At first glance, Chinese wedding jewellery appears intimidating: big, heavy and aggressively yellow. But despite this, many tasteful modern women wear it with pride on the biggest day of their lives.The jewellery is traditionally given by the groom’s family as part of the bride price, signifying that the bride is welcome to the fold as a treasured member: it is said that having a woman in your home is like having gold.

The type of jewellery given varies by group: Cantonese and Hakka families give “Dragon and Phoenix Bangles”; Chiu Chow and Hokkien people give the “Four Pieces of Gold,” a set of four items. Elders on both sides will also pass on heirlooms to show the bride how cherished she is.

Learn More