In most weddings in my experience, music is the most easily messed up element--especially if using recorded music. This proved to be true again. The traditional wedding march (with added church bells!) got started early and the previously informed folks didn’t know whether to stand up (as they had been told to) or stay seated--they all kept looking at me and I kept looking at Mark who was shaking his head up front. Abruptly, the music stopped (Charlotte sent a runner from back to front, I think). With new music, Zhiyong finished ushering in his parents and joined Mark, John Lin, and I-I up front. THEN Wagner’s “Here Comes the Bride” complete with grand chiming church bells rang out, I stood and so did the other few who were still seated.
At the far end of the aisle, Charlotte and both of her parents began the long slow walk to the front of church. It was an emotion filled moment. Charlotte looked radiant in her dress, veil, and tiara. Ladies, the off-shoulder dress was embroidered and pearl beaded with three-quarter length sheer trumpet-shaped sleeves and a lengthy flowing train perfect for the large cathedral. Her parents looked both proud and solemn. Up front, the music stopped, Yongxing raised the veil and kissed his daughter and handed her to Zhiyong. Mark led the wedding group up the stairs to the main stage area.
The ceremony proceeded as planned. A favorite poem was read (ask me and I’ll send you the translation) and two Bible passages were also read. I was surprised that the crowd did not react much to the unity candle sparkler--I was expecting oohs and aahs. Maybe this is old hat to the Chinese? It wasn’t to me! Mark’s and Wang Hui’s voices rang out over the crowd. Charlotte’s and Zhiyong’s were quieter while exchanging their vows.
About half way through, there was some increased noise in the cathedral. Turns out the church coordinator or one of the women at the front door had commented to some tourists who had come to see the church that there was an actual Western wedding going on inside and would they like to see. Later, Charlotte said that there were probably an extra 40 people crowding into the front pews along with a couple of small children racing around. Felt a bit circus-like although Mark was mostly oblivious, he said.
The happy bride was kissed and Mr. and Mrs. Wang were announced and…the recessional music did not start. The couple after a brief pause decided to exit anyway. While embracing their parents along the way, the music started up and both sets of parents and then all the close family members followed the bridal party out of the church onto the church steps for various family and friends group photos. What a joyous time!
Charlotte's family
I-I and John Lin
We, along with Natalie, were directed to a car for the short trip back to downtown to the reception hall. Our driver raced ahead and we actually got to watch the long, white, stretch limousine arrive under a red inflatable wedding arch amid hundreds of bursting firecrackers. As the bridal couple entered I spied Charlotte’s fancy sparkling red shoes under her dress. Charlotte said Shuzhen found them!
The reception was held at a large local dinner theater venue. The hall was filled with ample round tables with lazy susans which were clustered around a vast, well-lit stage. Playing on a big screen behind the stage were pictures of Zhiyong and Charlotte during their courtship time as well as professionally taken engagement pictures in various lovely settings featuring the bridal couple in multiple different outfits. We especially liked the black and white photos of Zhiyong and Charlotte in traditional Chinese dress.
The tables became laden with food as platter after platter kept arriving. Even with an interpreter, we didn’t understand everything that was happening on stage. Things we caught: the couple were introduced, the parents were honored, the bride got teary (I folded up a tissue to give her and the eagle-eyed Zhiyong saw it and reached down to grab it), there were toasts given by different family representatives, the bridal couple poured wine to overflowing on a tower of stacked wine glasses (I‘m sure there is some symbolism there), the cake was cut and with much crowd hilarity the bride and groom served each other with chopsticks (although no one else ever got cake). One final fun thing: the bride and groom drank from glasses passed around each other’s neck which, of course, required interesting and crowd pleasing close body contortions. Very fun!
The bridal couple also changed clothing during the celebration resulting in four different combinations. Charlotte wore the big white wedding dress, a more traditional high-necked body fitting red silk dress, a sleeveless red dress with gorgeous extravagant bow in back, and a bright blue sleeveless evening gown. Zhiyong had some very handsome suits. (Obviously I was more focused on Charlotte. Sorry, Zhiyong!)
Since the reception took place in a restaurant with a floor show, we were treated to the usual floor show as part of the reception. Suffice it to say, it was not your usual Western wedding reception entertainment fare. The Chinese tradition dictates that the bridal couple visit and toast every table of guests. The guests pretty much eat, drink, and leave with the couple being the last to leave the reception. There is no dancing!
We left feeling lots of different things--happiness, a sense of completion, gratitude, relief, a deep sense of joy. We retreated to our hotel room for an afternoon nap and a quiet evening. Done………God's blessings on Chun Quang and Zhiyong.
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