Wedding tea parties ease money stress

VietNamNet Bridge – A sumptuous feast, fireworks, sparkling wine the perfect ingredients for a trendy wedding bash. But as the clouds of inflation and global economic gloom gather, many young couples are choosing a different way to celebrate, one that involves tea and biscuits.

Wedding on a shoestring: A young couple invite guests with a cup of tea and cigarettes at their cuoi tiec tra party which is increasingly popular in Viet Nam as newlyweds try to cope with the current financial crisis.

It is the traditional celebration cuoi tiec tra (tea wedding party). Before the 1980s this type of wedding was the norm but has been making a comeback in the last few years, especially in areas around Ha Noi.

In essence it is a party, not an official wedding ceremony. Most couples host the event before they actually get married, so all their friends can get together and wish them well for the future, chatting together over a cup of tea and munching on some sweets and biscuits and perhaps some sticky rice cakes. It’s a much cheaper option that means newly-weds don’t have to worry about getting loans to pay for their special day.

The party is all the rage in Hong Minh Commune, Phu Xuyen District in extended Ha Noi. Hoang Duong and Thanh Huyen know all about it. They are set to tie the knot this year and recently held a cuoi tiec tra in celebration.

The day began with a cheery announcement on the loudspeaker calling villagers to the commune People’s Committee’s hall to attend the couple’s wedding.

The hall was decorated with balloons and the word “happiness” made from plaited coconut leaves. Two rows of Youth Union members wearing green shirts invited the guests to take a seat around a U-shape table, set with cups of tea and sweet snacks. Once everyone was sitting down, the families of the betrothed arrived and gave a speech wishing happiness and longevity for the couple. Sometimes people stay longer and chat, sometimes they just go home. The ceremony doesn’t last longer than a few hours.

This kind of party is very popular in the commune, says local official Nguyen Van Thuong. “More than 200 couples have held cuoi tiec tra parties over the last few years.”

Most people living in the area are farmers so they can’t afford anything more lavish, says Tran Thu Ha, who recently married Nguyen Quang Hung in the commune. “If we had a big wedding party it might have taken us five years to pay off the debt but the cuoi tiec tra only cost us VND3 million.”

A big celebration might cost between VND30 to 40 million, she says. “My friend had a big party five years ago and she still owes about VND30 million.”

A decade ago, organising a wedding party was a lot of stress for many families in Phu Xuyen. “A bridegroom’s family was expected to invest VND50 million or more for a two-to-three day wedding party and invite around 800 guests, says Nguyen Cat Khoa, head of the district’s culture, sports and tourism office.

“It could cause a lot of problems for the couples once they were married,” he says.

The district has been trying to encourage more young people in Hong Minh, Tri Thuy and Quang Lang communes to hold cuoi tiec tra wedding parties.

At the moment, between 120 and 150 of the wedding parties have been held by the commune’s Youth Union every year, Khoa says.

“Other people are cutting back by holding wedding parties for just one day and inviting just 200 guests.”

People shouldn’t begin their married life constantly worrying about debts, he says. Cuoi tiec tra weddings ease the stress and mean young couples can enjoy their new lives to the fullest.

(Source: Viet Nam News)

Update from: http://english.vietnamnet.vn//lifevn/2008/11/814423/