Among the most essential ceremonies that are influenced by Buddhist and Confucian ideologies in the culture of Vietnam are traditional ceremonies at a Vietnamese wedding. This day is important for both families along with the couple concerned in these ceremonies. For this reason, they include very few formal rituals.
Various procedures and steps are included in Vietnamese marriage, according to the customs of particular ethnic groups. Still, two small ceremonies are the main in the entire wedding ceremony in Vietnam, including:
BETROTHAL CEREMONY OR LE AN HOI
In this wedding ceremony of Vietnam, usually, both groom and bride or their parents visit an astrologer to get the best time and date for them. The relatives and family of the groom must reach in time as they accept this time and date strongly as true.
They go to see the bride and her family, a few days before the wedding, with betrothal gifts in round glossy boxes. These boxes carried by unmarried boys or girls contain betel leaves and areca nuts along with cake, tea, wines, fruits, and other delicious items.
WEDDING CEREMONY OR LE CUOI
On the day of the wedding ceremony, the relatives and family of the groom visit the house of the bride with several red paper-wrapped gifts. The items in these gifts are like the items in the betrothal gifts i.e. areca nuts, betel leaves, cake, tea, wines, and fruits, etc. To carry these gifts couples married happily are carefully selected.
All women and ladies are wearing traditional Ao Dai whereas men can be in conventional Ao Dai or their usual suits. A most successful and wealthy couple from the relatives is selected to lead this troop. It means to bless the couple to-be-married to live together throughout life.
The family of the groom stops facing the house of the bride. At first, the couple leading the troop takes a tray with wine to enter the house. They invite the parents of the bride to have a sip. The family of the bride allows the entry of the family of the groom into their house after accepting the toast. To welcome the family of the groom fireworks is fired instantly.
The family of the groom introduces them and seeks consent from the bride’s family for marrying their bride to their son. Normally a respected person from the family of the bride is considered the master of the ceremony. He instructs the parents of the bride to bring the bride. The bride, wrapped in traditional red Ao Dai, then comes out with her bridal maids and her parents. Then the couple prays facing the altar to ask consent for their marriage from their ancestors. Then they thank both, the parents of the bride and the groom, for protecting and raising them.
And wedding camera man (quay phóng sự cưới) also keep memory in video or picture
Then to show their respect and gratitude to each other would-be husband and wife bow their heads to each other. Then the master of the ceremony advises the wedding couple about beginning with a novel family. Then their parents share their experiences and bless the couple. Then wedding rings are exchanged between the bride and the groom and receive gifts for their parents including golden earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. The ceremony comes to an end with a burst of applause.And wedding camera man also keep memory in video or picture
After the completion of the traditional ceremony of a Vietnamese wedding, a party is organized at the house of the groom. Usually in the countryside, this party is organized at their respective houses or in a restaurant. This day is considered as the day of finalizing daydreams, desires, anxieties, and hopes. During their meal music is played by a band and on the stage, some guests sing wedding-related songs for the success of the groom and the bride. During this party, each table is visited by the couple to get congratulations, money, and wishes,and they take picture together(chụp phóng sự cưới).
Today, most Vietnamese couples perform the ceremonies of their wedding in churches or temples and exchange wedding rings and vow similar to the western and American style marriages. But before going to churches or temples they still follow the ceremonies according to Vietnamese traditions.