Chinese commemorate what they call the four major rites and ceremonies of a lifetime: birth, coming of age, wedding and funeral. Anniversaries for birthdays, wedding days and departure days also observed.

Each of these four major rites follows a fixed pattern and the wedding ceremony, in particular, consists of preparatory rites and the formal ceremony proper. Altogether, the wedding ceremony includes the following steps: proposal; discussion of proposal; visiting each other; betrothal; delivery of betrothal gifts; setting the wedding date; fetching the bride; bowing to heaven and earth, parents of both sides and to each other; the wedding banquet; going into the bridal chamber; fun-making party at the bridal chamber; and returning of the bride to her parents.