Chinese Wedding Gift Guide 過大禮

過大禮 is presenting the wedding gifts and it's one of the most important customs in a Chinese wedding. It is like the engagement the groom gives to the bride's family. This video is a continuation of the Traditional Chinese Wedding Customs video: e.ntd.tv/153DVRH and will go through a list of gifts needed for 過大禮.
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MOBILE LINKS: More OTGW Vids!
Chinese Wedding Customs (三書六禮 Three Letters & Six Etiquettes): e.ntd.tv/153DVRH
Chinese Dining Etiquette: e.ntd.tv/16mcfrr
Asian Swag Class: e.ntd.tv/186GEvx

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

Yup! We are not telling people to follow every single tradition, but it is good to know and good to learn from and we definitely don't want to lose everything!

[@dennislouie]

i am a second generation Chinese American and your videos have been so interesting and education to me. I pass them on to all my ABC friends!!!!!

[@helllokitty138]

I love how you are so educational especially for us Canadian born Chinese

[@LittleAmyHe]

For the people who don't know, a lot of these traditions are not practiced anymore simply because it can be quite bothersome, but many still practice the gifting on envelopes and bridesmaids quizzing and testing the groom before he can pick up the bride etc. it's quite fine xD

[@curatedbylily]

it's basically like a gift card, you take it to the specified bakery and buy stuff under the amount of the certificate.

[@AnswertoLifeis42]

Carmen, I am so impressed with you right now, your accents are AMAZING. Even though I only speak Mandarin, your Canto sounds great and is probably just as AMAZING as your Mandarin, which to be clear, is AMAZING. Plus you speak pretty much perfect English (not like my parents...). You, Carmen, are AMAZING

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

hahahaha... a lot of research went into this! Had to consult a lot of friends who went through this when they got married.

[@ahlam123]

It depends on the parents. Nowadays, some of the items can be replaced by red pockets. When I got marry, I gave a basket of fruits, some gold accessories and several red pockets.

[@tOFUbankai]

They're not advertising shark fin, it's just an informative video on chinese culture and customs that come along with it. It's a tradition whether we find it cruel or not, and this is just a video stating it's is part of such a tradition. --" not sure how u missed that.

[@YummYakitori]

In Fujian or Teochew (Chaozhou) customs, there are also a pair of turtles, red slippers, and a red flowery spittoon. Coconuts and betel nuts are not seen in the dowry because the climate is already unsuitable from that latitude north

[@tOFUbankai]

I really enjoy these videos! Thanks for being so informative OTGW! Hard to find videos like these nowadays!

[@Sakura14141414141414]

This is very helpful because I'm marring into a Southern Chinese family and so this is so much more helpful! Thank you!!!!! >

[@coolieamy123]

I'm Canto too, to be honest, when my parents friends/family get married, we just send them money in the red pocket thingy (利是). That's all we do. When my parents go married, they only had a reception, they celebrated at home, so I'm not sure if Cantonese people actually have a tradition.

[@hpillsbury06]

My wife is Chinese from Urumqi and I watched this video and it was a big help. We were married in 2024.

[@LadyFlameSniper]

Thank you so much *bowing* seriously I love you guys. Your videos are really very informative and entertaining. I could watch them all night.

[@headsup1976]

that was ridiculously informative!!! Thank you, wow, I learned so much!!

[@WardrobeOfVideos]

Love the way you gave it in Mandarin and Cantonese ! thank you! :)

[@istimmy21]

Getting married next month. Perfect timing for this vid. Thank you!

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

Many people still follow these traditions, but maybe not to the T. Take bits and pieces here and there, it's the thought that counts. Also, all of the above gifts can be replaced by red envelops :P So it's not that complicated!

[@woojacky]

Goodness. I will be sharing these with all my Chinese and non Chinese friends!!!!! So much things which I'm not even aware. Am pretty sure it doesn't come from Carmen herself.... ELSE........ *shocked face*. Do share more..... It's a good topic to talk about.

[@redwolfjoy]

I love educational videos! Keep up the great work!

[@bacesz]

I really like how you did it in Mandarin and Cantonese as well! A fan from Hungary :)

[@waiwaping]

I had my Chinese wedding few months ago, and we did all traditional stuffs you mentioned. And you missed the girl's part of 辦嫁妝. My parents bought lots of stuffs that drives me crazy when I reorganize them after I moved to my husband. I'm real glad I don't have to do that again!!

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

we mentioned it at the end of the video but didn't go into details

[@hankj88]

Thanks for all of the info in both Mandarin and Cantonese...

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

sounds about right

[@mandyloveshk]

Chinese people are so creative...

[@chepthakomutaeshi]

You are amazing. Great information.

[@YummYakitori]

Coconuts and betel leaves are actually more of a Cantonese thing too. These only grow in Southeast Asia, extending north to Indochina and Southern China. The original Chinese dowry likely did not include these

[@lphiesmacks10]

Hey Carmen and Dan, just wondering if you could continue with this theme and make a video about the similarities and differences of different Asian culture wedding traditions. I'm engaged to a half Viet half Chinese girl and I'm Taiwanese. I think our traditions are similar, but it would be neat to see a video from you guys. Thanks!

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

Thanks for sharing! :)

[@AznBetty86]

I think the fish thing also refers to 年年有余 , meaning abundance throughout the year. Unless that only to applies new years....

[@alleynecarlindawirawan5869]

can you do a canto channel/series??? i love hearing you speak cantonese!

[@SchnoodleSchnu]

Please do one specifically on teochew wedding customs? There's currently none on KZbin and my cousin, who's about to get married next year needs some help! Thanks in advance!

[@azuresea00]

please more videos!!! :D and do you know some middle-chinese customs? shanghai/shaoxing customs? i once asked my teacher in beijing and she said that in the north the main wedding ceremony is at noon, while it's in the evening in the southern regions, is that true?

[@uofmsensation]

i learn so much from you!

[@tOFUbankai]

Well in modern times such as now, people go along with it because it's just sounds good for such auspicious events such as a wedding. Like how in english, we commonly throw around "good luck" or "break a leg". I mean the degree of belief we place upon those sayings vary from person to person and it could be very superstitious for some but I just want to clarify that nowadays, people do it for honoring culture/tradition and because it's just a good way of blessing someone. (:

[@copperloop]

so extensive!!! Nice educational vid!!!

[@SSawhney]

Really interesting!

[@lisac2591]

can you make a video on pregnancy, I was very confused, my parent tell me not to leave the house, however they tell me to get the more sun light for the baby.

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

BBQ wedding is a little too casual for me... I actually Chinese weddings are more simple than Western weddings... since I worked in a Western bridal salon I was shocked at how much preparation it was for a Western wedding.

[@SchnoodleSchnu]

I wish I had watched this before I got married! Then I wouldn't have had as much grief from my parents about not knowing the customs - which they themselves are pretty clueless

[@isak7976]

Nice video!

[@ReiKoko]

i love the inclusion of both canto and mandarin terms in these videos :D unfortunately, i didn't have a chinese wedding, just a simple civil ceremony and reception, so i missed out on all the traditional stuff D:

[@sweetgirl1106]

what are the bakery certificates for? what do they use for?

[@azncutipie88]

Could you guys do a cantonese wedding door game???

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

Yea, Mandarin then Cantonese

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

actually 4 in traditional Chinese culture may not necessarily mean bad.

[@tsangdanny]

yay for the return of Cantonese along with the Mandarin

[@Dangerous0Fairy]

The groom & bride will have food supply for months after the wedding :D thnx for the vid !

[@Felatelist]

Agreed but these were probably caught a while ago anyway and they are pricey!

[@Erick1198NDY]

very helpful video :) but knowing these customs drive me nuts....

[@Sriwanti]

uhm.. i'm chinese indonesian but my wedding was sooo simple.. the marriage pastry we did give them to relatives, a lot of red pockets, tea ceremony at home and blessing at the temple.. that's all..

[@heldar2629]

I loved your video in fact I like all your videos. I would like to suggest you to make a video about Chinese superstitions.

[@lisac2591]

I have English wedding in the morning and then Chinese wedding in the afternoon After the English wedding. I dress in a Chinese dress where I greet everyone in the restaurant. my Friends ask the people to sign the red cloth. When everyone was sat down in the table. me and my husband knee down on the pillows. my parents and my husband parents will past gifts to both of use, we past Chinese tea. My husband got some necklace. bracket. I didn't understand what is going on, I forgethen how it went.

[@Xeqcme]

..."Jiu" (wine) in Cantonese also sounds close to run! :D

[@dennislouie]

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY AND KEEP CUSTOMS ALIVE AS THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHO WE ARE. For that reason I love your videoos. Like you said, we don't have to do all of it. I love that you do it in both canto and mandarin. Yes, they may seem supertitious but only if you believe. To me its just a part of culture. Too bad mainland Chinese is losing its past. I understand they (the govt) is realizing the lose and trying to re capature some of the old customs.

[@waikien]

As a Cantonese guy with a mainland Chinese wife, I can say that these traditions are very, very superstitious Cantonese.

[@NTDOffTheGreatWall]

Thumbs up if you want to see more Cantonese!

[@HyunSaengisLOVE]

When moving stuff from bride to groom's house, they are not allowed to move the bed. It shows something like, that the groom is poor. (At least that's how i think it is from cantonese)

[@TheRainyAsian]

Carmen, how can you speak Cantonese and how did you learn? I can only speak mandarin. :(

[@terrygentaoman]

That's a lot!

[@fred10418]

thumbs UP

[@TheLongshot1982]

Where you guys stationed? Jersey? Newyork?

[@thisspaceship]

I LOVE LOTUS ROOT ALL YEAR ROUUUND

[@magiclice]

How do you guys decide what to talk about?

[@AnswertoLifeis42]

The point was also to ask, how do you keep your chinese fluent?

[@Giggleys101]

omg, now it all make sense! thanks :)

[@SunAlucard]

I think she is Canto from origin, and learned Mandarin along the way.

[@yukinechan]

THUMBS UP!

[@yeps2468]

See more!

[@AntonT81]

Got it! Amazing play of words but yet so meaningful! :) Carmen plz marry me!

[@olympiascott9196]

To all the people who don't know, Carmen's canto is great because she is canto, lol

[@LittleAmyHe]

Fun*

[@json188]

My question to carmen, do you want to all these things to be prepared and done in your wedding?

[@GenXWitch67]

I wish I had found OTGW before my son and his beautiful wife married...

[@WinsVideos]

The Cantonese of the belt phrase's second word isn't "thousand". It should sound similar to "front" instead. :) cheers

[@catherinel6222]

Finally!!!

[@azuresea00]

jepp, she is :)

[@harithaljumaily3960]

nice :)

[@Blooming_Cherry_]

i'm canto and i'm confused and i just want a simple canadian wedding but still want in chinese sooooooo confusing help me anyone

[@Thesnowmangt88]

池 is my family name can you tell me more about my name?

[@coolieamy123]

It is very difficult XD

[@TheLongshot1982]

Let her decide brother it's not just our choice, it's hers too,

[@l0rd0f0blivi0n]

Lol... "here have a crap load of food"..... "you can have some of my food, now go do business!"

[@maniadoc1]

it's so complex.

[@rancidx3]

traditional

[@ouihui]

So...the husbands get a new outfit while us ladies get food (that I personally never eat)?

[@1997aiya]

Wow that's a lot of leather the groom gets! XD the poor cows ^^

[@jaywo224]

4 bottles of wine? 4 is an ominous number though..

[@bonbons6369]

dangg~ that's a lot. People still do this?

[@hanar1060]

Chinese guys are cute, Chinese tradition is lovely, China itself is very interesting but everything is so so so complicated! I don't think I will be able to walk down a street is China without offending a few people and breaking a law or two.

[@coolieamy123]

So basically the bride gives the groom like a suit type thing? Whilst the bridge gets all the food :) Thank goodness you speak Cantonese XD

[@ernestwongsg]

today i learnt that 乾貝is also called 瑤柱

[@Faizan_fm]

What happens if you give.....sushi

[@palestblue5218]

Learning Mandarin is mad hard woaahhh

[@Commandos12]

holy crap thats like 10 truck loads of stuff x_x!?

[@Prankzterstarr]

I am not getting married anymore after watching this vidjeo!!!

[@TheLongshot1982]

Chinese weddings are cheaper ???? They are huge...how

[@graceypotter]

I'd rather get home stuff or clothes or jewelry or something