Wedding time- need your help?

Question

I am attending a Chinese lady's wedding, and this is my first time attending a chinese wedding. can any chinese person help me in advising what wedding gift i should get? i dont know her so well, shes a colleague and ive known her for 5 months only! i heard its a custom to give cash rather than gifts? is this true?

I consider giving cash as cheap but then it is useful, but then i dont wanna give too much or too litttle. BTW its a traditional chinese wedding in HK, thats where im working! thanks guys...

Answer 1

ok i think cash is tacky even if it is a custom, but it is something everybody likes. but then you have the amount issue...how much is too little, how much is too much? she's not in china anymore (i'm guessing) so i'm sure that even if she is having a chinese wedding it's because of her culture, a traditional gift will be perfectly fine.

Answer 2

Personalize your gift. Five months, you know a bit about her. Give something that both would enjoy maybe during their honemoom. Try to get some more info on what are they doing. May be gift card of their favourite restaurant or shop.

Answer 3

I would suggest maybe you just ask her, instead of trying to figure it out on your own. Mainstream Chinese versus American Chinese may or may not do things the same, so it wouldnt hurt to ask her. Maybe she is run of the mill- like she is having her wedding in a normal American way.

You will never know until you ask!

Good luck!

Answer 4

I think you should give her a wedding gift you would anybody in the states. I think she may be looking for a hint of western flavor in your gift. Your gift should be unique, as unique as a westerner being in HK.

Answer 5

a lot of people substitute cash for the gift. there is nothing wrong with that. it is very normal. that way...she could use it for whatever like...putting it toward the wedding bill or honeymoon.
have fun!

Answer 6

just give her a gift card to a nice chinese rest.