The wedding date is chosen based on a couple's birth dates and after consultation with a Chinese almanac. Betrothal gifts are often presented to the bride's family. To announce a marriage, the groom's family might provide special cakes for the bride's family to send to family and friends. Brides change clothing frequently on the wedding day, but the last dress is usually red, a color said to bring luck. Her clothing usually features chrysanthemums and peonies as symbols of wealth and good fortune.
Grooms generally wear black and a black hat with tassels.
Using cups tied together with string, the bride and groom sip wine as they exchange vows. A tea ceremony may be held in which the bride pours tea for her new relatives, starting with the eldest member. Meats, nuts and other foods are shaped into a dragon and the mythical phoenix. Dim sum, or dumplings, are typical hors d'oeuvres. Desserts often contain lotus seeds for fertility.