Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Chinese wedding tea ceremony is the heart of a Chinese wedding, the moment a couple are formally welcomed into each other's families. I am Norman Yap. Norman Yap Photography is my personal wedding photography label, based in Perth, Western Australia, working with couples across full-day, upper-tier and luxury weddings. I am from a Chinese background and held my own tea ceremony, so I photograph these days with the cultural understanding they deserve.
This guide explains what the ceremony is, why it matters, how the order of service runs, what goes into the tea, and the moments that carry the most meaning.
The Chinese wedding tea ceremony is a formal ritual where the couple serve tea to their parents and elders, from eldest to youngest, as a sign of respect. In return the elders offer their blessing and give red packets and gifts, marking the couple's acceptance into the family.
The Chinese wedding tea ceremony is the official ceremony in Chinese culture, far more than a photo opportunity. It is the moment a couple are accepted into each other's families and receive the blessing of their elders, along with gifts of jewellery and money. Serving tea to someone older than you is a sign of deep respect, and the custom reaches back many centuries.
Traditionally the day begins at the bride's home. The groom arrives to ask permission, a tea ceremony is held there, and he then collects his bride. She leaves her family home, and in the older tradition she does not return, before a second tea ceremony at the groom's home welcomes her into his family. Many couples today adapt this, holding the ceremony at a hotel or a single family home, often on a date chosen as auspicious. If you are marrying at The Melbourne Hotel, see our guide to a Chinese tea ceremony at The Melbourne Hotel.
The ceremony follows a clear order of respect. The elders and parents are seated while the couple kneel or bow before them. One person usually coordinates the ceremony and pours the tea, the couple hold the cups, and the tea is served to each elder in turn, from the most senior to the youngest. In return, each elder offers a blessing and a red packet, the parents' way of congratulating the couple and accepting them into the family.
The tea can be any of several varieties, and many families add red dates to sweeten it, the sweetness symbolising a happy marriage. Couples usually wear traditional dress for the ceremony, a qun kwa, a cheongsam or an ao dai, then often change into Western attire afterwards. Because of that, we usually plan two portrait sessions, one in the traditional outfit and one in the Western look.
Each tea ceremony session usually runs about half an hour. If you are following the full tradition across two homes, allow for both, plus travel between them and time for portraits.
Ready to talk through your wedding photography and see if we are the right fit?
A formal ritual where the couple serve tea to their parents and elders to show respect, and in return receive blessings, red packets and gifts, marking their acceptance into the family.
The elders sit while the couple kneel or bow and serve tea from the most senior to the youngest, usually with one person coordinating and pouring.
Different varieties of tea, often sweetened with red dates, the sweetness symbolising a happy union.
Traditional dress such as a qun kwa, cheongsam or ao dai, often changing into Western attire afterwards, which is why we plan two portrait sessions.
About half an hour per session. The full tradition across two family homes needs time for both, plus travel and portraits.
The elders' reactions, especially the parents, since this is where the deepest emotion shows. Focusing only on the couple misses the heart of the ceremony.
The Chinese wedding tea ceremony holds generations of meaning, and it deserves a photographer who understands it. Our studio is very experienced with tea ceremonies, and from my own Chinese background and my own tea ceremony, I know where to stand, what carries weight, and how to capture the emotion of the elders without intruding on a deeply personal moment.
If you are planning a tea ceremony as part of your wedding, I would love to hear from you. You can see more of our Perth wedding photography, or reach out and we can talk through your day.
About Norman Yap
Norman Yap is the founder and principal photographer of Norman Yap Photography, his personal wedding photography label based in Perth, Western Australia. With hundreds of weddings photographed across Western Australia and his own experience planning a wedding as a groom, Norman brings both technical skill and genuine cultural understanding to every wedding day.
Ready to talk through your wedding photography and see if we are the right fit?
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