate her future room, and to distribute the bridal cakes to family and friends. The groom and bride will also distribute out the wedding invitation cards.
Photos sources:Bee's Wedding Cake, XinGuang's product
"The bachelor" party is not common in Malaysia, but the bride and the groom will have the buffet dinner at their place the night before the wedding.
Note: The civil wedding and the ceremony are usually separated. The couple will choose a day for the civil wedding, usually in a temple, an association or government agencies, who have been assigned the power from the government to conduct a civil wedding. This is usually attended only by both side's family. The attire is not that important except that the couple are not allowed to wear jeans for this occasion. This civil wedding could be done before the wedding ceremony or after the wedding ceremony, depending on each couple. Some people who have been legally married (gone through the civil wedding) will only considered themselves "being married" after the wedding ceremony.
Photos source:Eric and Lee Kean's homepage
Early morning, the bride will have her hair and makeup done in her house or in the bridal salon. For some family, the parents will put the veil for the bride. She will then wait for the groom to come.
The groom comes with a group of his friends, who will help him go through some tasks set by the bride's friends, to eventually reach the bride. Some tasks are very creative and funny. Usually the groom will try to "bribe" the girls with angpow (red envelope stuff with money). Note that this "games" will go on as long as it doesn't past the "good time" of the day.
 The bride getting ready |
 The groom arrived |
 Negotiating to enter the house |
 Counting money to pay for the entrance fee |
 Passing through the obstacle |
 Bride's maids ready to fight |
 Playing games set by the bride's maids |
 Groom's friends taking up the tasks |
 Trying to get through the door to see the bride |
Once the groom and his friends successfully passed through all the tasks, he will be able to enter the room and kiss his bride. They will then pray to their ancestors, following by a tea ceremony. The couple will serve tea to the eldery and get angpow or some gift in return. After that they will be served tea from their younger family members and it's their turn to give angpow.
 Successfully get to the bride |
Pray to the ancestor |
 Serve tea to the eldery |
 The young serve tea to the couple |
Once the tea ceremony is completed, the couple will go to the groom's house. They will have the same praying and tea ceremony to do to the groom's side's family. If they do not live with their parents, they will then go to their own house. Some couple will rest at home to prepare for the wedding dinner in the evening, or they will go to take outdoor pictures in a selected place.
Nowadays, most of the couple will have joint wedding dinner, in which both side's family will invite their relatives and friends. Guests who attend the wedding will usually give angpow to help finance the wedding dinner. During the dinner, the couple and their family will go on a stage to express their gratitude to their guests and say "Yamsheng" to everyone. At the end of the dinner, the couple and the family will usually stand beside the exit to say goodbye to everyone.
 Pour the champagne |
 Go on stage to greet the guests |
 Yamsheng to everyone |
 Say goodbye to the guests |
Texts in this page are written by Bee Ean.