中国人说“男大当婚，女大当嫁”，意思是一个人到了一定的年龄就该结婚。男人结婚叫“娶”，女人结婚叫“嫁”。在古代中国，婚礼的整个过程比较复杂。现代社会简化了婚俗，但保留着基本的婚礼仪式。

The Chinese saying “upon growing up, every male should take a wife and every female should take a husband” means that when reaching the age of marriage one should get married. Marriage for a man is called “qu” (to take a wife) and for a woman “jia” (to marry). In ancient China, the marriage ceremony was a rather complicated process. In modern society, marriage customs have been simplified, but some basic ideas concerning marriage still dominate people’s minds.

　　古代中国人讲究门当户对，先由媒人把两家的情况介绍给对方，再由双方父母来确认婚事，这就叫“父母之命，媒妁之言”。所以，古代婚姻大多是包办的。现代社会以自由恋爱为主，但门当户对的思想依然存在。人们会挑选和自己家庭地位、经济实力、生活背景和自己相似的人作为结婚对象。

In ancient times, the two concerned families cared most about whether they were well-matched in social and economic status. So at the very beginning, the matchmaker would brief both families about each other’s backgrounds, and then the parents of both sides would decide whether to approve or disapprove the marriage. This is called “the command of parents and the good offices of a good go-between”. Therefore, most of the old-time marriages were arranged. In modern society, free courtship is advocated, but the old concept of being well-matched in social status remains prevalent. Young people tend to target as their life partners those who have similar backgrounds, social status and economic power as their own.

　　中国传统婚礼都要挑日子，即挑选所谓的黄道吉日。这种习俗在民间依然存在，只是不再像古人那么严格，更多地成为一种心理安慰。

According to Chinese tradition, a good day, namely an auspicious day, should be chosen for the wedding. This popular custom is still practiced, but not as strictly as before and in most cases just as a consolation.

　　婚礼当天，男方称为新郎，女方称为新娘。新郎要去新娘家“迎娶”。古代接新娘都用花轿，今天则换成了长长的花车队伍。

On the wedding day, the bridegroom sends a party to meet the bride at the bride’s home and escort her to the bridegroom’s home. In old times, the bride would take a sedan-chair, but nowadays she will sit in the first car of a long caravan.

　　传统婚礼中，新郎把新娘接回家后，就进行“拜堂”仪式。拜堂以后，男女双方才能正式成为夫妻。现代婚礼虽然没有拜堂的说法，但男女双方也会向两家的父母鞠躬，对他们的养育表示感恩。

In a traditional wedding ceremony, the bride and the groom would make ceremonial obeisance on the arrival of the bride. Then and only then did they become lawful husband and wife. Modern marriage has dispensed with this old practice, but the bride and the groom still have to bow to their parents to show deep gratitude for their upbringing.

　　仪式结束后，新郎新娘就要“进洞房”，而亲戚朋友们则可以“闹洞房”，让婚礼的气氛热闹一些。洞房，也就是新房。新房的布置在古代是非常讲究的。现代各地的风俗虽然五花八门，但一般都会贴上大大的红双喜字，营造一种幸福、吉祥的气氛。

After the ceremony, the bride and the groom proceed to their nuptial chamber. Their friends and relatives begin to banter or tease the newly weds to enliven the atmosphere. The nuptial chamber, also known as the new chamber, was very carefully arranged and decorated in old times. In modern society customs vary greatly from place to place, but a big character “囍” (double happiness) on a red piece of paper will usually be pasted inside and outside the wedding house to create a joyful propitious mood.