I’m attending a church wedding this weekend. The invitation isn’t very specific on the dress code; only states: no shorts, short skirts, and sandals, which doesn’t give me a lot to go off of. I’ve heard that Taiwanese wedding ceremonies are very lax on dress code, but I’m worried I’ll arrive in something TOO casual. Any fashion advice (I’m female if that helps)? Also, how much do you usually give in a wedding hongbao?
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Wear a long sleeve shirt and chino trousers. Use a belt so you can tuck your shirt in if you feel underdressed.
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Long pants and a shirt with a collar.
If it’s in a church, they’re probably Christion. Why a hongbao? Want the best of both worlds?
Don’t think too much about it, you will get people overdressed / underdressed for the occasion and no one will really bat an eyelid about it. Just go for something smart and comfortable and you will be fine.
The hongboa depends on how close you are to the couple and also the type of do you’re having after. If you are a plus 1 with some one else just chat with them, they will know what to do. if you have been invited directly (you name is on the invite) you will need to take care of it yourself, chat with the person who invited you and ask them what is traditional, they will tell you how much. They will probably have a table set up to collect them and will put your name in the wedding book with the amount.
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Hahaha the guy getting married was an old boss of mine from my internship place. I’ve never been to a church wedding so I’m not sure if I’m supposed to give them hongbao XD
Are you just attending the ceremony at the church or also the meal after?
If attending the meal after, I would chose something semi formal. Chinos, Long Sleeve Shirt and Jacket, leather shoes. Hongboa is the meal cost. So ask that question.
@Lost.in.space I’m only staying for the ceremony!
I recommend drinking all the alcohol that is on the table as soon as you get there, because there might not be much more. Don’t fear seeming to be greedy, because if there is more, no one will remember, and if there isn’t, you will lose out to the faster drinkers. Plus, you may have to blot out a few hours of tedium and speeches.
initiate a few toasts at your table with shot glasses of whisky or shoju (if you’re lucky) or gaoliang (if not). and then be prepared to toast back to your wedding hosts as they circulate somewhere between the second and third change of wedding dress.
once the rice comes out, there’s no more food (maybe a soup, or an eight treasures pudding).
and as long as you wear pants, don’t worry too much about the rest. definitely not a tie…
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oh. belay my instructions above, unless you bring your own hip flask to the ceremony.
Easy. Smart casual. No red envelope, a small gift will be appreciated.
But if you want to give a gift you will stay for a photo with the couple and give them the gift directly.
My friend is protestant and the unwritten rule was still hongbaos.
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Isn’t the hongbao supposed to be for the tepid muck you get to eat at the reception? OP said he’s only going to the church.
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A regular dress would be fine.
I feel like you’re getting a lot of clothing advice for men…
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Some ideas
“Chinese weddings are known for their incredible food”
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I had good meals at weddings in China. How about Taiwanese weddings?
Plan a Detour past MacDonalds on the way home. But otherwise the food is just amazing!
I’ve been to weddings that served really good food.
Oh dear. Yes, as @Lost.in.space has said, you may want to grab food on the way home (or even on the way there). Um … I dunno, all the wonderful taste of biandang, but without the benefit of cardboard insulation to preserve heat in the prolonged time between cooking and eating? Also, not as much rice or vegetables. Lots more seafood. Of all the different categories of food in Taiwan, wedding banquet food would probably be the bottom of my list.
As for the church wedding: I strongly suspect smart casual would be fine. Whatever the female equivalent of a buttoned collared shirt & slacks is: as a male, I’ve been slightly but not excessively casual at some weddings in that, and slightly but not excessively formal at others. And I’m afraid I have no idea what would be expected in terms of a hongbao. The norm here is to go to the banquet and not the ceremony (if there even is a ceremony); I don’t know how it works with the reverse.
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