Red Dao wedding ceremony held on first days of lunar new year in Yen Bai

A wedding ceremony featuring the Red Dao ethnic people of the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai has been held on the first days of the Lunar New Year, as per their customs.

A wedding ceremony featuring the Red Dao ethnic people of the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai has been held on the first days of the Lunar New Year, as per their customs.

Two Red Dao ethnic families patiently wait for the wedding ceremony to get underway in Tan Phuong commune, Luc Yen district, Yen Bai province.

Rather than pick the bride up from her family’s home, a delegation from the bride’s family brings the bride to the groom’s house.

Clothes are prepared for the bride on route to the groom’s house.

The family of the groom play trumphets and drums to welcome the bride’s delegation into their home.

An outbreak of smiles as both delegations meet.

The bride walks with her relatives in traditional ethnic clothes.

The bride’s outfit has been hand-made over a 6 month period for the occasion.

The bride makes her way to the front of the house to take part in some of the wedding rituals.

Those who are middle aged sit on the left of the bride whilst young women sit on right of the bride as they wait for rituals to take place.

The groom’s relatives bring pots of warm water for the bride’s relatives to clean their feet ahead of the rituals.

A hen is offered to the ancestors.

Following this the bride enters the house to partake in traditional rituals.

The bride and groom enjoy the “Pai tong” ceremony. During the ceremony, the young couple face the altar whilst the groom holds a scarf and wine, money is offered, and the bride bows once. This is repeated several times.