1. Confidential and Proprietary 1 SIGNIFICANCE OF WEDDING MENU ITEMS

2. Confidential and Proprietary 2 Chinese wedding banquets traditionally comprised 12 courses. Today there may be 10, 8 or even 6 courses. The number eight is regarded as a lucky number for the Chinese The menu will usually include – Appetizer – Hot dishes – Whole fish – Whole chicken – Rice – Noodles – Dessert and fruit The Wedding Banquet Menu

3. Confidential and Proprietary 3 Menu items are chosen to symbolize happiness, prosperity, longevity and fertility for the couple and their marriage Many menu items are chosen because when verbalized, the word for the particular food is a homophone for (sounds similar to) words such as happiness, prosperity, longevity and fertility. By offering premium, expensive menu items, the host family is confirming its status in front of all the wedding guests The Choice of Menu Items

4. Confidential and Proprietary 4 This dish represents the bride’s purity and offers a blessing of fertility Roasted Whole Suckling Pig

5. Confidential and Proprietary 5 The Chinese pronunciation of scallops is a homophone for “raising children.” Scallops are a symbol of fertility – of blessing the couple with plenty of children. Scallops

6. Confidential and Proprietary 6 Traditionally, the bride (the Yin) is represented by a phoenix and the groom (the Yang) is represented by a dragon in a Chinese marriage Lobster translates literally to “dragon shrimp” so represents the yang/male dragon. The red color is also an auspicious color in Chinese culture. Lobster

7. Confidential and Proprietary 7 The Chinese word for abalone sounds similar to “assurance of surplus (wealth),” thus wishing the new couple prosperity in their new marriage. This is a premium, expensive item that confirms the wedding family’s status in front of all the wedding guests Abalone

8. Confidential and Proprietary 8 The Chinese word for fish “yu” sounds similar to plenty and represents abundance in prosperity, in fertility and in wealth. A fish served whole with its head and tail intact also symbolizes that the couple’s marriage will last forever Eating fish will help your wishes come true in future years Whole Fish

9. Confidential and Proprietary 9 A whole chicken is complete and signifies togetherness of the couple It also signifies prosperity because historically a whole chicken would have been considered a luxury Traditionally, the bride (the Yin) is represented by a phoenix and chicken represents the phoenix Whole Chicken

10. Confidential and Proprietary 10 Symbols of longevity in Chinese culture because they come in long strands. The inclusion of noodles in a wedding banquet menu provides a blessing for the couple to enjoy a long and happy marriage and life together. Noodles

11. Confidential and Proprietary 11 This dish offers the couple a blessing for plenty of children Dumplings can be added to represent prosperity and emphasize family unity Sweetened Red Bean, Lily Bulb, Lotus Seed Dessert

12. Confidential and Proprietary 12 Fruit represents an abundance of wealth. The Chinese word for orange sounds like the word for luck and wealth. Fruit