The OurWeddingDay Blog

Asian weddings have a rich history of traditions that have been practiced for hundreds, even thousands, of years. Even modern-day Chinese weddings often include many of the traditions listed below. If you are about to attend or be a part of an Asian wedding, then be prepared to partake in an intricate, rich, and multi-faceted event.

Asian Wedding Gowns
Chinese wedding gowns are typically red. In Chinese culture this color signifies prosperity, love, and joy. This red color scheme is carried throughout traditional Chinese weddings. The wedding invitations, gift boxes, wedding flowers, and the home of the bride and groom are all decorated with red colors.

Day Before
In order to grieve the loss of her friends and family, it is an Asian wedding tradition that the bride spends the day before her wedding in seclusion with her nearest and dearest friends. It is on this day that the groom’s family delivers “uang susu” in a red basket to the bride and groom’s home. “Uang susu” is a term given to the items in the basket, which consist of the bride’s personal belongings.

Ceremony & Reception
Only immediate family members are invited to a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony. Directly following the ceremony, the bride is expected to serve tea to her in-laws. Once the couple arrives at their reception, they are welcomed and then invited to cut the wedding cake. If the couple chooses to have a more elaborate traditional Chinese reception, then the cake cutting would take place after a 9- or 10-course meal, myriad musical entertainment acts, and at least three outfit changes made by the bride.

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• Asian Bridal Makeup Tips
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Asian wedding traditions offer inspiration for many other cultures and countries, and guests will enjoy the opportunity to learn about these traditions as they join you in celebrating your big day. Here are a few Asian wedding traditions that may appeal to you:

Dress.
In China, brides often wear red silk, often decorated with a Chinese phoenix or dragon. The bride may also wear a red veil and red shoes; a groom often wears a red silk vest. In Japan, brides often wear a quilted robe made of white silk called an uchikake, which usually includes cranes and pines, symbolizing happiness. A Japanese groom will typically wear a black kimono over a white kimono. Korean brides and grooms are known for wearing ornate headpieces and elaborate updos.

Food.
Korean wedding traditions dictate that the groom gives the bride’s family a live, wild goose. Today, many grooms use a wooden goose, symbolizing a long life together. At the wedding feast, noodle soup is a staple. In Japanese weddings, red rice and red beans are often served. Because "mede-tai" is Japanese for happiness, tai is often served at Japanese weddings, such as Tai-no-sashimi (raw sea bream slices) or tai-no-shioyaki (grilled sea bream). Other dishes include kelp (symbolizing joy) or herring roe, indicating fertility. At Chinese weddings, Peking duck is a popular dish, and sea cucumbers are often part of the vegetable dishes, thought to symbolize harmony and lack of conflict.

Note: If you decide to have Asian food at your wedding, you should have place cards that explain each dish, where it originated (specifically, which region of a particular country), and what it is thought to represent. This adds more significance to your meal and your choice of dishes.

Flowers.
Flowers are a great way to give your wedding an Asian feel. Try using cherry blossoms, lotus blossoms, orchids, poppies, bear grass, topiaries, bamboo, wheat grass, or other interesting potted plants. For centerpieces, you can have lilies or stones in a clear, elongated vase of water. These flowers help create a tranquil setting. You can also use flowers as place card holders, favor decorations or accents to utensils and place settings.

Table Settings.
Other Asian wedding decorations include square table settings (Square plates, bowls, etc.), especially in colors such as yellow, red, or white; these can also be decorated with cherry blossoms or orchids. You can also make origami napkins, in popular origami shapes such as swans, fans or fortune cookies.

Lanterns.
Lanterns are a great way to incorporate Asian Wedding Décor. You can hang large paper lanterns from the ceiling, or you can have smaller ones gracing the dessert table or as part of your reception table centerpieces. Lanterns can also have a great effect for your lighting, creating a magical atmosphere.

Fortune Cookies.
You do not have to use typical fortune cookies; instead, you can be really creative by adding icing and sprinkles in your color scheme. You could also have them custom made; instead of having fortunes inside, you can insert favorite quotes from the bride and groom, or interesting facts about the two of you written on the paper. Or, you could have questions, such as “How many children do Emily and Jason want to have?” The answer can be written on the back.

Read more:

• 4 Asian Bridal Makeup Tips
  
• Japanese American Wedding Planning
• 5 Chinese Wedding Traditions

There are so many different bridal jewelry styles to choose from, it could make any bride’s head spin. The key to simplifying your choices is to decide what type of overall style you’d like to showcase on your big day. For example, the trendy vintage bride should explore antique wedding jewelry, while the traditional bride should lean toward more classic jewelry styles. The following wedding jewelry options are ideal for the classic, trendy vintage, and diva bride.

Classic
The classic bride typically wears either pearl or diamond bridal jewelry sets. If this is you, then choose simple pieces, for example, small pearl earrings or diamond studs. Focus on minimizing your jewelry so that it doesn’t take too much attention away from your dress. The classic bride is clean, simple, and uncluttered.

Trendy Vintage
The trendy vintage bride should explore vintage and heirloom pieces that highlight her unique style. Since vintage jewelry can have intricate, colorful, and eye catching designs, it’s best to choose your jewelry pieces first, then choose a dress that fits with the overall look. The best aspect of this style of jewelry is that it typically showcases head turning geometric prints and flower ornaments.

Diva
For the diva bride, the bigger and more colorful your jewelry, the better. If this is you, then you really have the freedom to choose whichever style you love the most, in other words, no holds barred. Sizable crystal wedding jewelry is ideal for the bride who wants to be the belle of the ball. This style would match perfectly with a wedding gown adorned with crystals and sparkling embellishments. If you already have a dramatic piece of jewelry in mind for your big day, then make sure to plan your dress, shoes, and veil around that signature piece.

Read More:

• Bridal Earrings: Diamonds or Pearls?
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Asian bridal makeup is distinct from other styles of bridal makeup. Japanese brides typically wear red lipstick and elaborate headpieces. Chinese brides, in addition to red lipstick, wear a lot of facial makeup, focusing on shades of pink and brown. Indian brides (and Pakistani brides) tend to wear a lot of elaborate eye makeup and jeweled ornamentation; a West Asian bride will also have a lot of contouring on her skin, usually in shades of gold, bronze and red. The following tips will help you plan for the perfect Asian bridal makeup for your big day:

1. Go for warmth with eye makeup. You want your eyes to look large and luminous, so too much eye makeup can actually work against you by making your eyes appear smaller. Accents of purples, pinks and greens can be used, as long as the base is a light, warm color.
2. Make sure that you still look like yourself. Choose a bridal makeup artist that understands Asian bridal makeup and skin tones, and the delicate balance of the art behind it, while keeping the focus on the beauty of the bride.
3. Keep the camera in mind. Remember that you are going to be taking tons of photos, and you want to use colors that are enhanced by the camera. Your foundation will most likely have a slightly more yellow tone than your natural skin color, as shades of white often look chalky on the camera.
4. Do a trial run. This is absolutely essential! You may even need to do more than one practice run to find the right foundation color, concealer, and eye makeup. Also, if you have sensitive skin, you want to make sure that your products do not cause you any irritation.

Chances are you’re either a "plan everything to a tee," or a “wear your hair however you want” kind of bride. If you’re the former and you want your bridesmaids' hair to be unique and elegant, then consider the various braided updos that seem to be trampling the red carpets as of late. Your bridesmaids' hairstyles are an important ingredient in your wedding recipe, which is why you should consider exploring these insatiable updos donned by only the hottest celebrities.

There are so many different updos to choose from for bridesmaid’s updo hairstyles, but the classic milkmaid braid is a style that has found its way back into the spotlight, making it one of the hottest modern wedding hairstyles. Mary-Kate Olsen is often spotted with the Grecian goddess braid in a halo style that wraps perfectly around her entire head.

Anne Hathaway has been seen wearing two thick French braids around the crown of her head at various press events. This style looks stunning on Hathaway because it perfectly combines elements of tradition and elegance.

Jessica Alba rocked two thin braids at the Academy Awards. Alba’s braids played a supporting role in her hairstyle since they were thin which exuded a hippie vibe. The thin braids were pulled into a messy bun that was situated at the nape of her neck.

The braided updo is Nicole Richie’s staple hairstyle when she’s out and about. She’s worn up to four beatnik-style braids that wrap into a knotty bun.

Choosing the perfect bridal earrings is almost as important as choosing the right gown. There are countless bridal jewelry sets to choose from, but the most commonly chosen styles include either diamonds or pearls. If you’ve narrowed down your wedding earrings to either one or the other and can’t commit to just one, then perhaps the following ideas will help to narrow it down even more.

• Let Your Dress Guide You: If your dress is simple, with little to no frills then your options are wide open. You aren’t limited to just diamonds, or just pearls, and you certainly aren’t limited to only simple designs. The simpler your dress, the bigger your jewelry can be. For example, if you have an empire waist strapless white wedding gown then you have the option to go for chandelier diamond earrings. If your dress is simple, you also have the freedom to choose earrings that combine pearls and diamonds. For example, diamond earrings that dangle into a pearl would be stunning when paired with a simple wedding gown.
• Think of Your Personal Style: If you are a low-key, laid-back kind of gal then pearls most likely fit your personality better than diamonds. Pearls aren’t as flashy as diamonds, and have a subdued quality to them since they don’t demand a lot of attention, unless they are large pearls. If you are a retro gal then pearls are also a fitting choice.
• Time of Wedding: If you still can’t decide then let the time of your wedding make the decision for you. Pearls are a better choice for a wedding that takes place before 6pm, and diamonds are more appropriate for evening weddings.

There are countless makeup techniques and schools of thought when it comes to wedding day beauty, but airbrush makeup has become all the rage and is being used more and more by modern brides on their wedding day. Out of all of the latest bridal makeup tips airbrush makeup is one that’s worth looking into, considering it’s been around for more than ten years and is at the forefront of the latest and greatest of bridal makeup trends.

History: Airbrush makeup has been around for approximately ten years, but has been used predominantly by professional makeup artists for television and film actors. The reason for this is because it makes your skin look flawless, which is especially important for actors with the increasing popularity of high-definition televisions.

How it works: Airbrush is a type of beauty makeup that is literally sprayed onto your skin, whether it is your face, your body, or both. It is designed to cover up every blemish, unwanted beauty mark, tattoo, fine lines, spider veins etc. Airbrush makeup performs its job best under harsh or abrasive lighting, making it an ideal beauty pick for a long event such as a wedding where you have the starring role.

What it is: Airbrush makeup consists of normal makeup, silicone fluid, or water. When sprayed on it feels like you’re in a Mystic tanning booth (if you’ve ever experienced that), or as though you’re under a mister (like the kind restaurants have on outside during a hot day).

Benefits: There are countless benefits you’ll experience from using airbrush makeup. Firstly it’s more hygienic than regular makeup because there aren’t any powder puffs or sponges used. Airbrush makeup is lightweight, which will give you a natural look as you stand on the alter or converse with your guests throughout the night. You won’t have to worry about makeup rubbing off when you wipe tears, or hug your guests. It takes half the amount to apply when compared to the application of regular makeup—and it lasts for up to sixteen hours!

Mix Makeup: If you decide to go the airbrush makeup route, you aren’t confined to only this technique for all of your makeup. You have the freedom of mixing airbrush with regular makeup, as many makeup artists do. You can use the airbrush to apply your lip and eye color, or just your foundation, and then use regular makeup brushes to apply the rest of your makeup.

Price: The price of airbrush makeup varies from around $150 per session to approximately $300 per session. This may seem like a lot, however if you’re planning on hiring a professional makeup artist either way you might as well spend a little extra money for the assurance that your makeup will be flawless. If there is one aspect of your wedding day you don’t want to take a gamble with—it’s your makeup.

Planning your wedding not only involves choosing a venue, dress, and a DJ, it also involves keeping yourself physically and emotionally healthy for your big day. Because getting married is a huge life change and is inherently stressful, you must work extra hard to eat well, stay healthy and enjoy this time of wedding preparation. Here are a few wedding planning tips for looking and feeling your best:

1. Nutrition. If you are not eating a well balanced diet of whole grains, lean protein, fruits and vegetables, your energy levels are going to suffer. Also, if you are eating too much sugar, fatty foods, and drinking too much alcohol, your skin (and waistline) is probably going to suffer. Follow the 80/20 rule (eat healthy foods 80% of the time, so that you can be flexible 20% of the time). You will want to partake in special cake tastings and drink some champagne at your bachelorette party!
2. Exercise. You need to do some form of cardio for 30-40 minutes at least three time a week. If you are a runner, go running. If you love to dance, take a tango class. The main thing is that you stay active, get some extra endorphins, and fight pre-wedding weight gain.
3. Leisure Time. Carve out some time away from work and wedding preparation. This could be as simple as going to your local bookstore to look at magazines, or scheduling a monthly massage or facial.

The current wedding fashion trend is to adorn your hair with interesting accessories. Not only can hairpieces add some sparkle and panache, they can also give your wedding look a decidedly vintage appeal. Here are a few tips on adding hairpieces:

Are you drawn to wedding updo hairstyles? If so, this may be the perfect way to dress it up and showcase your style. A recent Boston bride wore a simple dress, but on the right side of her updo, near to her nape of her neck, she wore a glittering clip with a black feather that looked like it scooped up all of her hair and swept it to the side. It was absolutely gorgeous, and it made her look completely unique, while still being classy and elegant.

Another favorite of the modern wedding hairstyles is the twist or chignon, which falls lower on the neck and was popular in France in the late 18th century. This is extremely elegant, and can easily transition from mid-day to later in the evening. This wedding fashion also lends itself to a beautiful silk flower accessory, a sparkly pin, or other type of costume jewelry.

Note: When choosing a hair accessory, make sure that you consider your other jewelry, especially earrings. Otherwise, the two may conflict.

Read more:

• Making the Right Hairstyle & Fashion Decisions
• Extensions & Fake Hair are "In"
• Short Hairstyles for Brides

1. Choose the right foundation. Getting the right foundation for your skin tone is the most important part of bridal makeup. Go to a department store where professional makeup artists can match your skin color, and don’t be afraid to go to a few different makeup counters. Before purchasing a foundation, go outside into the natural light with a mirror and ask someone you trust to give you their opinion. Even if your wedding is at night, you still want to get the best match possible. Also, wear the wedding makeup for a few hours to make sure that it the color pigment stays true to your skin tone.
2. Coordinate with bronzer. Match your face color to your neck. Many brides get an airbrush tan a few days before their wedding, so they get their wedding makeup done, the foundation color no longer matches. This was easily taken care of with an excellent bronzer. Make sure that you tell your makeup artist if you are planning to get a tan before your wedding day. That way, he or she can be prepared to compensate.
3. Wear fake eyelashes. Some brides do not like the thought of anything fake, but this is one instance to go with fake over natural. Just make sure to get a brand that looks like your real lashes. Cover them with waterproof mascara on the day of your wedding.

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• How to Get Perfect Wedding Makeup
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• Hiring Your Makeup Artist