We Thank All of Our Family and Friends for Their Continuing Love and Support and Our Gratitude

We thank all of our family and friends for their continuing love and support and our gratitude is immeasurable to the dear people who have worked so hard to make our wedding such a joyous occasion.

Fondest love,

Ming and Iain

New Home Address:

Ming Qi and Iain Ross Ballantyne Bolton

167 E Center Street,

Apt. 3C,

Manchester, CT 06040

The Marriage Ceremony

of

Ming Qi

and

Iain Ross Ballantyne Bolton

Saturday, the twenty-fifth of September

Two thousand and four

Five o’clock in the evening

Chesterfield, Virginia

United States of America

The Wedding Party

The tea ceremony is conducted to facilitate the bride’s entry and acceptance into her in-laws household and as a sign of respect and appreciation to her parents.

Seating is arranged in a U-shaped pattern with the chairs at the head reserved for the parents. The groom’s family members are seated first, with the elders sitting on the side chairs, arranged from eldest to youngest.

The newlyweds make nine bows, three each to the Heavens, the Parents and Elders, and to each other, respectively. The number nine is a symbol for things everlasting.

The tea is brought in by the Lucky Woman – one blessed with a long marriage, wealth, children and grandchildren – and the bride and groom serve the tea. The groom’s mother is served first, then the groom’s elders in descending order by age. The bride’s family and elders are then served. The bride and groom must serve each teacup using both hands and address their elders by their formal names (e.g. “Grandma” Trina, “Cousin” Margaret.) The teacup is also received using both hands. When all are served, the bride and groom bow once more, exchange teacups with each other and drink with arms entwined.

Chinese tea is made with about one tablespoon of leaves dropped into a teacup. Hot water is added directly on top of the leaves and served with the leaves floating around the steaming cup. Each cup of tea must contain two Chinese red dates and a few lotus seeds. The dates sweeten the tea and, hopefully, the bride’s relationship with her in-laws; the lotus seeds are thought to aid in fertility.

After sipping some tea, red envelopes containing money or jewelry are given to the new couple; placed on the tray that was used to serve the tea.

The ceremony concludes with the announcement of the couple as husband and wife.

The Scottish Wedding Ceremony

Prelude

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring ...... Bach

Seating of the Families and Parents

Meditation from Thais ...... Massenet

Entrance of the Bridegroom

Scotland the Brave ...... (Traditional)

Processional

Air from Suite #3 ...... Bach

Air on the G String

Entrance of the Bride

Wedding March ...... Mendelssohn

From a Midsummer Night’s Dream

Greetings

Presentation

Prayer

Message to the Couple

Scripture Reading ...... 1 Vcorinthians 13

Reading from Confucius

Solo

Sunrise, Sunset ...... Bock

From Fiddler on the Roof

Exchange of Vows

Exchange of Rings

Benediction

Pronouncement

Recessional

Winter from the Four Seasons . . . . Vivaldi

The Chinese Tea Ceremony

Mother of the Groom

The Wedding Party Continued

Ring Bearer