| When Anyce signed up for her first bachata dancing | | | | Traditional Chinese Marriage: The Canadian |
| lesson, all she hoped for was to lose a few kilos. Well, | | | | Perspective |
| maybe to meet new people as well. Never in her | | | | Chinese fiancees are very popular among Canadian |
| wildest dreams did she expect to meet her future | | | | citizens or permanent residents who often marry them |
| husband and within 6 month start her preparations for | | | | in China and then sponsor them back to Canada. |
| the most romantic of marriages in the Dominican | | | | Marriage in China is highly traditional, especially in the |
| republic. | | | | villages. Here is what a Canadian planning to marry |
| The Dominican Republic is the perfect place to | | | | their Chinese fiance(e) might expect in additional to the |
| celebrate a wedding. Miles long beaches of white sand, | | | | civil ceremony very formal and very short. |
| surrounded by palm trees, colorful tropical flowers and | | | | The marriage process begins with an elaborate |
| live music, it is more than any bride could dream of. | | | | proposal and acceptance. It is arranged by a |
| Any Canadian citizen or a lawful permanent resident | | | | go-between, who is negotiating the best terms with |
| who is single and aged 18 or over can get married in | | | | the bride's and the groom's parents. Under the |
| the Dominican Republic. Before you leave, you must | | | | traditional system, marriage is arranged in a very |
| prepare your documents and make sure that there | | | | un-emotional manner. This can look very strange to a |
| would be no impediments to your marriage ceremony | | | | Canadian citizen, because it conflicts with the western |
| there. | | | | idea of free love and courtship. A marriage |
| The first thing that you would need is a document | | | | arrangement begins with a comparison of horoscopes |
| proving your single status. It is called an Affidavit of | | | | of the future husband and wife. The two families |
| Marital status and can be obtained by your local | | | | arrange to meet only after the two horoscopes are |
| Registrar of marriages. If you fail to do this before | | | | found to be compatible. |
| leaving Canada, you can contact the Canadian | | | | Canadians wishing to marry their Chinese fiance(e) |
| Embassy or consulate in the Dominican Republic | | | | need to know that the legal age for marriage in China |
| before applying for a Dominican Marriage Licence. | | | | is 20. If the Chinese bride or groom is under 20, they |
| The other important document a Canadian citizen | | | | will need to produce a written consent from their |
| needs for a marriage in the Dominican Republic is a | | | | parents or guardians |
| valid Canadian passport. You do not need a visa for | | | | On the wedding day the Chinese spouse goes through |
| the Dominican Republic provided you stay as a tourist | | | | the "hair dressing ritual" for women or the "capping |
| for less than 60 days. | | | | ritual" for men. Chinese brides dress in red, wear red |
| The third document a Canadian citizen needs to get | | | | shoes and a red silk veil or a curtain of beads that |
| married in the Dominican Republic is an original birth | | | | hangs from the bridal crown. The groom is required to |
| certificate. Provided you have all these documents, you | | | | send a carriage to take the bride home. It is decorated |
| can organize your Dominican wedding. | | | | in red, carried by four servants and accompanied by |
| Marriages in the Dominican Republic fall generally into | | | | musicians playing wedding music all the way. A lot of |
| one of two categories: civil marriages and religious | | | | gifts are also brought to the bride's family at the same |
| marriages. | | | | time. |
| Civil marriages are those in which the person officiating | | | | As the procession arrives, the groom's "woman of |
| at the wedding ceremony is a government official, | | | | luck" enters the Chinese bride's house and carries the |
| usually a Notary Public. Two witnesses aged at least | | | | bride on her back. The bride must not touch the ground |
| 18 must be present. After the ceremony takes place, | | | | with her feet until she arrives at the groom's house. |
| you will be given a document; you must take it to the | | | | The bride's relatives throw rice into the air, hoping that |
| local Justice of the Peace who will issue your Marriage | | | | the chickens around will eat the rice instead of pecking |
| Certificate | | | | at the bride. |
| Religious marriages in the Dominican Republic are most | | | | When the bride arrives in the groom's house, the |
| often performed by a Roman Catholic priest. Following | | | | wedding ceremony begins. It consists of the bride and |
| the ceremony, the church takes responsibility for | | | | groom kneeling before the family altar and paying |
| registering the marriage with the appropriate Dominican | | | | homage to Heaven and Earth. After that both spouses |
| government offices. | | | | take part of the wedding banquet. If the groom's family |
| Once you have your Dominican marriage certificate, | | | | is rich, the banquet may last up to seven continuous |
| you can legalise your marriage in Canada. | | | | days. |
