Basic things needed for Guo Da Li?

[rojak]

Hi girls (and guys), anyone knows what are the basic things that we need to prepare for GDL?

1. Oranges
2. Angbao (ping jin)
3. 2 bottles of wine
4. cakes/vouchers to give to relatives

What else? Thanks lots!!!

[jingjing]

it actually differs on which dialect you are.. some dialet groups need to give roast pig also haha

[rojak]

it actually differs on which dialect you are.. some dialet groups need to give roast pig also haha

OH YAR! roast pig!! Hmm.. does it depend on my dialect or the groom's dialect?

[jingjing]

i found this online:


Hokkiens/ Haianese
If your husband is Hokkien and Hainanese
Things to buy for the bride:
Dragon & Phoenix candles
A Bunch of bananas
Some red dates
Pig trotters/Minimum six pig trotters cans
12 Oranges
12 or 18 apples
Dao Mi (rice still attached to the stems with leaves)
Pin Jin
5 types of seeds symbolizes prosperity, growth and perpetuation of the family (green beans, red beans, mug beans, yellow beans, mug beans and black beans) the beans MUST be planted in potted plants 12 days after Guo Da Li ceremony

Returning to the groom
Things to buy
Usually to return 1/2 of what he has give you
Handkerchief for the groom's best man
2 stalks of yam (the yam MUST be planted in potted plants 12 days after Guo Da Li ceremony)
2 stems of ginger plants
2 stalks of chives
2 pcs of charcoal
I tie, tie clip, wallet and belt
A red packet will also be given to the groom’s family to buy shoes.
The bride will need to present towels to the parents, grandparents, uncles, aunt and groom’s siblings.
Sugarcane
Dao Mi (rice still attached to the stems with leaves)

Cantonese/Hakka
f your husband is Hakka or Cantonese
Things to buy for the bride:
2 Chicken
2 Bottles of brandy
Dragon & Phoenix candles
2 large fish (meaning sheng qi, re re nao nao)
2 coconut (you ye you zi)
4 Brandy/ Rice wine
Tea leaves
Sesame
Hai wei (Cantonese) may include fa cai, mushrooms, abalone, clams, prawns/shrimps, sea cucumber, fish maw, shark's fin
12- 18 oranges
12- 18 apples
Bao lo man yao pin jin dai
Dragon and phoenix box containing red dates, red and green beans, bai he, lian zi, sesame, longan,
2 pieces of red cloth to hang on the door, grooms to be longer than brides (for gd luck)
A full plate of 'fatt kou', some vegetables as leaf lettuce or endive ('sang choy', symbolizes vitality),
celery ('khan choy' symbolizes diligence), spring onion (symbolizes intelligence)
1 pair of trousers (if the bride has a single elder brother (symbolizes wealth).
Dragon phoenix bangles (Long Feng Zhou)
A specified number of wedding cakes

Returning to the groom
Usually half of the items brought by the groom will be returned
1 pair of lotus tuber ('leng ngau') with roots intacts and plenty of tubercles (but now a days it is almost impossible to get so lotus roots from supermarket will do) (Cantonese only)meaning (symbolize the prosperous offspring desired by the couple as well as longevity of both the couple and their family.)
Part of the cash will be returned to reflect the spirit of sharing between two families. (Both Hakka & Cantonese)

TeoChew
On the first delivery date selected at the temple, part of the cash, 12 oranges and some biscuits will be sent and to seek approval from bride's family.
On the second delivery date, the balance of the cash and wedding cakes, 12 oranges, biscuits, a roasted whole pig, 2 chickens, 2 bottles of brandy and 3 sets of ice sticks (3 coated with sesame and the other 2 with rice grains).

If either side is Teochew
Things to buy for the bride:
12 oranges
Wedding cakes
A roasted whole pig
2 chickens
2 bottles of brandy
Peanut candy
2 pair Dragon & Phoenix candles
Gold Jewellery (Si Dian Jin)
Lao ma gor for the surviving grandma of the bride (if grandma is no longer around this should be skipped)
Dao Mi (rice still attached to the stems with leaves)

Returning to the groom
Usually to return 1/2 of the things he has given you and part of pin jin, to keep the Si Dian Jin
1 pair phoenix candle
2 bottles of orange juice
1 piece of handkerchief for each of the brothers who helped deliver the items
2 pcs of charcoal
I tie, tie clip, belt and wallet
The bride's family will give a red packet to each person who delivers the cash and gifts.
To each of her parents-in-law 1 piece of handkerchief with 1 big red packet.
A small moneybag containing 5 kinds of seeds (symbolizes prosperity, growth and perpetuation of the family)
1 red packet with cash for the elders in the groom's family to buy shoes.

you have to ask your elders whether they want to go through all of these things, some family members may not be so particular

[rojak]

wow, thanks jingjing! this is indeed useful! from the looks of it, should be following the groom's side dialect then. thanks~~

[Yanz]

Hi.... you might want to check on this website too....
http://www.shuangxile.com/index.asp

[Yanz]

Their stuff quite nice... =)

[c0ttoncandy]

Any recommendation for GDL cake?

[cin17]

must guo da li be on a specific date?
Both hubby and I reside overseas, so we really find it hard to do all these traditional stuff, we plan to do the banquet in December this year, so we are flying back only till then.
I am so overwhelmed by all the things we have to do!!

[twinklehaze]

thanks for the advice about the guo da li. now i know what are the things that i need for it.