Hong Kong Weddings: Customs & Traditions You Need To Know

Getting married in Hong Kong? From fun games to formal attire, Hong Kong wedding traditions are full of entertaining ways to celebrate the happy couple!

In a city as steeped in culture and tea as Hong Kong, it’s unsurprising that Hong Kong weddings are deeply rooted in significant traditions. However, some traditions may carry more importance than you think; from the simple act of combing hair to the colour red, navigating these customs (or even just understanding them) can feel overwhelming. But don’t stress — we’ve broken down the most popular wedding traditions for the wedding novice. Read up or follow along blindly — the choice is yours! 

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Jump To:
Pre-Wedding Customs
The Wedding Ceremony & Games
Post-Wedding Traditions

Pre-Wedding Customs in Hong Kong

It’s not just dress fittings and cake tastings when it comes to wedding prep; there’s a whole host of pre-wedding traditions to start the celebrations! 

Guo Da Li (过大礼)

The Guo Da Li is a traditional Chinese ceremony in which the groom presents gifts to the bride’s family as a symbol of his sincerity,  typically occurring two to four weeks before the wedding. Presents often include items like bridal cakes, traditional Chinese sweetmeats and jewellery. As a thank you, Hui Li (回礼) is for the grooms, typically on the same day, during which the bride’s family offers back a portion of the gifts, reflecting the mutual respect between the two families.

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The Roast Pig

A somewhat unexpected cameo in the Guo Da Li or Sam Chiu Wui Mun, this is a gift that is as symbolic as it is eye-catching. Typically given to the bride’s family, the groom offers this gift as a demonstration of his sincerity. In return, the bride’s family acknowledges this gesture by returning the head and tail, along with other gifts. Particularly within Cantonese traditions, while it once represented virginity, modern interpretations of the custom emphasise its role as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune.

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Fortune Tellers

In the lead-up to the big day, Hong Kong wedding customs often lean into the spiritual realm, not forgetting a fortune-telling consultation, of course! Those with the sight are believed to provide insights into luck and compatibility, playing a crucial role in selecting auspicious dates for the wedding by analysing the couple’s Chinese zodiacs. It’s an intricate calculation that goes far beyond simple formulas, making it wise to leave such matters to the experts and cosmic forces!

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Sheung Tau (Hair Combing)

In contrast to Western weddings, where the bride and groom often spend the night apart, a Hong Kong wedding features the Sheung Tau ceremony — an important hair-combing ritual held the night before the wedding. During this ceremony, the bride and groom each have their hair combed by a “lucky” elder. It’s more than just a beautifying ritual; each stroke symbolises the transition into a married life, one filled with harmony, prosperity and longevity. 

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The Dowry

A custom that remains significant even in modern Hong Kong, similar to the Guo Da Li, the bride’s family prepares a dowry, which commonly includes items like bedding, cookware and jewellery. Colloquially referred to as the “bride price,” this tradition involves the groom’s family presenting gifts such as gold, money and even property in return for the dowry. These offerings not only serve as a gesture of appreciation for the bride’s upbringing but also serve to demonstrate the groom’s ability to provide for his wife. 

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Posters

Often before marriage, the houses of the respective parties decorate doorways and windows with the “Double Happiness” symbol (囍), which is primarily used to signify happiness, good fortune and a harmonious marriage.

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The Wedding Ceremony

Lai See

Receiving red packets isn’t just a feat reserved for Chinese New Year or birthdays, but is a tradition carried out at weddings too. Guests often give cash gifts in red packets, symbolising luck and prosperity. You can expect to typically contribute from $500 to $1,000, depending on the proximity to the couple and venue location.

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The Tea Ceremony

The tea ceremony, a vital part of Hong Kong culture, typically takes place after the wedding ceremony. Dressed in traditional Cheongsam and Tang suits, the couple serves tea to their elder relatives as a gesture of gratitude and respect for their upbringings. In return, they receive blessings and often gold, symbolising prosperity and good fortune. 

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The Colour Red

It’s customary for the bride to have multiple outfit changes (no matter the culture!), but Hong Kong brides will typically adorn a red cheongsam or qipao for the tea ceremony and other celebrations. As a symbol of good luck and prosperity, you can expect to see this colour everywhere at a Hong Kong wedding! 

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Door Games 

Hong Kong wedding tradition games, often called “door games,” are a fun and lively part of the wedding day. Before the groom and his groomsmen can enter the bride’s home to “claim” her, they must participate in these playful challenges, which test the groom’s love and devotion for his bride. Common examples include “The Four Flavours of Life,” where the groom must consume something sweet, sour, bitter and spicy, and “Red Packet Bargaining,” in which bridesmaids will playfully block the door, demanding red envelopes filled with money before allowing entry.

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Post-Weddings

Post-wedding traditions, such as ‘Hui Men’ and Sam Chiu Wui Mun, involve a ritual where the bride returns to her family home three days after the wedding, with — you guessed it — a roasted pig! Although less common in modern Hong Kong, it’s an older practice that reinforces and acknowledges familial roots and ties. 

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