Just wanted to share a peculiar experience I recently had.

As a bit of background to those unfamiliar, for Chinese weddings, guests traditionally give angpows during the wedding reception dinner. As to how much, that is entirely on the guest’s discretion, proximity with newlyweds, financial ability etc.

Typically, the angpows are handed to the aunties or bridesmaids stationed near the entrance before the dinner begins. They’ll then jot down the guest’s name on the angpow itself.

So my wife and I attended a wedding reception dinner of my wife’s ex-classmate. When we arrived, we handed over our angpow to one of the bridesmaids seated next to the entrance. Upon receiving it, a bridesmaid immediately **opened the angpow, took out the cash, and counted it in front of us before placing the money into a red box beside her**.

My wife and I were stunned at the sight. Things didn’t help when the bridesmaid went like, “*Okay okay not bad not bad*”.

As expected, the angpow collection was the talk of the guests during the evening. I could tell some of them were genuinely upset, especially the older folks.

Most mind blown part. Nearing the end of the dinner, someone spilled that the bridesmaids actually created a Microsoft word table ranking the angpows by the amount given. According to them, the lowest belonged to this one chap that rhymed with Wing. Kesian the fella really.

*PS: if anyone reading this also attended the wedding dinner, I hope you enjoyed yourself despite the experience.* 

Wedding angpow etiquette