Cupcakes in the Big Apple City
Sugar Sweet Sunshine - Cupcake Cafe - Laura's Cupcake Shack - Kumquat Cupcakery

Let us take a break from our Chinese Wedding series today and focus on the novel wedding cake idea - Wedding Cupcakes Tree! Well...although the idea of replacing traditional tiered wedding cake with cupcakes tree is not a totally new idea, but it only gains its popularity recently. People starting to be creative!

Definition of cupcake {Wikipedia.org}:
A cupcake (the common US, Canadian, and Australian term) or fairy cake (the common British term), is a small cake designed to serve one person, frequently baked in a small, thin paper cup. As with large cakes, frosting and other cake decorations, such as sprinkles, are common on cupcakes.

Here is a little cupcake history found at {Cupcakes Take the Cake} blog:
A "cup" cake in 19th Century America might have been a small cake, but it was not necessarily so. They were so called because the ingredients for them were measured in cups instead of weighed, as had been the custom. According to "Baking in America" by Greg Patent, this was revolutionary because of the tremendous time it saved in the kitchen.

Whether it was a "cup", "measure" or "number" cake, the shift to measuring from weighing was indeed a significant one, according to "The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America." But it goes on to explain that the cup name had a double meaning because of the practice of baking in small containers - including tea cups.

The cups were for convenience because hearth ovens took an extremely long time to bake a large cake -- and early cakes, by the way, were enormous -- and burning was common. Gem pans, early muffin tins, were common in households around the turn of the 20th Century and cupcakes were then baked in those.

(And if you are wondering, it was 1919 when Hostess introduced the famous snack cupcake, but it did not become the cream-filled, squiggle-topped Hostess Cup Cake we know today until 1950.)

It is interesting to note that the cakes were likely called "number" cakes because of a mnemonic device for remembering the recipe: one cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three cups of flour and four eggs plus one cup of milk and one spoonful of soda.

The formula become known as the one-two-three-four cake, and today's cupcakes are mostly still made with similar traditional cake ingredients.


Busy with your wedding planning and has no time to make your own cupcakes? That's always the case for busy New Yorkers including myself. Guess what? We are lucky that we live in the city with creative cupcake artists everywhere at affordable prices. They never failed to show us how to turn the unlimited imaginations into an artsy CUPCAKE!

Here are four(4) simple profiles of the local cupcakery:

1. Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery (By Peggy & Debbie, since winter 2003)


126 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002.
Tel: 212.995.1960
Fax: 212.995.1962
Email: info@sugarsweetsunshine.com
Web site: http://www.sugarsweetsunshine.com

Operation hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-10pm
Friday 8am-11pm
Saturday 10am-11pm
Sunday 10am-7pm

- Menu -

Pricing:
Cupcake $1.50 each, or $18 per dozen (12 pieces)

Flavors: (copied from sugar sweet sunshine web site)
1. Sunshine - Yellow cake with vanilla butter cream
2. Bob - Yellow cake with chocolate almond butter cream
3. Ooey Gooey - Chocolate cake with chocolate almond butter cream
4. Sexy Red Velvet - Red Velvet cake with "The Moose"
5. Sassy Red Velvet - Red Velvet cake with chocolate almond butter cream
6. Black & White...Just right - Chocolate cake with vanilla butter cream
7. Pistachio - Pistachio cake with "The Moose"
8. Pumpkin -Pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing
9. Lemon Yummy - Lemon cake with lemon butter cream
10. Coconut - Coconut cake with meringue
11. Faux Coconut - Coconut cake with satin butter cream

Decorations:
Sprinkles & Decons - Free
Drawings & Corporate logos - Price upon request
Basic decorations - $5
Inscriptions - $2

- Delivery -
Available (delivery fee depends on location)

- Payment -
Cash, Visa, Master, and American Express are accepted.


2. Cupcake Cafe (since 1988)



18 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011.
Tel: 212.465.1530
Email: info@cupcakecafe.com
Web site: http://www.cupcakecafe-nyc.com/

Operation hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm
Sunday 9am-5pm

- Menu -

Pricing (Ordered cupcake):
Small cupcake (2 1/4") - $2.75
Large cupcake (3 1/2") - $4.00
* Regular cupcake is decorated with a single flower.

Flavors: (Six in-store cupcake flavors copied from cupcake cafe web site)
1. Chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream
2. Chocolate cake with vanilla butter cream
3. Chocolate cake with mocha butter cream
4. Vanilla cake with vanilla butter cream
5. Vanilla cake with chocolate butter cream
6. "Bohemian": Walnut cake with maple butter cream

Decorations:
Extra flower cupcakes, or special design cupcakes - $4.50 and up
Multi-flower bouquet cupcakes: Small - $6.50 and up
Large - $9.50 and up

- Delivery -
Deliver anywhere within Manhattan for an additional fee.
Pricing depends on location.

- Payment -
All major credit cards are accepted.


3. Laura's Cupcake Shack



Tel: 646.670.0887

Email: lauravalois@msn.com
Web site: http://laurascupcakeshack.com/

- Menu -

Pricing:
Regular cupcake: Range from $2.00 to $2.75
Fondant cupcake: $3.00 and up

Flavors: (Partial)
1. Vanilla cake with vanilla frosting
2. Vanilla cake with chocolate frosting
3. Chocolate cake with vanilla frosting
4. Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting
5. Red Velvet cake with cream cheese

Decorations:
Every cupcake is made with color, theme, or character.

- Delivery -
Deliveries are being made up to Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, and New Jersey. Additional fees apply.

- Payment -
Contact Laura


4. Kumquat Cupcakery (since October 15, 2007)


Brooklyn Brownstoners Flea Market
Lafayette Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Do Hwa Restaurant
55 Carmine Street, New York, NY 10014.
Tel: 212.414.1224

Dames
503 1st Street, Hoboken, NJ

Email: orders@kumquatcupcakery.com
Web site: http://www.kumquatcupcakery.com/index.php

- Menu -

Pricing:
Miniature cupcake - $15 per dozen (12 pieces)

Flavors: (Partial)
1. Banana cake with light cream cheese frosting and carmalized banana
2. Lemon cake with lavender frosting
3. Chocolate cake with peanut butter cream and frosting
4. Strawberry cake with vanilla butter cream and frosting

* To view the complete list, please visit their web site at http://www.kumquatcupcakery.com/index.php

- Delivery -
Minimum order for delivery - Three (3) dozen cupcakes
Deliveries are being made up to 100th Street in Manhattan, Williamsburg, Green Point, Fort Green, Park Slope, and Carol Gardens in Brooklyn.


Reside outside of New York City and you are looking for cupcake elsewhere?
Here is the guide to your local cupcake vendors (by All Thing Cupcake): http://www.allthingscupcake.com/find-local-cupcakes/


Enjoy planning!





Source:
Cupcake, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupcake
Cupcake history, Cupcake Take The Cake, http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com

Chinese Wedding
Bridal Bed Installation

What's next after gift return ceremony?

It is time to look up an auspicious day and set up your bridal bed. The bridal bed installation is usually take place a week before the wedding day.

But...you are not the one setting up the bridal bed; two lucky persons (a male and a female) who are considered to have good fortune (blessed with good marriage; healthy and living husband/wife, children, and grandchildren) will be invited to perform the bridal bed installation ritual instead.

On selected auspicious date and time, the good fortune man will move the bridal bed to the right place^ and the lady will make the bed with new set of bedding linen. The lady will then scatter various dried fruits and food with special meaning on top of the bedding. (See shopping list below.)

Shopping list:

1. New Bedding Set

Traditional Chinese wedding bedding linens are usually in red or pink. There are some popular designs such as double happiness symbol, dragon-phoenix features, and beautiful peonies. Today, more couples choose plain red/maroon bed linen over traditional bed linen with embroidery. It is more practical and being able to incorporate their personalities to home decorations, and yet paying respect to their rich heritage back in the old times (red as the signature of lucky).

2. Red Dates

3. Dried Longans

4. Dried Lychees

5. Dried Persimmons (柿子)

Item 2, 3, 4, and 5 are all sweet in nature. Therefore, they are used to bless the marriage with sweetness.

6. Lotus Seeds (莲子)

Lotus seeds are used as an omen of fertility (连生贵子).

7. Lily Bulbs (百合)

It symbolizes a harmony marriage (百年好合).

8. Red and Green Beans

9. Tangerines (橘子 "ju zi" in Chinese; 吉 "qat" in Cantonese)

Tangerine pronounces as qat in Cantonese (meaning good luck) and it represents a way to bring good fortunes for the newlywed. Therefore, the bigger the tangerine the luckier the newlywed is.

10. Pomelo Leaves (柚子叶)

Chinese believed that pomelo leaves can be used to ward off evil spirit, and hence, the wedding will run smoothly and bringing lucks to the newlywed.

11. Bedside Lamps in red

Lamp pronounces as "deng" 灯 in Chinese, it has a similar sound as "ding" 丁 (meaning son). Another item used as an omen of fertility to the newlywed.

12. Red Packets ("Lai See" 利是)

It represents good fortunes for the newlywed.

Then, the bridal bed will be left untouched once it is installed, until the actual wedding day. If the groom has to sleep on the installed bridal bed, he should be accompanied by a young boy. It is considered as unlucky to leave one side of the bed empty. For people from older generations, leaving one side of the bed unoccupied means to curse death on either one of the newlywed. 100% believe it or not...Once the bridal bed is installed - it is advisable either: (1) Leave it untouched until the wedding day, or, (2) Have a young boy accompanies the groom.

What to expect on actual wedding day?

Young kids (preferably a male and a female^^) stand an important role during the ceremony. Kids will be invited to jump on the bridal bed and eat the good fortune food and dried fruits on the bed, as an omen of fertility to the newlywed.
当幼童在新床上跳动时，大妗姐就会大声念 “今日结成鸳鸯侣， 他日将有男又有女“，喻意白子千孙。

That's all for the bridal bed installation ceremony.

Wondering if there is taboo for bridal bed installation ceremony? To satisfy your curiosity towards wedding taboos, please refer to the list below (partial - only those relate to bridal bed installation ceremony).

Taboos:

1. Groom should not sleep on the installed bridal bed alone, before the actual wedding day. If he has to sleep on the bed, he must be accompanied by a young boy. To leave one side of the bed unoccupied means to curse death on either one of the newlywed.

2. Women during menses are not allowed to enter the bridal room after bridal bed is installed and on the wedding day (except the bride).

3. Pregnant women should not touch the newlywed's clothing or anything in the new home.

Remarks:

^ Move the bridal bed

The bridal bed installation is merely moving the bed slightly by the good fortune man (一个意思); the actual work was done by servants or friends.

^^ Male and female kids

Another auspicious meaning for traditional Chinese wedding, because both characters combined as the word "good 好". For Chinese, male is written as "男子" (we will drop the word 男, as 子 alone represent male) and female is written as "女子"; wishing the newlywed to have many children in near future.

Happy Planning!





Source:
Malaysia Wedding Handbook, 2007, Sky Publisher
"The Chinese Bridal Bed", Chinese Wedding Guide, http://www.chinese-wedding-guide.com
"Chinese Wedding Traditions - Installing The Wedding Bed", http://myweddingplanningtips.com
"Installing The Bridal Bed", Chinese Wedding Traditions, http://www.chcp.org
"Chinese Wedding Taboos", Chinese Wedding Guide, http://www.chinese-wedding-guide.com
"Do's and Don'ts at Chinese Wedding", Complete Guide to Chinese Wedding, http://www.chinabridal.com

Photo Credits:
Customary Items for Bridal Bed Installation, http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlieloo
Bridal Bed, http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlieloo
Red Dates, http://21food.com
Dried Lychees, http://21food.com
Dried Longans, http://o-mai.com/
Dried Persimmons, http://www.allproducts.com
Lotus Seeds, http://bencaoyuan.en.ec21.com
Pomelo Leaves, Kenny Tan Photography, http://www.flickr.com/photos/knytan
Green Beans, KYFood, http://kyfood.hisupplier.com
Red Beans, http://www.thedailygreen.com
Tangerines, http://tangerines.org/
Wedding Lamps, http://emarriage.wordpress.com
Red Packets, http://emarriage.wordpress.com

Chinese Wedding
Return Gifts
(From bride's family to groom's family)

As part of the wedding traditions, the bride's family will return partial gifts of the total amount of gifts received from the groom's family. Usually, they will return half of what they have received^ from the groom's family. They include the following items: (Again, all gifts must go in pairs.)

Return gifts from the bride's family to the groom's family
(After the Betrothal Ceremony)

1. Tea

2. Fruits

3. Pomegranates (石榴)

4. Yams/Taros (芋头)

5. Lotus Roots (莲藕)

6. Gingers

7. Betel Nuts (槟榔)

Bride's family will keep one betel nut and return the rest to the groom's family; it indicates the bride's loyalty towards her future husband.

8. Lettuce

9. Sugar Canes (甘蔗)

The newlywed will bring the sugar canes to bride's family during the ceremony of "bride returning home after three days".

10. Chinese Pastries and Cakes

They include sesame seeds balls with red bean paste and Chinese steamed rice cake. Specifically, "jian dui" 煎堆 and "fa gao" 发糕. "Fa" symbolizes wealth in Chinese.

11. Cypress

12. Double-happiness-printed Towels

13. Suit (including blazer and pants) and Belt

14. Wallet (with lucky money inside)

15. A Pair of Shoes

Shoes are pronounced as "Xie" 鞋 in Mandarin; it symbolizes a harmony marriage, wishing the newlywed a everlasting marriage.


^ Return gifts: Either in terms of items from the betrothal list or substitute the return gifts with money (in red packet).



Those are the basic items to be included in return gifts.
So...jot down all items listed above in your shopping list now, so that you will not miss the important items.


Happy Planning!





Source:
Malaysia Wedding Handbook, 2007, Sky Publisher

Photo Credits:
www.teacuppa.com
www.flickr.com
www.florame.co.uk
www3.moe.edu.sg
www.iomaclothing.co.uk
www.aprilinparis.us
www.samuel-windsor.co.uk

Modernized and Simplified
Chinese Wedding
Angela & John
9.7.2008

Personal Wedding Websites are seeing grow of its popularity in today's society. Some couples who own strong belief towards greener world, choose to create their personalized wedding website as informational distribution center and as a substitution to the traditional save-the-date and invitations print outs.

After all, personalized wedding website is truly a perfect way for a engaged couple to share information with their family and friends, as well as to present plans of their wedding day. Whether or not you choose to take the website as a substitution over traditional invitations, it does not matter, because it is your personal preference. By setting up a personalized wedding website, you are giving your family and friends a chance to know and understand the two of you better; where you met each other, how you got together, and whatever stories you would like to share with your family and friends. It indirectly contributing to a more intimate wedding than you thought the wedding would be.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
While searching for Chinese Wedding Traditions online, I saw this interesting website created by the newlywed - Angela and John Liu. In their website, they documented their courtship, journey of planning the wedding, and last but not least, paying tribute to their family roots.

{Angela & John} About Us

In this page, they share their love story, their faith, their appreciation towards their family and friends who made their wedding a memorable one! Also, they created a wedding montage; putting every bit of their wedding into a uniquely theirs wedding slide show.

{Angela & John} The Wedding

Sneak peek (video clips) of their Chinese Ceremonies at home, Marriage Ceremonies at Church, and Reception at Jericho Terrace.
In addition to those video clips, they introduce their wedding party (stories of their friendship), wedding items, and wedding day logistics. Lastly, they share their wedding vendors list and reviewing each of them individually. (Hardly see any newlyweds reviewing their wedding vendors in detailed, but this newlywed did! Good job, guys! Thanks for sharing your reviews with other bride- and groom-to-be!)

{Angela & John} Traditions

They share their family stories and the traditions of Chinese ceremonies here. With that, their guests will get to know their families better, as well as to learn about Chinese wedding rituals. They are thankful to their parents' upbringings as well as being proud of their rich Chinese culture.

{Angela & John} Photos
Whole bunch of their wedding photos at Kodak Gallery!

{Angela & John} Registry
The newlywed set up their registry at Bed Bath & Beyond and Club Wedd (Target).

{Angela & John} Contact Us

In this page, you will find their contact information as well as to RSVP your attendance on their wedding day. To leave your wishes to the newlywed? Sign their guest book!

Can't wait to visit their website?!
Click here.



I really like their simple and informational website. Good job, Angela and John!
I hope it will provide some creative ideas for your own wedding website too.


Congratulations on your marriage!

Chinese Wedding
Betrothal Gifts

Now that you have done with formal proposal and birth dates assessment, it is time to find out what you have to do next. Yupe! It is time to prepare betrothal gifts. Remember: They need to be delivered up to a month or at least three days before the wedding day.

Betrothal ceremony is when two families officially acknowledge the marriage and give their blessings. An astrologist will be consulted to look up the auspicious date, and then, the groom, his relatives and matchmaker will deliver the gifts to the bride's family.

It is important to keep in mind that the total number of gifts must be in even number as it means good things double. The betrothal gifts usually include grand money ^ (聘金) wrapped in red envelope and the following items.

Traditional Chinese Wedding - Betrothal Gifts

1. Special Wedding Couplets (Jie Hun Xi Lian 结婚喜联)

It should be posted on the entranceways to home before the hair combing ceremony (more details on hair combing ceremony to be discussed in our upcoming blogs) and it can be taken down after a month from your wedding day. When choosing couplets for wedding; please make sure you get the correct couplets for the bride's and groom's family. Both families will be getting different couplets (which carry special meaning). So, let the expert does it for you!

2. A Pair of Double Happiness Stickers (Shuang Xi 双囍贴纸)

3. Four sets of Dragon & Phoenix Candles and Incense, including the one for Hair Combing Ceremony. (龙凤香烛)

4. Chinese and/or Western Wedding Cakes (中西式礼饼)

It is also known as Happiness Cakes and Dragon & Phoenix Cakes (喜饼/龙凤礼饼/嫁女饼). The total number of wedding cakes has to be in even number. Chinese presumes even number as the lucky number and should be used on festive events such as wedding.

5. Two Pairs of Gold-colored Coconuts with Double Happiness Stickers

Coconut is pronounced as "ye zi" in Mandarin; sounds like grandfather ("ye") and son ("zi"). It is used as wishes/omen of fertility for the newlywed.

6. Two Cans/Packs of Tea

Tea is planted with seeds, therefore, presenting tea as a gift implies that the family will have more seeds (offsprings) in future.

7. Four Peking Dried Fruits (四凉果)

May choose from any four items listed here:
Dried longan (龙眼), Lychee (荔枝), Walnuts (核桃干), Shelled Peanuts (连壳花生), Lily Bulbs (百合), or red dates (红枣).

8. Dried Seafood (海味)

May include four, six, or eight different kinds of seafood, including sea cucumbers, clams, dried shrimps, squids, shark fins, mushrooms, and etc. Also, it is important to include an edible moss long thin black threads, which known as fa cai in Chinese (发菜). It symbolizes fortune and prosperity.

9. Fruits (生果)

"Sheng Guo" - "Sheng" used to express liveliness for the newlywed (取其生生猛猛之意). The total number of fruits is 12, 18 or 36.

10. Fish

11. Poultries

Two Chickens/Roasted Ducks (two males and two females), and 2-4 kilograms of Pork.

12. Four bottles of Wine or Liquor

13. Gift box (贴盒)
It includes grand money (聘金), lotus seeds (莲子), lily bulbs (百合), cypress (扁柏), betel nuts (槟榔), sesame (芝麻), red beans (红豆), green beans (绿豆), walnuts (核桃干), dried fruits (四凉果), red strings (红头绳), two pairs of dragon-phoenix bangles (两对龙凤镯), and a pair of wedding couplets (一对喜联).

^ Grand money taken as a token for the bride's parents for letting the man to marry their daughter. The groom's family usually prepares $99, $999, or $9999 (depending on their financial capability) for the grand money because number nine (9) symbolizes forever ("Jiu") in Chinese. They are giving their blessings to the upcoming wedding.

Too much works to prepare all of the above?
Wondering if there is one-stop wedding service company out there who will be able to provide expert tips as well as the preparation works for the busy brides and grooms?

Thanks to the creative talents in the wedding market, one-stop wedding services providers are no longer short of in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

One-stop Wedding Services, Malaysia

Xilinmen Auspicious Services
囍临门结婚服务专门店

L-01-06, Block L, Jalan PPK 1,
Pusat Perniagaan Kinrara, Taman Kinrara, Seksyen 3, 47100 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia.

Phone: (603) 8075 4959
(6012) 232 8978
(6016) 238 8978
Fax: (603) 8075 4959

Email: winnie@xilinmen2u.com
Web: www.xilinmen2u.com

Contact Person: Ms. Winnie


Happy Wedding Enterprise One-stop Wedding Services
喜洋洋结婚礼品专门店

568-1-3, Complex Mutiara, 1st Floor Jalan Ipoh, Batu 3 1/2, 51200 Kuala Lumpur.

Phone: (6016) 271 1176
(6010) 381 6733

Contact Person: Ms. Anna Wong


One-stop Wedding Services, USA

ChinaBridal.com
733 S. Atlantic Blvd. Monterey Park, CA 91754 USA

Phone: 1 (626) 205 3098

Email: shop@chinabridal.com
Web: www.chinabridal.com




Next, we will have dowry list and bridal bed installation topics coming up.

Stay tune,






Credit:
Betrothal Ceremony and Gifts, Happily Ever After Trading, http://francisleong.com
Traditional Chinese Marriage Proposal and Betrothal, China Bridal, http://www.chinabridal.com
Chinese Wedding Custom, http://www.theredwedding.com
Chinese Customary Wedding, http://www.redbliss.com.my
Malaysia Wedding Handbook, 2007, Sky Publisher
Flickr Photos, http://www.flickr.com
Life Pixels, http://yungyaw.net
Lian Bee Bakery, Malaysia, http://www.lianbee.com
Kee Wah Bakery, Los Angeles, http://keewah.us
Wing Wah Bakery, Hong Kong, http://www.wingwah.com

Asian Wedding
Chinese Wedding Rituals

As a Malaysian-born Chinese, I am always interested to know more about our Chinese wedding culture. It might be complicated, but it worth the effort to find out the interesting customs and rituals to be performed in a Chinese Wedding.

Before we kick start our traditional Chinese wedding planning, let's talk about the basic rituals included in the wedding ceremony - Three Letters and Six Etiquettes. Isn't it sound like the Western wedding culture - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe?

Not really...Chinese wedding ritual is far more complicated than this Western wedding tradition. The ritual of Three letters and Six Etiquettes is like a summary of the whole Chinese wedding planning process. It explains the formal proposal, gifts exchange, to the wedding itself. The Three Letters are Request Letter, Gift Letter, and the Wedding Letter. On the other hand, the Six Etiquettes consist of formal proposal, birth dates assessment, betrothal gifts presentation, acceptance of betrothal gifts, wedding date selection, and lastly, the wedding ceremony.

Three Letters and Six Etiquettes (三书六礼)

For Chinese people, a marriage begins with a series of three letters. The first letter is known as Request Letter (Pin Shu 聘书). It is a formal request for a marriage arrangement sent by the groom's family to bride's family. The Request Letter must be accepted by the bride's parents before the groom is allowed to marry their daughter. Once the letter is approved, the groom's family will send formal gifts to the bride's family along with the second letter which is known as the Gift Letter (Li Shu 礼书). The letter is like a record and it lists down the value of the gifts. Last but not least, the Wedding Letter (Ying Qin Shu 迎亲书). This letter will be given to the bride's family on actual wedding day. It confirms the act of bringing the bride into the groom's family and it officiates the union of the two families. (Having the same meaning as Unity Candle in Western culture.)

The Six Etiquettes begins with formal proposal (Na Cai 纳采). The groom's family will hire a matchmaker as middleman between the two unknown families when discussing the possibility of marriage. Once the bride's family accepted the proposal, the process is usually followed by the request of the bride's birth date (Wen Ming 问名). The matchmaker collects and compares the couple's birth dates whether or not their Chinese astrology compatible to each other. As soon as the couple's birth dates are confirmed compatible ^, the groom's family will have the matchmaker to present betrothal gifts (Na Ji 纳吉, the process of presenting the betrothal gifts) along with the Gift Letter (Li Shu 礼书) to the bride's family. The procedure of accepting betrothal gifts by the bride's family is known as Na Zheng 纳征. This procedure is equivalent to the Engagement in Western culture. After the betrothal gifts presentation/engagement announcement is done, an astrologist will be consulted to select an auspicious wedding date based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar to perform the wedding ceremony. This process is known as Qing Qi 请期. And finally, the last step of the marriage arrangement is the wedding ceremony itself, commonly known as Ying Qin 迎亲.



^ In modern days, most couples and their families no longer concern about the sign of astrological conflict. As long as the couple is deeply in love with each other and they are ready to build their future family together (they have grown up and ready to take care of the other responsibilities in life), their families will be happy for them.

To know more about Betrothal Gifts, we will discuss more in details at our next posting.

Stay tune,





Credit:
Chinese Marriage, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org
Three Letters & Six Etiquettes, http://www.chinaculture.org
Chinese Wedding Customs, http://www.chinese-poems.com
Chinese Wedding Traditions, http://www.chcp.org
Malaysia Wedding Handbook, 2007, Sky Publisher
Old letter image, http://www.txfannin.org

Look Great on Wedding Day for Under $1,500!!

Here are four sets of wedding outfits under $1500 each (which also include the four traditions; Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue).

Shopping list:

Gowns:
Group USA, http://www.groupusa.com
Jessica McClintock, jessicamcclintock.com
Shoshanna, http://www.shoshanna.com

Accessories:
Nelle Handbags, http://nellehandbags.com
Vanessa Handbags

Jewelry:
Doyle & Doyle Jewelry, http://www.doyledoyle.com
Forever21, http://www.forever21.com
Roberta Chiarella, robertachiarella.com
Sarah Perlis, http://www.shop.sarahperlis.com

Shoes:
Coloriffics, http://www.coloriffics.com
Endless.com. http://www.endless.com
Tani NYC, taninyc.com
Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, http://unforgettablemoments.3dcartstores.com

Photo Credit: Brides.com and vendors listed above.



1. Something OLD

Beige cap-sleeved dress with embroidered bodice and chiffon skirt, $275, Jessica McClintock

Kristy - Wedding Shoes, $55.95, Coloriffics

Nola - Satin Sandals with 2 1/2" Heel, $73.95, Coloriffics

Heart, Initial & Diamond Bezel Necklace (20K Gold on 16" 18K Chain), $595, Sarah Perlis
Opal Heart Earrings, $425, Doyle & Doyle Jewelry

Small Bezel Necklace (3 pointer stone set in 18K bezel on 15" 18K Gold Chain), $285, Sarah Perlis
Bezel Diamond Stud Earrings, $95, Doyle & Doyle Jewelry

Square Opal Pendant (090560N), $385, Doyle & Doyle Jewelry
Square Opal 14K Gold Stud Earrings, $95, Doyle & Doyle Jewelry

2. Something NEW

Ivory Pleated Single-shoulder Dress, $320, Shoshanna

Silver Open-toe Pumps, $225, Butter (Tani NYC)

Ada Rhinestone Ring, $5.80, Forever21
Classic Envelope Style Clutch, $65, Nelle Handbags

Mystic Jewel Ring, $4.80, Forever21
Perfectly Petersham Envelope Style Clutch, $195, Nelle Handbags

Jewel Trim Stone Ring, $5.80, Forever21
Rectangular Stud Earrings, $3.80, Forever21

3. Something BORROWED

Satin Mermaid Gown with Fan Folded Bodice & Bow (Style no. 41792/2058W), $399.99, Group USA

Pura Lopez N601 Peep Toe Satin Pump with 4 1/4" Heel, $354.95, Endless.com

Be Baubled Evening Bag, $145, Nelle Handbags

Classic Chic Pearl Earrings, $3.80, Forever21

4. Something BLUE

White Charmeuse Halter Dress, $278, Jessica McClintock

Claudia Satin Dress Sandals with 3 1/2" Heel, $49.99, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose

Satin Evening Bag, $50, Vanessa Handbags

Platinum-plated Swarovski Crystal Bracelet, $300, Roberta Chiarella

Alexis Rhinestone Earrings, $3.80, Forever21

Painted Laser Cut Earrings, $3.80, Forever21

Happy Planning!

Something OLD, Something NEW
Something BORROWED, Something BLUE
And a silver sixpence in her shoe

Have you ever heard of this poem? It sounds like a tradition for the ancient time? Yes, it is. This is a good luck charm for brides which dated back to the Victorian Era.

This is very meaningful. Each carries a very special meaning and represent good luck for the bride. Therefore, many brides will ensure they have something of each on their wedding outfits and believed that they will have a happy marriage life =)


Let's start with "Something OLD".
It symbolizes the continuity with the bride's family and the past. It represents the link with the bride's family and the past, particularly her mother or grandmother or distant relations. To carry out this tradition, bride may choose to wear a piece of jewelry which belonged to the family. Alternatively, she may choose to wear her mother's or grandmother's wedding gown. Others may include a piece of lace, a handkerchief, a scarf, or an antique watch.

"Something NEW"
It symbolizes optimism and hope for the bride's new marriage life ahead. It represents good luck and success for a bright future in her new married life. Getting a new item (such as new gown, wedding rings, house furniture, etc.) on her wedding day conveys the message that she and her husband are going to create their own family that will be everlasting.


"Something BORROWED"
It represents the value of sharing and as a reminder for the bride that her family and friends will always be there for her, not only on her special day but in the future as well. "Something borrowed" is usually item borrowed from a happily married family member or friend; it symbolized as lending the bride some of her own marital happiness. (That's sweet...showing off the good friendship between two human beings.) To incorporate this tradition into her wedding day, she may borrow a piece of jewelry from a close family member or friend who has worn the same jewelry since she met her girl friend.


"Something BLUE"
It symbolizes love, faithfulness, modesty and loyalty. Favorite quote from 19th century, "Marry in blue, lover be true." To include blue item into the wedding day, the bride may choose to put a blue sash on her wedding gown. Whereas, the groom may choose to wear a blue vest in order to pair up with his bride. Other ways to put on something blue may include a blue bouquet, blue boutonniere, or even a blue wedding theme!


Last but not least, "A silver sixpence in her shoe".
It symbolizes wealth and financial guarantee for the bride. This tradition dates back to Scottish custom by having the groom to put a silver coin in his left shoe for good luck. In modern times, a dime or a penny has been used as a substitute to the sixpence.

Source: http://www.somethingoldsomethingnew.co.uk, Ask Yahoo!


Happy Planning!

Wanna look GREAT for LESS on Your Wedding Day?

I personally will not give up to looking great and gorgeous on my own big day! It is once in a lifetime moment and I truly believed that every girl wants to be a princess for that very moment in her life. So...what's the best way to dress pretty and party like a fairy-tale princess? Of course, the most exquisite bridal gown!

Depending on your personal style, you wedding gown can be as formal as the ball gown or as simple as the sheath silhouette gown. Too many choices with very little amount to splurge on your wedding gown? That is not one of the wedding planning elements that you should be worried of because there are so many bridal gowns in the markets for brides at different budgets! You just need to do some homework and do some research online, check out the trunk show at your favorite designer's gallery, and be ready to save a fortune while looking gorgeous! Big savings is just a click away! And you are able to dress like a celebrity at an affordable price (sometimes 50% to 75% off the original price).

Take a look at some of the "steals" I found from Peridress.com, Lily Wedding, and LightInTheBox.com. ^.^


Peridress.com

Peridress is located at Shanghai, China and started its business in 1997. Peridress is created to design and produce wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses, mother-of-the-bride dresses, bridal headpieces and accessories, making them as a one-stop wedding shop. They are pride over their seamstresses of more than 20 years of wedding-dresses-producing experience, as well as their vast selection, competitive factory price, and excellent customer service.

Accepted payment: Pay Pal (No sales tax + Free shipping)

For more information about Peridress.com, please contact them at 86.133.8199.9071 or visit their website at http://www.peridress.com.

Here are some of the wedding gowns selling at their website. Please note that there are some designers' collections at affordable prices.

Peridress 2009, Style 20139047
PD Price: $153.99

Peridress 2009, Style 20139052*
PD Price: $153.99

*Similar to Demetrios Style Sensualle GR150, Spring 2009 Collection
Selling at $1001-1500, according to Brides.com

Peridress Spring 2009, Style 20314008
PD Price: $109.99

Peridress Spring 2009, Style 20314001
PD Price: $109.99

Alyce Spring 2009, Style 7127
PD Price: $149.99

Lily Wedding

Lilywedding.com is an online service which provides the lowest prices wedding gowns with high quality craftsmanship, top quality material, and prompt customer service. They well wedding gowns directly from Shanghai, China, where it is the biggest exporter of wedding dresses to USA and Europe countries. All dresses are tailored to your measurement, highly customized fitting, at NO EXTRA COST. Every order is custom-made according to customer's measurement for FREE.

Another feature offered by Lilywedding design and production team: "Design your own style". This is a special service where you can enjoy your favorite design with low cost and luxurious fabric. Here is how it works:
Step 1
Find the pictures of your favorite wedding dress.
Step 2
Send them in .jpg format to design@lilywedding.com with subject line "To LilyWedding.com Request for designing wedding gown".
Step 3
Staff at LilyWedding.com will then review those pictures and quote you a reasonable price.

Accepted payment: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Pay Pal
(*No sales tax on all orders)

For more information about Lily Wedding, please visit their website at http://www.lilywedding.com.

Here are some of the wedding gowns selling at their website. Please note that there are some designers' collections at affordable prices.

Sweetheart Strapless Satin Ballgown
LW Price: $268

A-line Strapless Chapel Train Satin Gown
LW Price: $208

A-line Square Neckline Chapel Train Satin Gown
LW Price: $208

Strapless Mermaid Silk Satin Gown
LW Price: $178

Princess Strapless Chapel Train Satin Gown*
LW Price: $188

*Similar to Tara Keely Style 2650, Fall 2006 Collection
Selling at $1501-3001, according to Brides.com

Strapless Sweetheart Neckline Trumpet Lace Gown*
LW Price: $428

*Similar to Emerald Bride Style 9134, Spring 2009 Collection
Selling at $501-1000, according to Brides.com

A-line V-neck Chapel Train Satin Lace Organza Gown*
LW Price: $338

*Similar to Justin Alexander Style 8357
Selling at $1001-1500, according to Brides.com

Light In The Box

Lightinthebox.com started its business in 2006 (Beijing, China). You will be able to find thousands of products (not limited to bridal gowns) at incredible wholesale prices at their website. The reason why they are able to pass on big savings to their customers (wholesalers, retailers, and individual buyers) is because they buy products directly from Chinese wholesale manufacturers. Although they are dealing with wholesalers (who usually required a minimum order), Lightinthebox.com requires no minimum order quantity from their customers. So you do not have to worry about keeping dozen of the same dresses in your closet! To make a payment to lightinthebox.com, you may do so via Pay Pal, Google Checkout, and Bank Transfer. Like many other online businesses, there will be no sales tax charged to your account.

For more information, please visit their website at http://www.lightinthebox.com or contact their sales team at sales@lightinthebox.com.

Here are some of the wedding gowns selling at their website. Please note that there are some designers' collections at affordable prices.

Princess Sweetheart Chapel Train Satin Lace Gown*
LITB Price: $219.99

*Originally by Jasmine Couture Style T180, Fall 2008 collection
Selling at $1001-1500, according to Brides.com

Trumpet Sweep Satin Lace Gown
LITB Price: 299.99

Princess Empire V-neck Chapel Train Satin Organza Gown*
LITB Price: $129.99

*Similar to Amsale Style COCO, Spring 2009 Collection (On the left)

A-line Strapless Satin Gown*
LITB Price: $169.99

*Originally by Vera Wang Fall 2009 Collection
Selling price upon request (Do not surprised by a higher designer price!)


A-line Spaghetti Straps Satin Gown*
LITB Price: $169.99

*Originally by Vera Wang Fall 2009 Collection
Selling price upon request (Do expect a high designer price!)

Empire Strapless Satin Organza Gown
LITB Price: $149.99

A-line Off-the-shoulder Satin Gown*
LITB Price: $189.99

*Originally by Vineyard Style MOLLY
Selling at $2001-3000, according to Brides.com

A-line Strapless Pleated Bodice Taffeta Gown*
LITB Price: $139.99

*Originally by Priscilla of Boston Style 4216
Selling at $3001-5000, according to Brides.com

A-line Train Chiffon Dress
LITB Price: $169.99


A-line Strapless Knee-Length Silk-like Satin Dress
LITB Price: $139.99

Sweetheart Neckline Short Satin Dress
LITB Price: $89.99

Photo credit: Peridress.com, LilyWedding.com, LightInTheBox.com, Brides.com


Happy Planning!