Job Discussion Forums

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:19 am Post subject: A question about protocol

My laoban is getting married. I've been invited to the engagement party and the wedding. Can anyone enlighten me as to the differences between these Taiwanese functions and their Western counterparts?

Specifically, is a gift expected at the engagement party? Also, are the gifts given at Taiwanese weddings the same as back home?

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

You give a red envelope at the wedding...if I remember the standard is NT$600 per person attending (as a minimum), but my secretaries say I'm nuts and the minimum is NT$1200. Never give an amount with an odd number or the number "4" in it, such as $1300 or $1400. That's considered unlucky for the couple.

Sorry, don't know about the engagement party.

Toe Save · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:57 am Post subject:

Alrighty then Doc. As loathe as you may be to accept my help and as equally loathe as I am to offer it, the answer is to give your boss a hong bao (red envelope) as a wedding gift. The engagement party is traditionally for the friends of the bride and the wedding feast for friends (and family) of the groom. If you are going to both, you need only present one hong bao.

The amount of money you give is linked to luck. The total should not have a 4 in it. ie: 4000NT would be insultiing. 2 and 6 are luckiest. so giving a cash gift of 2, 666NT would be very lucky.

This is how I understand it. There are many more intagibles involved like the severity of your relationship. Best to seek advice of a local xiao jie. They are really up on this stuff.

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:00 am Post subject:

My thanks to both of you.

sbettinson · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Taichung

I just went to my second wedding banquet party thingamy jiggy the weekend just gone. It was for an old classmate of my girlfriend. We gave $2,600 NT as a hong bao (or red envelope) The money mainly pays for your head count at the meal. The couple will usually make a little profit at the end. Eat well! There is usually enough food to feed a famine ridden nation!

The gift will vary depending on your closeness to the couple. It if is your laoban then I am sure you will have some closeness both in a professional and personal capacity. I think pitching 2000 NT is fine enough. Just remember, he will know your payroll and what is feasible! Laughing

But in all seriousness, The ability to give between the range of 2000 to 3000 NT is dotted with odd numbers and unlucky numbers.

100= odd
200 = lucky
300 = odd
400 = bad omen of death!
500 = odd
600 = lucky
700 = odd
800 = even (but 200 and 600 are luckier)
900 = odd
3000 = odd number.

I believe if it is family or very close friends then naturally you would give more.

Perhaps another way to look at it would be to think of what you might normally buy for a wedding gift. The usual things we buy are to help the happy couple in their new homes by purchasing kitchen utensils, machinery etc. Think about buying a decent juicer for a couple. That might set you back a couple thousand NT.

Job done.