The Guo Da Li (过大礼) ceremony is a traditional Chinese wedding custom filled with meaningful gestures and symbolic gifts. At the heart of this tradition lies the delicious and visually captivating traditional wedding cakes, or 喜饼 (Xi Bing).
These cakes, often given as part of the betrothal gifts, represent good fortune, happiness, and a sweet beginning for the newlyweds.
Let’s dive into some fun facts about these cakes, exploring their flavours, symbolism, and why they remain a must-have for this cherished custom!
(Source: Envato)
1. An Ancient Tradition: Symbolise Commitment and Blessings
The Guo Da Li ceremony holds deep meaning, especially for the Teochew, Hokkien, Hakka, and Cantonese communities.
Historically, the groom’s family would send wedding cakes to the bride’s family as a token of respect, sincerity, and commitment. These traditional wedding cakes have become a timeless symbol of the groom’s promise to provide for his bride and share a sweet life together.
The giving of wedding cakes dates back centuries. The bride’s family would distribute them among relatives to announce the engagement formally. Beyond desserts, the cakes themselves represented blessings, prosperity, and harmony.
Despite changes in wedding customs, Guo Da Li cakes continue to be a valued part of Chinese wedding traditions today.
2. Different Flavours Bring Unique Blessings
In modern Singapore, Guo Da Li cakes come in various flavours. Each of them carries a unique meaning. Below are some of the classic and popular options often chosen for the ceremony:
- Red Bean Paste Cake A staple for weddings, red bean paste represents joy, luck, and prosperity, blessing the couple with happiness.
- Lotus Seed Paste Cake This flavour is rich in symbolism, as lotus seeds are believed to bring fertility, making it a top choice for couples planning a family.
- Green Bean Cake Known for its cooling properties, green beans represent peace and harmony – a wonderful blessing for a newly married life.
- Salted Egg Yolk Cake a modern twist, salted egg yolk symbolises wealth and stability, qualities that many hope will define the couple’s marriage.
At The Pine Garden, our Guo Da Li cakes incorporate varying flavours to ensure a perfect balance of tradition and taste. These varieties add meaningful layers to your wedding while delighting the palate.
3. Circular Designs Represent Unity and Eternity
Traditional wedding cakes go beyond taste – they’re crafted for their symbolic designs, too. Circular cakes are favoured classics as they represent unity, completeness, and eternity.
Red packaging is a must, symbolising luck, while many cakes are stamped with the double happiness (囍) character to express blessings for the couple’s new journey together.
Our Guo Da Li cakes are carefully packaged and decorated to capture this beautiful symbolism. Every cake embodies our commitment to honouring tradition while adding an elegant touch to your celebration.
4. The Guo Da Li Cake Tradition Brings Families Together
The Guo Da Li ceremony is about meaningful numbers. Families often gift cakes in lucky quantities, such as eight, which symbolises prosperity.
The groom’s family sends the cakes to the bride’s family, who then distributes them among relatives to announce the engagement and invite blessings for the couple.
This tradition is why Guo Da Li cakes are still considered “sweet news” by many. The ceremony fosters bonds between families and loved ones, making these cakes a thoughtful way to share love and joy.
Our Guo Da Li cakes are perfect for these precious moments, enhancing the joy of sharing blessings and creating cherished memories.
5. Traditional Wedding Cakes Today Mix Heritage with Modern Taste
Though traditional Guo Da Li cakes were once limited to a few flavours, bakeries today offer innovative twists on these classics.
Popular flavours like matcha, coffee, and even chocolate are now often combined with traditional fillings like lotus seed or red bean. This creative mix keeps the tradition alive, appealing to couples who wish to honour heritage while adding personal taste to their celebration.
Nowadays, modern Xi Bing not only comes in different flavours, but they also come in different shapes (rectangular, square, triangular, etc), sizes, and designs.
At The Pine Garden, our Guo Da Li cakes blend authentic recipes with contemporary flavours, making each bite a delightful fusion of tradition and modern taste.
Why Choose Our Traditional Wedding Cakes?
Choosing the right Guo Da Li cakes is an important step in your wedding journey, and we understand how essential it is to get it just right.
Our Guo Da Li cakes honour the long-standing tradition while offering a taste experience that’s timeless yet unique. From the flavours to the packaging, every detail is crafted to bring blessings and sweetness to your special day.
So, whether you’re planning a traditional Chinese wedding or just looking to add a meaningful touch to your wedding, our Guo Da Li cakes are here to bring joy, flavour, and good fortune to your celebration!
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Let’s make your Guo Da Li celebration one filled with tradition, taste, and memories to last a lifetime.