Chinese Guo Da Li

We are two young adults who usually go against traditions as we find it a chore. 😅

However, after experiencing the Guo Da Li, chinese tradition of dowry and to officially ask the girl's family for permission to marry.

I would say traditions matter, and there is a reason why they are in place.

The whole experience of shopping for the jewellery set, to buying the chinese baskets with items we would probably never use was an eye-opening experience. We also chose to swap out the traditional cakes 发糕, to much preferred muffins and fruit cake. 😋

We did not take everything exactly as we were told, such as the orange juice (looked quite nasty and syrupy) from the shop. Instead, we bought the most natural orange juice available in store.

As customs has it, the groom's family is supposed to prepare a red packet, commonly known as dowry, and the bride's family will choose to return a portion of the red packet also know as a returning gift in laymen terms, 回礼。

My parents are strong believers that they are not here to sell their daughter. Hence, 99% of the red packet were returned.

Thankful for all the blogs and pages that shared the items to be prepared for the hakka/hokkien dialect. Made it a breeze, especially with all the ready packed packages, hehe 😉😎

We also had to buy some sweet rice crackers, pork trotter cans, oranges, and liquor, which were made simple via technology.

All of which was a pleasant shopping experience!

Our mothers have travelled together before. Hence, there was no awkwardness between them. We initially thought we would only take 1 to 2 hours, but we ended up having so much fun that it became a 4 hours session with a dinner right after.

In fact, all of us, including our siblings, got closer together as we shared a sumptous dinner together.

The traditions are there for the memories to be created and the bond to be solidified. We literally felt like 2 families in union because of my husband and I.

Highly recommend all young adults to at least go through the simplified version of the Guo Da Li! It was really a life changing experience, one we thoroughly enjoyed.

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