Hongbao

You’re flying across the world to be with us. That is genuinely the gift, and we mean that.

But a few of you have asked what’s customary at a Chinese wedding, and guessing at another culture’s traditions is no fun — so here it is, plainly.

The hongbao

The customary gift at a Chinese wedding is a hongbao (紅包) — a red envelope containing cash, given to the couple rather than a wrapped present. There is no registry, and nothing you need to carry across an ocean in your luggage.

How it works

• Buy a red envelope. They cost very little at any Chinese supermarket, online, or once you’re in Xi’an.
• Sign your name on the back. This matters more than it sounds — without it we genuinely won’t know who to thank.
• Hand it over at the reception. There’s usually a table, or a family member collecting them. You won’t have to guess on the day.

The numbers

• Amounts are traditionally even numbers.
• Figures containing 8 are considered lucky.
• Avoid the number 4 anywhere in the amount — it sounds like the word for death.

Photographs

If you want to give us something that costs nothing: a photograph of you with us. We’re building the slideshow for the wedding from them — the older and sillier, the better.

Add yours to the shared album, or WhatsApp them to us if you don’t have a Google account. The wedding itself will be covered by a photographer and videographer, and we’ll send you their pictures afterwards.

Questions

Anything at all, write to us.