[imcarthur]

Well . . . we’re doing a last-minute trip to Beijing in 3 weeks. My stepson is marrying a Chinese girl he met while she was a student in Canada. We like her – a lot. The ‘small’ wedding for close friends & relatives is slated for Handan so her ill grandmother can attend. A ‘big’ Beijing wedding might follow later in the year (her father is mid to upper level gov’t official – has an Audi A8 + driver at beck & call) & then a Canadian reception . . .

My wife has freaked on net articles about the wedding customs – cash envelopes & all the crazy gifts that have to given etc. It looks like it really is going to be small due to their circumstances so what’s the reality here for a small informal wedding? We will offer to pay for the wedding meal – a lunch - but what else should we not ignore?

We plan to side trip to Great Wall at Mutianyu, Beijing sites & we hope to spend 3 nights in Xi’an - even though it’s winter.

Any suggestions to avoid ‘losing face’? Or general or specific advice? Travel advice?

Ian