Chinese Weddings Guide

1. Something Borrowed, Something Blue

“If you borrow something,” says Whitehurst, “borrow something blue from someone with a happy marriage and a happy family.” The idea is that the energy of that person’s happy life will give good energy to you on your wedding day. And by combining the age-old traditions of “something borrowed” with “something blue” (blue is the feng shui color of peace and serenity), you’ll promote wedding day feng shui.

2. The Exit

An easy way to add positive feng shui to your wedding day is to incorporate meaningful elements into your getaway. Nix the white limo idea for a black a single. “The color black captures the stable foundation that each marriage need to begin with,” Whitehurst explains. In addition, traditional feng shui dictates that it is possible to hang a mirror from the back of your limo or a crystal from the rear view mirror to create a prism of light to ward off darkness and produce a bright, new beginning. “The darkness is dispelled, protecting the couple inside,” she explains. Finally, contemplate having your guests shower you with a single of the following send-offs.

Bubbles: Give guests their own small bottles of bubbles to fill your surroundings with buoyant bubbles as you leave the ceremony. Considered a pacifying element, water is the ideal element to add to your leaving the ceremony.

Flower Petals: Have guests throw fresh flower petals — specifically roses due to the fact they symbolize love — to represent your new beginning together.

Grains: Guests can toss grains or beans as you exit the ceremony. They are an age-old tradition in Chinese weddings and a strong symbol of fertility and wish for having kids.

3. Attire

Even if you’re not planning to don a qipao on your large day, Whitehurst suggests that Chinese-American brides ought to wear a gown that isn’t diamond white (white is the color of mourning and death in both Chinese and feng shui tradition). Instead, opt for a shade that’s slightly off-white for example beige, ivory, candlelight, or gold. The same rule applies to guys (dress shirts, vests, and bow ties).

Your fabric choices are also critical. Whitehurst says that the couple and their bridal party need to wear a combination of heavy and light fabrics to add balance and very good energy to their attire. Heavily textured fabrics, such as brocade, satin, and shantung, carry what Whitehurst describes as a quiet power — considered the yin. Light fabrics, such as organza, tulle, and chiffon, are louder and additional excitable materials — those are the yang.

4. The Site

Correct lighting at your ceremony and reception is key for great feng shui, according to Whitehurst. “The idea is that you would like to have plenty of light mainly because you would like to have a bright future ahead of you,” she says. Locate a web site with an abundance of side lighting, for example windows that offer a lot of natural light. Whitehurst also says that couples should avoid overhead lighting, which can be harsh (“because the energy is pressing down on you,” she says). Already have your heart set on a web site with low light? Add tons of candles and use mirrors — to expand and light up the space.

One more guideline for choosing your venue: No clocks need to be visible in your space. “One reason for this is due to the fact the union need to be timeless and clocks limit that ideal,” Whitehurst explains.

5. The Color Scheme

The color you choose for your wedding will set the mood, and reflect you as a couple, explains Whitehurst. She led us through a list of popular wedding day colors and the feng shui meanings.

Red: Not only is it a traditional Chinese wedding color — accenting your wedding day with red also creates a strong atmosphere of love and romance.

Pink: Perfect for a younger couple, pink evokes a sense of fun playfulness and lightheartedness.

Purple and violet: Good for a smaller, more intimate wedding celebration with close family and friends, purples give off a very sexy, passionate vibe.

Black and white: A favorite combination for creating positive feng shui, black and white together represent a strong, balanced relationship — as in the yin and the yang.

Blues and greens: A good color combo for a couple who has known each other for many years, or even a second wedding, because blues and greens promote a calm feeling.

Yellow: This bright, sunny color is the hue of cheerfulness and the perfect color to add to a less-than-well-lit ceremony or reception space.

Orange: The ideal color for the couple with a large guest list, orange gives off a sense of warmth — promoting conversation and a comfortable atmosphere.