Betrothal, Guo Da Li 过大礼, also known as ‘Na Cai’, is the formality performed by the groom to bind both families together, and it shows the sincerity of the Groom to the Bride’s family. Normally it is executed two weeks prior to the wedding by senior relative or wedding chaperone.
大禮過得好，嫁娶一定好！
过大礼，也被称为纳彩，就是将彩礼送到女家，表示求婚。现在这个过程通常是在婚礼的两三个星期前进行由准新郎的长辈亲戚或大妗执行。
过大礼前双方须事先商量同意：
- 聘金，戒奶钱金额，聘金回礼金额
- 礼品，回礼，款式，数量
- 以红包代替某些礼品（避免浪费/杀生）
- 省略某些礼品
- 需要添加某些礼品
过大礼&回礼礼品
| 过大礼主要礼品（男家准备） | 过大礼籍贯礼品（男家准备） |
聘金: 用吉祥的數目，豐儉由人。
戒奶钱
金饰：豐儉由人，通常四点金/四饰金（项链，手镯， 耳环， 金戒）
海味: 鲍鱼，海参，鱼翅， 瑶柱（每款兩包）
三牲: 鸡（2公2母），烧猪，鱼 (三牲可用利是代替)
椰子: 1對，有爺有子之意。
槟榔：1串
酒: 色酒/洋酒 2/4/6支 （如女家没要求给2支）
红绸布 (视大门阔度 男方9/10尺9寸长，女方9尺长)
茶葉+冰糖：各1包
龍鳳花燭两對（有上头4对
双飞肉一斤
其他：喜糖，罐头，珍珠品等 | 广府/客家：
禮餅: 西式 / 龙凤，餅头1/2對 （父母饼）
5京果: 合桃乾、連殼花生、荔枝乾、龍眼乾、荔枝干 等 或
9样礼品：面线，冬瓜条，吉饼，柿饼，紅棗，合桃乾，龍眼乾，荔枝干，茶葉+冰糖
生果: 各款意头数目ex. 8, 9, 18, 19, 23
福建：
四礼包/宝：面线，吉饼，冬瓜条， 红枣
1x大猪手
生果: 每款双双对对 ex. 8,10,12 或
有闰月：每款13
没闰月：每款12 |
| 回礼：（男方过来的） | 回礼：（女方准备的） |
聘金：取意头数目，剩下回男方
红布一块（九尺九回给男家 ）
龙凤烛 （回1对 / 2对有上头）
五京果：回一半
海味：回一半
双飞肉：回一半
椰子: 回1對
槟榔：女家只能收1粒其余的回礼
水果（回最少9粒）
洋酒
| 2 X 大发糕
2 X 喜糖
莲子，百合，紅豆，綠豆（安床用）
芝麻茶种
五谷
2x白米酒/橙水
烧猪盘物品：女婿钱包, 女婿腰带&裤子，莲藕, 生菜, 红包
其他传统物品：
煤炭， 谷/麦， 甜糖，肚兜，芋仔， 桂花等
|
回礼
| 男家过大礼 Gifts to Bride House |
• betrothal money 聘金
• 2 pair of Double Happiness candles (2 dragon 2 phoenix) 龙凤烛
• Extra 2 pair of Double Happiness candles 龙凤烛(if hair combing ceremony applied)
• Roast Pork (Gift for Mother-In-law)
• Hard liquor or red/white wine (Gift for Father-in-Law)
• Traditional wedding pastry/cakes (For bride’s family to distribute to relatives)
• 8-12 Oranges ( Symbolize good luck)
• 12-16 Apples (Symbolize peace)
• Seafood (Sea cucumber, abalone, scallop, shark fin, cuttlefish, dried prawn, dried oyster, dried mushroom, dried fish maw)
• 1 Gift Box 礼金盒 containing
– Jewelry (For the bride)
– Dried Longan 龙眼 (Bless with a dragon boy) 早生贵子
– Red date 鸿运当头 (To have good fortune)
– Lily bulbs 百年好合 (A harmonious union)
– Walnut/ Peanut 和和气气 ( To have harmony)
– Lotus seeds 连连生子 (To have many children)
– Dried tangerine 大吉大利 (To have great luck)
– Pine tree leaf 长寿 (If bride’s family has grandparents. Symbolized longevity and health, health and vitality for couple),
– Dried melon slice 甜甜蜜蜜 ( Sweet life together)
• A pair of Coconut (with sprout prefereable) 有爷有子
• Double Happiness Stickers
• Red banner to hang over door |
| 女家回礼 Return Gift by Bride |
• Gold Ring, or watch, or cufflinks, or belt, or wallet with an Angbao inserted (For the groom)
• 2 bottles of orange juice or syrup (For good luck)
• Portion of the gift received from groom (Usually half will be returned)
• Fatt Koh 发糕 (Symbolize prosperity)
• *Cantonese only* Pants or suit 福 (For the groom to have lifelong good fortune) |
Dowry from Bride’s family
( Groom to bring the items back to the bridal chamber) |
• Furniture such as bed, mattress or dressing table
• 1 Sewing machine/Sewing kit (To be bound together)
• 1 Ruler 子孙尺 (To have many children and grandchildren)
• Clothing and accessories for the Bride (To always have things to wear)
– Bag/ Purse with Angbao inserted
– New clothes stuffed with longan
– New shoes for the bride
• Essentials 子孙三宝 (To symbolize fertility)
– Bath Basin
– Wash basin
– Spittoon
– Mug
– Towel
– Toothpaste
– Toothbrush
• Linen (Pillow covers and bed sheet)
• Tea set (For tea ceremony at groom’s side)
• Bowl set
• 2 pair of Chopstick 早生贵子 (To have off springs soon)
• 1 pair of Bedside Lamp 添丁发财 (To symbolize fertility and wealth)
• 1 Red umbrella (To be left in bride’s home for use on wedding day)
• Da Yuan Xiao Yuan 大缘小缘 (For setting up matrimonial bed 安床. Place some at 4 corners of the bed, of the room and in cupboards and drawers)
• Jewelry (optional) |
