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Assuming bridesmaids/groomsmen would otherwise be selected from the respective sides' extended relations of similar age, this isn't surprising considering the

by danans 4y ago

Assuming bridesmaids/groomsmen would otherwise be selected from the respective sides' extended relations of similar age, this isn't surprising considering the impact of both the one child policy and the urbanization of China, which would limit the number of relatives available. In many cultures, wedding ceremonies themselves (not the parties and receptions) are mostly an in-family thing, so you wouldn't have friends, however close, as attendants to the bride and groom. Lacking relatives, it might be easier to just hire these actors. It's a bit odd to be taking photos with them, but perhaps just having a lot of people in your wedding photos has cultural currency.

bobthepanda 4y ago
It seems like it's more of an aesthetic choice according to TFA. > COVID-19 travel restrictions have made it hard to find friends able to travel to weddings, while some couples complain they can’t find friends that are up to the standard. > A bridesmaid needs to be unmarried, Xie told Sixth Tone on Monday, and it’s important not to be taller than the bride. For aspiring professionals, 155 cm-173 cm is a good height, she said. > At a wedding, Xie usually pretends to be the bride’s best friend or a classmate. The couple generally cover the travel and accommodation costs. A typical daily rate is between 500 and 2,000 yuan ($74-$296). So if you are a short woman who has married later than most of your shorter female friends, this is the service for you.
- danans 4y ago
  > So if you are a short woman who has married later than most of your shorter female friends, this is the service for you. That's extremely niche. Also, I'm guessing if you are excluding friends based on their height, you must not be great friends with them, and maybe vice versa. I'd guess it's more likely that bridesmaids in general don't have such a sacrosanct and personal role in these weddings, and they function more like models at an automotive/electronics shows.
  - bobthepanda 4y ago
    A niche in a country of 1.3B is still profitable enough for some to earn a living. This seems like the wedding equivalent of professional mourners, which is practiced in China, but also Egypt and even recently in the UK a company offered these services. And it was common in the accounts of the Bible.

by danans 4y ago

bobthepanda 4y ago

It seems like it's more of an aesthetic choice according to TFA. > COVID-19 travel restrictions have made it hard to find friends able to travel to weddings, while some couples complain they can’t find friends that are up to the standard. > A bridesmaid needs to be unmarried, Xie told Sixth Tone on Monday, and it’s important not to be taller than the bride. For aspiring professionals, 155 cm-173 cm is a good height, she said. > At a wedding, Xie usually pretends to be the bride’s best friend or a classmate. The couple generally cover the travel and accommodation costs. A typical daily rate is between 500 and 2,000 yuan ($74-$296). So if you are a short woman who has married later than most of your shorter female friends, this is the service for you.

danans 4y ago
> So if you are a short woman who has married later than most of your shorter female friends, this is the service for you. That's extremely niche. Also, I'm guessing if you are excluding friends based on their height, you must not be great friends with them, and maybe vice versa. I'd guess it's more likely that bridesmaids in general don't have such a sacrosanct and personal role in these weddings, and they function more like models at an automotive/electronics shows.
- bobthepanda 4y ago
  A niche in a country of 1.3B is still profitable enough for some to earn a living. This seems like the wedding equivalent of professional mourners, which is practiced in China, but also Egypt and even recently in the UK a company offered these services. And it was common in the accounts of the Bible.