International Bride: The Weddings Of Vietnam

Vietnam is an all-year-round green country set in the south east part of Asia well known for its large forests, mountains and the beautiful beaches making it a perfect wedding destination. Its people have a strong sense of culture and traditions which govern the marriage docket. There have been major changes in marriage practices that make the traditional and the modern marriages quite different.

Dating and courtship partners were usually chosen by elders or parents. Young people could break their relationships if the parents felt that the other partner was unsuitable for their son or daughter. Some could seek advice from seers who would determine if the marriage will be a success or not. However, recent times have seen people shifting away from these customs and letting their children choose their marriage partners.

There was also an issue with the age at which one was expected to marry. In early years, women above the age of 30 and men above 35 years were considered too old for marriage. This would put a lot of pressure on young people as these ages draw nearer, so much so that some ended up marrying the wrong persons.

The preparations for a wedding start when a party consisting of the mans parents and relatives meets the young womans parents. They give them gifts before declaring their intention to marry their daughter to their son. The mans party then pays money for purposes of marriage preparations. This was done after a fortune teller had assured the mans family that the union will be a success.

The engagement ceremony follows where the mans family travels to the womans home. They bring with them gifts of cigarettes, nuts and wines. This is used as an opportunity for the womans family to see there would-be son in-law. Rituals are conducted at an ancestral altar and a banquet held to mark the solemn ceremony. If by any reason the engagement is broken, all gifts received are returned to those who gave them out.

Traditional Vietnamese weddings have a common color scheme of red which stands for good luck. The groom makes a trip to the brides home with his family and friends. Their arrival is usually characterized with firecrackers. With them they bring more gifts including jewelry, wine and even cakes, place in a large tray covered with a red cloth. On arrival, the grooms party is received by an equal number of women from the bridal party.

The gifts are given to the brides family and after accepting them, the grooms party asks for the bride. Shes then presented to them by her father, wearing a red au dai or gown. The groom usually dresses in a black suit or robe.

The ceremony is held at the altar with the bride and groom kneeling down asking for blessings in their marriage. They also thank their parents before they exchange wedding rings. The parents then present the newlyweds with valuables such as gold bracelets and earrings. The crowing moments is the banquet held their after. Here foods are served and the couple receives gifts from family and friends.