Heritage at the Heart: A Chinese Tea Ceremony at the Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
At Choo Yilin, so much of our work is inspired by the journeys of our grandparents and their grandparents. Every piece of jewellery that we design is an homage to their lives, imbued with the cultural legacy that we have inherited from them.
As we dig deep to embrace our roots, we have realised that our heritage is indelibly tied to Southeast Asian communities. Alongside our good friend, Dahlia Mohammad, co-founder of En Pointe, we will be showcasing visual stories that capture the spirit of contemporary Southeast Asian weddings. Through it, we hope to demonstrate the marriage of our present-day dreams with the complex, beautiful heritage of our grandparents’ pasts.
We start off the series with the first of five stories - a contemporary Chinese tea ceremony at The Orchid Conservatory, Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur with Miss Universe Malaysia 2018, Jane Teoh, dressed in a luxurious creation by renowned Malaysian designer, Syomirizwa Gupta.
The tea ceremony is one of the most significant events in a Chinese wedding; this tradition has been observed for more than a thousand years, since the Tang Dynasty.
The couple serve tea to their parents and elders first during the Tea Ceremony.
The groom’s mother wears Choo Yilin’s Peranakan Lace Pearl Bracelet and Warisan Ring.
Serving tea to the groom and bride’s parents is a demonstration of respect and gratitude, for all the love they’ve given through the years. Sweet tea is served to signify happiness, and good relationships between the families.
During the tea ceremony, a bride often receives precious gifts from her loved ones. Wearing the jewellery immediately upon receiving it is a sign of appreciation.
The groom’s mother presents the bride with a gift after the tea has been served.
The bride receives a Sakura Jade Bangle, a precious keepsake of this momentous occasion.
As with many Asian celebrations, Chinese tea ceremonies are often a riot of colours - auspicious reds and golds, cheerful pinks and yellows; an ambience of brilliance and joy, befitting the special occasion. The Chinese tea ceremony shoot is just the beginning of our journey, delving into the heart of Asian heritage and celebrations of love. We have so much more to share.
Stay tuned; we might just be featuring a celebration of love in your city, soon.
Collaborators:
Co-producer: En Pointe
Designer: Syomirizwa Gupta via En Pointe
Female Model: Jane Teoh, Miss Universe Malaysia 2018
Male Model: Shan Ratnam
Make-up Artist: Sahir Sabri
Hair Stylist: Cody Chua
Set Stylist: Fleursdeco_official
Photographer: Bibo Aswan
Floral arrangement: Spring Cottage
Location: The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur - The Orchid Conservatory, a YTL Hotel