Singaporebrides | Inspirations

August 2024

17 Creative and Inspiring Modern Oriental Wedding Ideas to Celebrate Your Roots

By Tansey Tang

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Looking for some fun ways to inject a little Oriental flair into your wedding? Check out these creative modern Oriental wedding ideas!

Modern Oriental weddings are a wedding trend that’s fast gaining traction here in Singapore, as couples find more and more creative ways to celebrate their culture in fun, contemporary ways. These weddings artfully blend rich cultural heritage with fun, modern elements, offering a unique and visually stunning celebration. By combining traditional symbols and customs with modern aesthetics, couples can create a wedding that is both meaningful and stylish.

If you’re looking for some inspiration on how you too can have fun celebrating tradition with a twist, check out what some of our past creative couple have come up with. From over-the-top traditional outfits to themed shoots to elegant Chinoiserie venues, here’s how you can incorporate modern Oriental touches into your wedding to create a memorable and meaningful day.

Themed Pre-Wedding Shoot

We’ve seen more and more couples having fun with Oriental themed pre-wedding shoots. Capture the essence of your heritage with a pre-wedding photoshoot that combines traditional and modern elements.

1. Peranakan-Themed Shoot

Celebrate your heritage with a Peranakan theme set in a traditional kueh shop. Style the set with vintage props and brightly coloured confections, and don a beautiful cheongsam!

2. Oriental Movie Themed Shoot

How about a quirky Kung Fu Hustle-inspired pre-wedding shoot filled with fun scenes from the iconic movie?

3. Colourful Heritage

Dress up in colourful, traditional wedding outfits and elaborate headgear and choose a backdrop that reflects your colourful cultural heritage, such as a temple or historic site to create visually striking photos that you will cherish for years to come.

Modern Oriental Wedding Fashion

Fashion is a powerful way to honour your heritage while showcasing modern style. By blending traditional and contemporary elements, you can create an ensemble that reflects your cultural roots and personal taste.

4. Cheongsam with a Modern Twist

Brides can choose a qipao or cheongsam with a modern twist, such as a slimmer fit or modern fabrics. These gowns can feature contemporary elements like lace and sequins, a modern and minimalist silhouette, or even unconventional colours while maintaining the traditional high collar and elegant silhouette. Grooms can integrate elements of a changshan into a modern suit, creating a look that is both timeless and contemporary. This fusion of styles not only honours tradition but also ensures you look fashionable and unique on your special day.

5. Qun Kwa

Many couples opt to wear the traditional kwa for the fetch the bride ceremony or tea ceremonies. These rich red outfits and their accessories scan go as maximalist as you like, with luxe, gold and silver embroidery, intricate headpieces, or beribboned sashes.

6. Traditional Accessories

Enhance your look with culturally significant accessories like jade Si Dian Jin or dragon and phoenix themed gold jewellery. These items can add a touch of tradition to contemporary outfits and serve as meaningful heirlooms. Consider incorporating family jewellery or custom pieces that reflect your heritage and personal style.

7. Hand Fans and Retro Sunglasses

Have fun with your look by adding modern fashion flair with retro round sunglasses, or ham it up with traditional hand fans.

Oriental Wedding Venue

Selecting the right heritage wedding venue is crucial for creating a cohesive and beautiful wedding. Choose a location that complements your theme and provides a stunning backdrop for your celebration.

8. Historical and Cultural Venue

Consider locations like heritage buildings, temples, or gardens that reflect your cultural roots. These venues offer a rich historical ambiance that supports your theme and provides a beautiful setting for your ceremony and reception. Whether it’s a grand temple, a serene garden, or a beautifully preserved colonial building, these venues can enhance the overall aesthetic of your wedding and create a memorable experience for you and your guests.

9. Venue Serving Traditional Cuisine

What your wedding venue serves is important too, in creating your perfect modern Oriental wedding. Choose heritage venues serving local or Oriental cuisine to match your theme.

Oriental Wedding Decor

Creating an atmosphere that blends traditional charm with modern elegance is key to a successful Oriental-themed wedding. By thoughtfully combining traditional symbols and contemporary designs, you can create a decor scheme that is both visually appealing and culturally meaningful.

10. Double Happiness Backdrop

The double happiness symbol, which represents marital happiness and good luck, can be used in various ways, with the most impactful being a large backdrop that adds a meaningful touch to your celebration.

11. Modern Auspicious Palette

While red is the most traditionally Oriental colour, you can create a more modern colour palette by incorporating pinks, whites, and gold into your Oriental wedding, or lean into the warmer hues of a autumnal palette with reds, rusts, browns, oranges, and gold.

12. Vibrant Blooms and Zen Foliage

Use traditional flowers like peonies, cherry blossoms, and orchids. These flowers are not only beautiful but also carry deep cultural meanings, symbolising prosperity, love, and good fortune. For a modern twist, mix these with non-floral elements like bamboo or oversized silk flowers. This combination can create a dramatic and unique look that blends traditional beauty with contemporary flair.

13. Lanterns and Umbrellas

Add a whimsical touch with hanging lanterns and paper umbrellas. These elements can be used to create a romantic ambiance, whether hung from the ceiling, used as centrepieces, or placed along pathways. Choose different sizes and shapes for visual interest, and consider incorporating LED lights for a soft, enchanting glow. These decor elements not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your wedding but also reflect traditional Chinese celebrations.

14. Chinese Porcelain

Oriental vases and ceramics add a classic elegance to your modern Oriental wedding. Use Chinese porcelain vases for your floral arrangements and table settings, and pair them with bright colours for a more modern take on the Oriental theme.

Cuisine

Food is a central aspect of any wedding celebration, and offering a menu that celebrates your cultural heritage with a modern flair can delight your guests and make your wedding memorable.

15. Traditional Desserts

Serve traditional dishes with modern presentations, such as having a tutu kueh cart or a fusion dessert table filled with traditional kueh and local delicacies. This approach allows you to honour your culinary traditions while providing a unique dining experience for your guests. Consider incorporating interactive food stations where guests can customise their dishes, or offering a mix of traditional and contemporary flavours that reflect your personal tastes. This blend of old and new can make your wedding feast both delicious and memorable.

Cultural Performances

Incorporating traditional performances into your wedding can entertain and engage your guests while adding a meaningful cultural element to your celebration.

16. Lion Dance

This traditional performance is believed to bring good luck and can be a highlight of your wedding day. The lion dance is not only visually impressive but also carries deep cultural significance, symbolising prosperity and good fortune. Including this performance can add a uniquely festive and auspicious touch to your celebration.

Oriental Wedding Party

Get your wedding party in on the fun with coordinated Oriental outfits for your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Complete the looks with fun accessories they’ll get to rock in unique photos!

17. Oriental Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Outfits

Traditional outfits in lieu of bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen suits add a unique Oriental touch to your wedding, and make for great portraits!

By integrating these modern Oriental touches, you can create a wedding that honors your cultural heritage while reflecting your personal style. Oriental-themed weddings not only celebrate tradition but also allow for a contemporary twist, making your special day both meaningful and unique.

Credits: Feature image from Vivian and Nicklaus’s Fun and Nostalgic Pre-Wedding Shoot in Vibrant Traditional Chinese Outfits by Freddy Wong Photography

All content from this article, including images, cannot be reproduced without credits or written permission from SingaporeBrides.

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