1. WEDDING CEREMONIES AND CUSTOMS IN CHINA AND ITALY
CERIMONIE ED USANZE NUZIALI IN CINA E IN ITALIA

2. Two couples in our two countries

3. Marriage is a religious and civil institution in all civilized countries, all over the world.
Wedding ceremonies may change according to both historical time and geographical position of each country, but emotions and a kind of organisation of the wedding event are almost the same…

4. The bride’s dress in the past

5. White is definitely the Italian colour for a wedding ceremony
RED was the Chinese colour for brides. Nowadays things have changed…

6. The bride’s dress now

7. Before the wedding ceremony
Italy
China
Wedding Eve party
The bride’s hairstylist at work

8. Three Letters and Six Etiquettes

9. ——Three Letters and Six Etiquettes
三书六礼（SAN SHU LIU LI）
——Three Letters and Six Etiquettes
Etiquettes:
纳采 Proposing
问名 Birthdates matching
纳吉 Presenting betrothal gifts
纳征 Presenting wedding gifts
请期 Picking a wedding date
亲迎 Wedding ceremony
Letters:
聘书 Betrothal Letter
礼书 Gift Letter
迎书 Wedding Letter

10. Presenting betrothal gifts:
Once birthdays match, the groom’s family will arrange the matchmaker to present betrothal gifts, enclosing the betrothal letter, to the bride’s family.
Presenting wedding gifts:
After the betrothal letter and betrothal gifts are accepted, the groom’s family will formally send wedding gifts to the bride’s family. Usually, gifts may include tea, lotus seeds, longan, red beans, green beans, red dates, nutmeg, oranges, pomegranate, lily, bridal cakes, coconuts, wine, red hair braid, money box and other stuff, depending on local customs and family wealth.

11. During the wedding ceremony
Italy
China
Perform the formal wedding ceremony:
Three bows: .
the bride's father leaves his daughter with her husband to be

12. The «three bow» ceremony
The couple bow three times :
They first bow to the great heaven and earth.
Then they bow to their great parents.
They finally bow to each other.

13. The Italian wedding ceremony
There are also other moments which are relevant to the wedding ceremony and party…

14. The husband with his mother
The church
Leaving the church and launching flower petals
Exchanging rings
The bride’s old style car

15. At the restaurant for the wedding lunch
Party starting presents from the just married couple
The couple entering the restaurant
Cutting the cake into slices
The menu on the table
Ending fireworks

16. Chinese symbols Parents sit here They stick it to a window pane
The husband lifts the bride’s veil
Some gifts for good wish

17. After the wedding ceremony
Italy
China
Coming back to the wife’s home
HoneyMoon cruise

18. New trends... Civil unions
Italy
China