A Chinese Tea Ceremony Wedding at Basing House

Pianpian and Martin’s beautiful wedding took place on 27th July at Basing House in Basingstoke – a venue rich in character that perfectly suited their celebration of love, culture and family.

Having already had a separate legal ceremony, this day was all about honouring culture, heritage and tradition in a way that would entertain guests with fun and joy. The day started with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, which was followed by a joyful lion dance and a feast shared with family and friends. In between the two ceremonies, the bride switched from a traditional red qipao to a modern white wedding dress.

The styling brought together British and Chinese influences with thought and care, blending natural textures, rich reds and personal details that told a story. From embroidered fans and paper lanterns to bubble tea welcome drinks and dim sum favours, every element was chosen with meaning. Everything was beautifully styled by Willow Nest Wedding & Event Styling  and lovingly documented through photography and videography by the wonderfully talented SL Photo and Film, who we are immensely proud to recommend. Enjoy!

Our wedding celebration style was very much inspired by a blend of cultures and the journey we’ve been through together. Having had a Western registry ceremony, we wanted our celebration to reflect more of my Chinese heritage. The tea ceremony was especially important to us – it’s such a meaningful tradition that connects us to our families and roots.

We visited a variety of venues while planning our wedding, including museums, barns, and farms. However, Basing House was the only one that truly ticked all our boxes. It offered rich English character and historic charm and a beautiful garden setting that perfectly suited our vision. We also loved the flexibility to be able to hire external catering.

I planned our wedding myself, though we hired some items and used the styling services of Willow Nest Wedding & Event Styling.

Our day began with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, followed by a lively lion dance performance – we really wanted all our guests to be surrounded by fun and joy right from the start. After the tea ceremony, I changed into a Western wedding dress, and we began our wedding breakfast: a Chinese feast that not only celebrated our heritage, but also incorporated cake-cutting and games during the meal. We didn’t want a single guest to feel bored! Once dinner was finished, it was time to let loose and enjoy the party.

The tea ceremony is a deeply meaningful tradition in Chinese culture. During the ceremony, we served tea infused with red dates, longan, and lotus seeds – each carrying symbolic wishes for a joyful and prosperous marriage. We poured the tea for the older generations, including our grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunties, as a gesture of respect and gratitude for their love, guidance, and presence at our wedding. It was one of the most heartfelt and intimate moments of the day, honouring family ties and cultural heritage.

In the morning, I wore a traditional red qipao – a symbol of luck and celebration in Chinese culture – and later changed into a white wedding dress for the wedding breakfast. What I loved most was how naturally my Chinese cultural identity blended with the more traditional Western environment of the day. It felt like a true reflection of who I am and the journey my partner and I are sharing.

I carried a traditional Chinese fan embroidered with the phrase ‘shì shì rú yì’ (事事如意) and a persimmon motif, which I paired with my qipao. The phrase means ‘may everything go as you wish’. and the persimmon – a symbol of good luck and joy in Chinese culture – represents fortune and smoothness in life.

It was a deeply meaningful accessory that added a beautiful touch of cultural heritage and heartfelt wishes to the day. My shoes were by Bella Belle.

It’s not a formal ceremony, but we had a lion dance performance that takes place after the tea ceremony. We wanted to include more Chinese cultural elements in our celebration – something meaningful that reflects both of our backgrounds. Since Martin’s family is originally from Hong Kong, and lion dancing has its roots in the Cantonese-speaking regions of southern China, it felt like the perfect way to honour that shared heritage. It’s also believed to bring good fortune, drive away negative energy, and bless the couple or hosts with happiness and prosperity.

Our photographer was Valentina from SL Photo and Film. I fell in love with Valentina’s style the moment I saw her photos on Instagram and reached out to her straight away. I was (and still am!) obsessed with the dreamy tones of her pictures – they’re soft, romantic, and absolutely beautiful.

During our consultation, we talked through my vision for the day and all the little details I hoped to capture – and she truly delivered. On that day, she managed to photograph every moment in such an authentic and artistic way. OF COURSE I’d absolutely recommend her to anyone – she’s left us with so many treasured images to look back on for years to come.

Daniel is also such a charming and talented videographer. The wedding film he created is so beautifully aligned with our photos – I couldn’t stop smiling while watching it. I especially loved how he incorporated Chinese instrumental music; it added a personal and emotional touch that made the whole film feel even more special.

Our flowers were by The Wild Garden Florist. I decided on a chinoiserie theme as it’s a Chinese wedding celebration held in the UK and a very British venue. When it came to flowers, both Martin and I agreed that red was the obvious choice – it’s such a strong symbol in Chinese culture.

Whether it’s weddings or festivals like Chinese New Year, red is everywhere, so we felt it had to be at the heart of our colour scheme. We’re pairing it with soft tones of pink and plum to create a rich, warm palette. The one flower I insisted on having was the orchid – it’s one of the few flowers I truly love (even though I’m not much of a garden person!), and to me, it feels beautifully and distinctly Chinese.

I came to the UK for my degree, and Martin was born and grew up here. I never imagined marrying someone from here or settling down in the UK – my plan had always been to return home after finishing my studies.

We met on a dating app called Coffee Meets Bagel just before the pandemic began. At the time, I was still studying in Leicester, and Martin was working and living on the outskirts of London. After chatting for about a month, we set a date to meet in person—Martin was going to drive up north to see me. But just one day before our date, the Prime Minister announced the national lockdown, and we had to cancel.

Despite the lockdown, we kept messaging every day, and eventually turned our connection into a virtual relationship. We’d video call, watch films together, and even cook together remotely. That went on for nearly four months. When restrictions finally began to ease, Martin drove two hours to Leicester to celebrate our birthdays (even though Leicester was still under local lockdown, so nothing was open). We went to a deer park, and Martin baked me a cake and cooked for me for the first time. It was a very special day.

We officially started dating then and ended up living together for another six months during the second lockdown. I was trying to find a job at the time, but it was extremely difficult—especially as someone needing visa sponsorship, while most companies were making staff redundant or closing altogether. In the end, I decided to return to China one month before my visa expired.

We both knew that long-distance would be incredibly tough, but we didn’t have much of a choice. We also didn’t feel it was the right time to get married yet—we had only been together for about 8 or 9 months. I can’t even count how many days I felt sad and miserable, especially not knowing when we’d be able to see each other again. China was under strict restrictions at that time, and there was so much uncertainty.

After a year apart, Martin asked me over the phone if I wanted to marry him, and later asked for my parents’ permission. We started the fiancé visa process, but had to wait another six months due to delays caused by the war in Ukraine. Luckily, my visa was eventually approved, and I came back to the UK. Martin proposed to me in Wales, and we registered our marriage two months later, in November 2022.

Because our registry ceremony was quite rushed and we didn’t have time to do many of the things we wanted, we’re now planning to have a proper wedding celebration two years later.

Martin and his groomsmen wore customised suits from Robert Tracey Ltd. He also wore an Omega Constellation watch, a gift from my father, along with lucky beads from a Chinese temple for good fortune.

We were very much inspired by the idea of creating something intimate, joyful, and heartfelt, with elements that represented both of us and the food was a big part of this. We wanted to share a banquet that celebrated Chinese flavours and ingredients as a way of expressing gratitude to our guests.

Rather than being guided by one particular era or theme, our day was shaped by the people we love and the cultures that brought us together.

When it came to the decorations, as I mentioned earlier, we were keen to include as many Chinese elements as possible. Since the celebration was held in a British venue and my husband grew up within British culture, it was important to us that the setting reflected both sides of our identity – a thoughtful and meaningful blend of East and West.

However, sourcing traditional Chinese decor proved more challenging than I expected. Many of the items I envisioned weren’t available for hire locally. In the end, I decided to compromise on some of the materials, choosing bamboo elements inspired by a more boho aesthetic instead of traditional wood. While not entirely traditional, the natural textures still gave us the warmth and atmosphere we wanted, honouring Chinese culture in a way that fit beautifully with the overall styling.

We were lucky to meet Christie at Willow Nest Wedding & Event Styling at a wedding fayre. To our surprise and delight, she had a wide range of boho pieces and was more than willing to source additional items to help bring our vision to life. Her flexibility and creative input made a big difference, helping us create a wedding setting that truly felt like ours. The boho table plan shelf with chinese vases is absolutely the star of our wedding settings! 

Since I had decided on the wedding style, and I’ve always loved the elegance of Chinese vases, I wanted to incorporate them into the décor. I sourced a mix of vases from eBay and Temu, and also borrowed some from the family. We used them on the dinner and welcome tables, as well as for the table plan shelf.

I have also bought some paper lanterns online and originally planned to place them on the ground, but Martin suggested hanging them from the wooden beams of the barn – which turned out to be a brilliant idea and created a really beautiful effect. 

We also prepared bubble tea as the welcome drink for all our guests and vendors – a small but meaningful detail. We chose a package that included both milk tea and fruit tea, reflecting our own favourites: I always go for milk tea, while Martin usually prefers fruit tea. It was a playful way to share a bit of ourselves with everyone from the very start of the day.

In China, we usually prepare boxes of candies for guests to take home, symbolising the sharing of sweetness and joy. For our wedding, I chose dim sum steamers as the containers for the candies, as they resonate with Martin’s background. To add a personal touch, we wrapped a banner featuring our cartoon portraits around the steamer.

One thing we missed during our registry ceremony was having a first dance, so we knew we wanted to include it in our wedding celebration. We decided to try swing dancing, and both of us instantly fell in love with the style. It felt fun, elegant, and full of energy.

As we practised and learned together, it became more than just preparing for the big day – it helped us connect even more deeply as a couple. We enjoyed it so much that we still go to swing dance classes in our free time!

Our first dance track was ‘Fly Me To The Moon’. This is the song we both know and like and really match with our dancing styles. 

Don’t be afraid to spend a bit more money to get what you want. It will always be worth it. — Martin

 Always reflect on your own story and culture when planning your wedding—this day is truly about the two of you, and that’s what makes it so genuinely special. 🙂

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