05/21/2026
This afternoon, I watched an online video from an established wedding planner telling people how to do a Chinese tea ceremony. I stumbled across it accidentally when I saw a post she made asking people what that ceremony was called in Chinese (she herself is not Chinese). After she got her answer (it's 'jing cha,' by the way), she proceeded to post a video on her page outlining the steps. The problem was, she got several things wrong and/or missed a great deal of important elements. For instance, she said to have white flowers as part of the ceremony, which, for Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean cultures, are usually reserved for funerals. If a cultural tradition is important for you to include as part of your special day, take the time to do the research. Whether that means going online to look for information or asking relatives or friends who are familiar with those customs, do so. If it's something that holds meaning and significance for you, even if you slightly modernize it, take the time to learn about the history and practices so you're able to do it justice.
