Hosting a Chinese Theme Reception

The Chinese refer to wedding receptions as a banquets, and rightly so. The food is available in abundance and lavishly prepared. Although the wedding banquet food portions have been slightly modified, the dishes themselves remain a favorite among couples. For your Chinese theme reception, begin with the food orange chicken, wonton soup, pot stickers, egg rolls, beef and broccoli and lots of rice. Nothing helps create the right atmosphere for your Chinese theme reception than the aroma of rich, wonderful food.

Break The Ice At A Chinese Theme Reception With Games

Before the Chinese theme reception commences, and with it the wonderful dinner, the guests may indulge in a few Chinese games. Use this time to allow the guests to take photographs with you and your new spouse, mingle with the family and friends you have invited, and enjoy themselves. Playing Chinese games will allow everyone to relax after the ceremony and put them in the mood to celebrate your big day.

Chinese Wedding Reception Banquet

The signal that food is served comes in the form of a resounding xylophone note, with DJ music to follow. Traditionally, the food will be served only after the best man and maid of honor have a chance to congratulate the couple. After that, bring out the food in courses or serve it family style or buffet style whatever suits your budget and time schedule.

The food on the menu is fit for a king and queen. The Chinese take their food seriously and its evident in the traditional 8-course reception banquet meal. Ranging from fried rice or noodles, to roast pig, lobster salad, fruit, soup and a snack, each food carries a meaning: joy, long life, riches, and more.

Even the number of courses served is significant. Cognac and whisky accompany the meal. While the soup course is being served, take the opportunity to go from table to table and show appreciation to your guests with a toast.

Chinese Wedding Reception Decorating

Traditionally, all Chinese theme reception decorations, from balloons to the tablecloths, are red. The Chinese associate red with happiness and prosperity and what is more befitting a wedding reception than a happy, prosperous color?

Who Does What At A Chinese Wedding Reception?

Unlike American weddings, the grooms parents are responsible for paying for the feast at the reception. But these days, many couples are picking up the tab themselves. Guests are usually requested to bring along a monetary gift to help reimburse the couple for money spent on the feast.

Traditionally, the grooms parents also choose the menu after the guest list has been decided. They even have the right to alter the guest list as they see fit, even refuse guests if they wish. Of course this tradition, may not appeal to you. Just dont tell the parents!

Seating Arrangements At Chinese Wedding Receptions

Emphasis should be placed on positioning your guests at round tables, to keep up with tradition in your Chinese theme reception. Guests who are not acquainted with each other should not be seated at the same table. Instead, group family members and friends together for a more comfortable experience.

Tradition Of Pranks At Chinese Wedding Receptions

Rather than clinking glasses, the bridesmaids and groomsmen have a tradition of playing pranks on the wedding couple to congratulate them. The groom is the one who mostly bears the brunt of these pranks to repay the bride for all the tricks he played on her before the ceremony. Though you can hardly plan the pranks of others, often informing the groomsmen of this tradition is enough to start the wheels turning toward a fun time for the groom at your Chinese theme wedding reception.

About the Author

Valeria Vegas has a Masters degree in Writing and regularly writes for a local newspaper. She also teaches writing workshops in San Francisco and has taught high school English. As a freelance job, she corrects essays for the SAT and ACT through Pearson scoring as well as write copy for websites. She is the Associate Editor of a literary magazine, edit manuscripts for Behler publications, and works for authors independently. One of her stories was named Notable Story of 2004 by Million Writers.