Chinese Wedding invitations are almost always red and stuffed inside a red envelope that is wider and longer than hongbao (red envelopes filled with money).

The text is usually in gold, a symbol of wealth, and features the names of the bride and groom along with details of the wedding banquet location. The double happiness character 雙喜 (shuāngxǐ), often appears on the invitation.

Chinese Wedding invitations are either mailed or hand delivered several weeks and sometimes even several days before the wedding date. As Chinese weddings are essentially a large party to celebrate the couple’s marriage, the Chinese wedding invitation is merely an invite to a lavish buffet. Guests will not witness the exchange of vows and will only attend a reception to honor the happy union.