The Traditions

Eric's father did a reading in English and in Chinese, and the couple also included a Chinese custom in which the bride and groom drink from two wine glasses joined by a red cord, then switch glasses and drink again. According to tradition, men and women are created in pairs and joined by a long red cord, Lauren explains. Throughout their lives, the cord gets shorter until they meet and ultimately marry. Drinking the wine symbolizes the elimination of the cord, because now the two people are one.