Asian-themed weddings are on
rise, and at first this might come as a surprise. After all, nothing could seem further from
Laura Ashley vision we get when thinking of a wedding.And in fact, that's one of
forces behind
rising popularity of
Asian-themed wedding: how it turns things upside-down. In fact, in a Chinese-style wedding, white is bad (it's
color of death) and red and black are good (they're
colors of luck and prosperity).
You might wonder whether brides that plan Asian-themed weddings are Asian (or marrying someone who is). The answer is, sometimes. Surprisingly often, they aren't, and
choice is purely aesthetic.
Today's trends break down into two main types of Asian-themed weddings:
Japanese or "Zen" style, which values simplicity and nature, and
more riotous Chinese style, which bristles with bright colors and shiny fabrics.
Although either choice may surprise some older guests,
bride may find her personal values deeply expressed in
Asian-themed wedding. After all,
usual wedding is a certain kind of pageant:
couple pretends to be royalty for a day, and lavishly entertain a large party - seemingly without a care, though they rack up huge debt to do so.
Brides drawn to
Zen-style ceremony often want to avoid
"royalty pageant" and simplify
ceremony (ironically, this can result in greater elegance for
price tag). This type of bride might read "voluntary simplicity" books, care about
environment, enjoy an uncluttered house or apartment with a handful of Japanese accents (Shoji lanterns and screens, for example) and find herself attracted to natural materials. She may feel freed by a simpler wedding gown, and carry an unfussy bouquet of calla lilies. Her centerpieces might be lanterns surrounded by black and white stones. For favors, she might give out fortune cookies placed in take-out boxes and topped off with chopsticks.