That Traditional Tea Cup looks really cool!
Hi there, and Welcome Back!
In this blog, I wanted to share a little more about how we figured out our first gift, as well as our experiences finding wedding favours in Singapore..
There are so many parts to a wedding — the ROM, the traditional tea ceremony, the 过大礼 (Guo Da Li), the gatecrash, the wedding dinner, bridal gowns, venue hunting, and so much more (PHEW). For those who have gone through your own weddings, you must be thinking: “YA YA, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WENT THROUGH TOO!!”
For those who are going to get married soon — welcome to this incredibly fulfilling project. I hope it will be equal parts exciting, overwhelming, and unexpectedly eye-opening, just as I found it to be :)
There are so many parts to planning a wedding, so this is going to be quite the read — but I promise to summarise as much as I can!
When tradition met reality
Like many couples, as our wedding planning journey progressed, we started to learn more about the traditional aspects of a Chinese wedding (we’re Chinese) — the customs, the symbolism, and the meaning behind every ritual.
You will undoubtedly hear many stories from different uncles and aunties, or even from your friends — things like what to get for the in-laws, the dowry, and of course, your 四点金 (Si Dian Jin). I know all of this may sound overwhelming — and honestly, it was.
My advice? Look for a professional.
With all the different advice we were given from our relatives, my husband and I felt it was best to seek help from a professional. We were recommended to a Chinese wedding shop called AMD Wedding. There, we met the owner, Cetric, who patiently explained the different traditions across dialect groups.
For example, my dialect is Hockchia, and my husband’s, Teochew - usually, the rituals should follow the groom’s side’s dialect. However, Cetric did also mention that when there is a Teochew in the union, usually the couple will follow the Teochew’s traditions, seeing that they are the most strict amongst all the other dialects.
It is from this shop that we met our 媒婆 (Mei Po).
Traditionally, the meipo is the basically the matchmaker, to help join the two families together. In modern day Singapore, you can think of her as your cultural encyclopaedia + Chinese solemniser combined - she’s the one that will know all the traditions, and will be the one guiding you throughout your day. For example, during the tea ceremony, there is usually someone who calls out who should be seated to receive the tea — that’s one of the meipo’s roles.
Before engaging her officially, both families had a small gathering together - just a simple meal to meet her and understand the process better. My husband and I wanted to avoid any confusion, so we felt it was best for everyone to hear everything directly from her (especially in case details got lost in translation).
As we spoke and slowly began to understand the intention behind each ritual - such as parents helping to put on your veil or throwing the red fan out of the car - everything had meaning. Every action honoured the elders and the family while celebrating your union.
I would even go so far as to say that these traditions and rituals are an extension of your vows to each other.
As we learned more, I found myself deeply appreciating how much intention and respect were woven into these traditions. Honestly, I was in awe of our Chinese heritage — and I really wanted to gift my guests something that could represent this feelin
Searching for Inspirations
At this juncture, we have already secured our wedding venue and had started on the other things in our long to-do list. One of which was wedding favours.
We had a beautiful space for our wedding - RedDot Brewhouse. It was modern and open - we and we envisioned our guests interacting freely with our long-table seating arrangement, creating an atmosphere that felt like a warm gathering of friends and family rather than a formal banquet. Here are some snapshots from our wedding:
The space was so beautiful! I remembered the first time we went on a recce trip with my now husband - once we turned into the carpark, both of us immediately turned to each other and said “Is this the one?” - it was such an easy decision for us! Seeing the beautiful space, we wanted a gift that could match the vibe while showcasing something traditional + ensure that it is something useful to our guests.
As we started to research the available gifts on the market, we were severely underwhelmed by the options available.
Many of them were repetitive and very similar - basic, mass-produced, and not honestly, not reflective of the meaning behind the celebration.
Your wedding, by many accounts, is said to be the happiest day of your life — so your gift should reflect that. The conventional gifts ticked a box, but they didn’t feel special.
They didn’t feel like something I’d personally be surprised to receive - it’s the same gifts over and over, and I didn’t want that for my guests. I wanted them to look at our gift, and say, “WAHHHH THIS IS SO NICEEEE! “
I remember thinking, after all the effort we put into planning this wedding, surely the gifts should feel just as thoughtful.
My mom has great tastes
I spent hours scrolling, saving ideas, and looking at designs from different cultures and weddings around the world. While I was searching on Pinterest for inspiration, I noticed that wedding favour ideas online are usually heavily influenced by Western culture - gifting honey, jam, or chocolate is very Western, but holds little symbolic meaning in a Chinese celebration.
Wedding gifts, especially as a Chinese couple (additionally being the first grandchild of our respective family), should be more intentional and meaningful.
One of the ideas I had was to gift a mug to our guests. While searching for a typical mug and attempting to customise it for our wedding, my mother (and also co-founder of Little Gifts) managed to source the beautiful ceramic mug that you see all over our website. It’s unique, clearly shows that it’s from a wedding with the big 囍 (Xi), and honestly - it was perfect. It felt right. Practical, symbolic, and timeless - something guests could actually use again long after the wedding was over..
In Chinese culture, traditional handleless cups require holding with both hands, symbolizing respect for the host and the cultivation of social harmony. Offering a cup o tea is also a deeply ingrained as a gesture of welcome, warmth, and friendship.
In the end, we decided to pair it with some tea and snacks, making it more complete.
Behind the scenes
Doing your own wedding favours means that - you’re doing it on your own. Not hiring someone to get it settled for you, not engaging a the venue to lay it on the table for you. And so, we began ordering, sorting, and packing. Here is a short timelapse behind-the-scenes (looks quite comical haha):
Unpacking our mugs
Packing the wedding favour with tea and snacks
Thinking back, this was one of the memories that I love - laying everything out carefully, making sure each piece was placed properly, packed neatly, and presented with care. It was tedious, but also strangely fulfilling. Every gift felt like a small extension of the wedding itself - thoughtful, intentional, and personal.
From a personal choice to a bigger idea
What started as a search for the right wedding favour slowly grew into something far more meaningful - and eventually became the foundation of Little Gifts.
At first, we were simply trying to find a gift that felt right for our own wedding. But along the way, we began to see a gap in the market: wedding favours are often treated as an afterthought — something small, practical, and easily forgotten. Yet ironically, it is often the one physical item that guests take home and associate with your day. Long after the music fades and the photos are archived, that little gift remains in someone’s cupboard, on their shelf, or in their kitchen - quietly carrying the memory of your celebration.
The way we ultimately arrived at our wedding gift was deeply shaped by everything we learned about traditional Chinese rituals and symbolism. As we immersed ourselves in these traditions, we realised how rich, intentional, and beautiful they are - and also how much of this meaning is slowly fading with time. Many modern weddings focus on aesthetics, trends, and Instagram moments, but we wanted to preserve the spirit behind our culture, not just its surface beauty.
Little Gifts was born from this feeling — the desire for something better than “just okay.” We wanted gifts that didn’t feel generic, disposable, or interchangeable, but instead reflected the significance of the occasion, the depth of Chinese culture, and the emotions of your special day.
We may be a little dramatic about this, but we truly believe that small details deserve just as much thought as the big ones. A wedding venue may impress, a gown may dazzle, but it is often the thoughtful details that linger in people’s hearts.
That is why we chose to start with just one product.
That is why every piece is designed slowly and intentionally.
And that is why everything we create is meant to be kept, used, and remembered - not tucked away and forgotten.
Because sometimes, the most meaningful ideas don’t come from trying to build a business. They come from planning a wedding, realising something is missing, and having the courage to create it yourself.
Thank you for taking time to read this little (big) thought - onwards to the next blog!
Love,
Vanessa and Vivian
