Origami showing a Chinese character that means "double joy" and a kissing couple
Although weddings in East Asia have been Westernized since the early 20th century, certain elements of Oriental wedding decor remain and have been used for Asian-themed weddings in the United States. If you are planning an Asian-themed wedding, familiarity with those elements help to enhance the Oriental ambiance of your wedding.
Oriental Invitation Card
Communicate the theme of your wedding with your invitation card. Whether it's an e-card (if you're environmental) or a paper card, it should display an Oriental symbol. One suggestion is a Chinese character that means "double joy." For the most traditional look, use red for the background and write the "double joy" in gold. For a more romantic presentation, use shell pink for the background and red for the "double joy."
Bridal Gown with an Oriental Flair
Purchase a bridal gown in a column or mermaid style so the waistline will resemble that of a Mandarin dress. Also buy a white Mandarin blouse which can be easily found in your local Chinatown. Have a tailor cut out the Mandarin collar of the blouse and keep the ornate button on the collar, or do it yourself. Wear the Mandarin collar as a choker with your bridal gown.
Bridal Party in Oriental Style
Outfit your bridesmaids in Mandarin dresses, which they can easily find in Chinatown. They can also wear these again as cocktail dresses. If you're having a Japanese-themed wedding, dress them in kimonos. To match the bridesmaids' Mandarin dresses, the groomsmen should wear Mandarin shirts. Even the groom can wear one in his tux for an interesting mix of the East and the West.
Orchids for Bouquets & Centerpieces
Use orchids in bridal and bridesmaids' bouquets. Have the groom and each groomsman wear an orchid corsage. Choose potted orchids in a different color from the bouquet (dark purple vs. lavender, for instance) and place them on banquet tables as centerpieces.
Oriental Music for Entertainment
Play Oriental instrumental music during the banquet. Set up a karaoke machine and invite guests who know Asian language songs to sing. Perform a duet of an Asian language song with your groom if both of you know the language.
Oriental Wedding Favors
Let each guest return home with a sleek set of chopsticks that symbolize "the perfect pair," two fortune cookies in a cute red box or a small frame of an Oriental painting in which there are a pair of swallows or Mandarin ducks as symbols of lifelong love. To produce the framed painting, you just need to scan an Oriental painting with cleared copyright, print them as 4-by-6 photos and buy corresponding picture frames from dollar stores.
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