Is this Hong Kong or Vegas?
The full glory

White Wedding

Have you ever wondered what the caricature of Western Civilization looks like? Just come on out to a Hong Kong wedding and find out. In any given culture, one of the first things that gets modernized is the wedding ceremony. This means a western wedding and from a cultural viewpoint, it’s fascinating to see what traditions are incorporated.

I was really looking forward to Claudia and Game’s wedding even though there was serious concern that I would find the whole thing boring. I was not disappointed when I walked into the banquet hall and saw what only can be described as Caesar’s in Vegas. Opulent chandeliers, roman statues and ridiculously high ceilings all made me feel like I had walked into a teleportation machine.

The bride was clad in a flowing rose studded gown with matching tiara while the groom’s suit looked like something Rex Harrison would have worn. I was absolutely floored. There was something very Hollywood about the whole thing. In the anteroom were displayed photo books as the tradition is to take staged wedding photos in advance. Taiwan is in the forefront of this practice and the quality showed. There were photos of the couple in frolicking fields of flowers, awash in the waves on a beach at sunset, and playfully cavorting on a merry-go-round. I only wish that I had gotten a fridge magnet like at Meilei and Ted’s wedding.

However, I was surprised by the lack of speeches during the meal and dancing after the dessert. Once the food started, it was very business like with all the courses being served in record time. The poor couple had to scramble to the exit to catch people before they left once the last course was served. Although it was a very happy occasion and I enjoyed myself immensely, I did find that it made me feel like something was missing. Sure, I always get stuck with the crab claw timeslot for my speech so I don’t get heard but it’s heartfelt nonetheless.

I was explaining my experience to a coworker and how much fun I had. She shook her head and said that I must not be used to the “crazy” Hong Kong style of wedding and how out of hand things can get, especially since I’m from some overseas backwater. “No. Don’t worry.” I said. “My extended family and I can humiliate ourselves at a wedding like nobody’s business.”