Taichan Wedding Ceremony

He held the engagement choker in the palm of his hand. It had a palm frond carved into the baked clay pendant, a symbol for endurance and prosperity. The small stones that formed the rest of the circlet felt as if they were pinching his skin. He wondered if they'd pinch around his neck as well. He pressed his lips together, hoping that it wouldn't do that for the rest of his life.

Execution

The bride and groom dress entirely in dark blue, with all parts of their bodies covered except the eyes. They meet together with their families outside of whichever party has the highest social status, and walk together to the local matchmaker's home. The ceremony is officiated in part by the local lawmaker and the parents of the betrothed within the matchmaker's chambers. As the ceremony progresses, the bride and groom swear vows of loyalty and fidelity, discarding a blue article of clothing with each promise. Eventually, the two work down to a simple blue undergarment, and are left alone. In this part, they make their final promises of love and protection, strip down their undergarments and share any secrets that they may have between them, and finally clip the betrothal necklaces around each others' necks. In more traditional households, the bride and groom may be expected to consummate the relationship by having sex, but the officiates don't often check to confirm that, and are satisfied by the bride and groom simply speaking alone. When the ceremony is finished, the couple dresses as they normally would and exit the matchmaker's workplace. Once outside, they are given a blanket and walk home alone with it, presenting themselves to the town as a couple.

Components and tools

• Blue clothing is one of the most notable components of the ceremony. It represents security, protection, and love. Sometimes, they can be embellished by diamond and geometric patterns, which can add different subtle meanings and tones to the outfits.

• The wedding choker necklaces are meant to remind the wedded pair that they are bound together, and that their love should be kept close.

• The blanket that is given to them represents unity and security, and it is seen as a very lucky.

Participants

With Taichan weddings, the parents absolutely must attend. A bride and a groom are betrothed from a young age, set up by their parents and matchmaker, and so it is the duty of the parents to see this ordeal through all the way. Some others who may be invited are family members and close friends, who only serve to witness and bless the newlywed couple with their support and well wishes. The parents and the lawmaker are the only ones with roles in the wedding; they recite and dictate what it means to be in a married partnership, and what the implications of marriage mean. Though it is not required, the parents may tell stories of how the couple grew into each other from childhood, often recalling a first meeting or other important events in their relationship.

Observance

Taichan weddings are a daytime event, and typically start in the morning. The goal is to be officially married at sunset, when night and day are united as one. It's a very long ceremony, which requires the guests to have a lot of patience, and much of the ceremony takes place indoors and is only shared between the bride and groom.

A reception party, however, may go on deep into the night. After the ceremony, guests are often invited to the newlyweds' house for food and socializing. Many view attending a reception as a wish for good luck, since this is the first event that they host together, as well as the first night they spend together. Gifts are not uncommon, but not expected. They are usually given by close friends with well wishes for their union. Typically, gifts are small trinkets, like a handmade pot or pieces of jewelry, or even just a cooked meal.