EAST AND WEST

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 55, 3 September 1934, Page 15

EAST AND WEST

A CHINESE WEDDING

London's most colourful wedding of the season took place the other day, when Dr. Szo Ming-Sze, son of Mr. Sze Soa-Ke, a former Chinese Minister in London, and now Minister in Washington, was married to Miss Li YaoChing, daughter of Mi-. Li Ming, chairman of the Bank of China, states an exchange.

For over an hour more than 200 guests crowded the entrance to the Legation and waited their turn to sign a book, which will b© a souvenir of the ceremony. Eaßt mixed with West, but the array of dresses from the East was the more beautiful.

The'pretty Chinese women wore their native dresses in all shades of green, orange, red, and gold, decorated with marvellous hand embroidery. The brido outshone them in a dress of almond blossom pink satin.

The ceremony was strange, and few Europeans were privileged to see it. It was conducted by Mr. Quo Tai-Chi, the Chinese Minister in London. There was none of the religious atmosphere which characterises a Western wedding, but none the less it was solemn and very dignified. Much bowing in the Oriental fashion was made by the parties.

Immediately after the bride had entered the room on the arm of her father the Chinese National Anthem was played. Then followed the , reading and sealing of the marriage certificate. With the exchange of the ring and bowing to each other by the bride and bridegroom the couple became man and wife. There was more bowing to convey thanks and respect to the presiding officer, by whom an address was delivered before bride and bridegroom left.

A reception, at which Chinese food was served, followed the ceremony, and later in the evening bride and bridegroom left for their honeymoon in the English lake district and Scotland. The bride 'ravelled in a modern red Chinese dress with gold-painted flowers.

Dr. Sze Ming-Sze was educated in Britain, his tuition including a course at Cambridge University. He has been house physician at St. Thomas' Hospital. Ho is 26 and his wife 20. They are to return to China, where the bridegroom, who has not been to his native land since he was a small boy, will probably commence practice- in Shanghai.