Page 17 - Sphere No.23 (Dec 2008)
Basic HTML Version
SPHERE
15
Finland
The unmarried girls
dance around the bride, who
wears a golden crown and a
blindfold. The one she places
the crown on will marry next.
Fiji
It is traditional for the
man to present the bride’s
father with the tooth of a
whale, which symbolises
status and wealth.
Hawaii
To symbolise love, the
bride and groom are decked
out in flower leis consisting
of 40 to 50 fresh flowers
strung on a colourful ribbon.
Germany
To bring good luck, some
days before the wedding
friends smash old porcelain
on the ground in front of
the bride and groom.
The hotel also has an in-house ice sculptor, who
can craft stunningly intricate displays that are
personalised for each couple. Swans, hearts and
the Chinese characters for “Double Happiness”
are the most requested.
“We also host wedding fairs at the hotel, and we
had a catwalk show and wine-tasting at our most re-
cent one, which was held this October. Each couple
that attended also left with a photo of themselves,”
says Ms Ho. Fifteen couples were so impressed that
they booked their wedding receptions on the spot,
with many more expressing interest in holding their
receptions at the Harbour Plaza Hong Kong.
There is no doubt that more and more
couples are choosing to say “I do” at the
Harbour Plaza Hong Kong in Whampoa
Garden, perhaps because the full har-
bour view provides the perfect setting.
Its popularity is not surprising as it has
been a much sought after venue for many
years. For example, in 1998 the Hung
Hom venue hosted the lavish nuptials of
former Miss Hong Kong Amy Kwok and
actor Lau Ching-wan. And, in true Hong Kong
style, a host of press photographers descended on
the hotel to snap the happy couple and the large
numbers of celebrities in attendance.
But whether a couple decides on an intimate
affair for close family or a sumptuous reception
attended by a host of friends, family and busi-
ness associates, they should do well to remember
that the wedding is just the beginning of a lovely
union. For as the American writer Richard Bach,
the author of the best-seller “
Jonathan Livingstone
Seagull
”, once observed: “True love stories never
have endings.”
A host of
photographers
descended
on the hotel
to snap
the happy
couple
2008
(HKD)
2007
(HKD)
Increase
%
Banquet
140,200
110,900
29,300
26%
Honeymoon travel
27,400
20,900
6,500
31%
Pre-wedding photo
18,200
20,100
-1,900
-9%
Jewellery
17,500
13,100
4,400
34%
Others
30,700
44,000
-13,300
-30%
Total Wedding Expense 234,000
209,000 25,000 12%
Source: ESDlife survey
AVERAGE WEDDING COSTS
