If you want to have a traditional Chinese wedding, few man knows how to do it right. Check out the top ten ways to celebrate your nuptials in classic Chinese style.

1. Red, Not White
In nearly all East Asian countries, but especially China, red is the color of happiness, especially for weddings. White, by contrast, is for funerals! A Chinese wedding must include red, and ceremonial objects such as candles and attire must exclude white. Red ink on white paper is considered a death threat, so invitations or menus with this combination are considered taboo. White roses may be acceptable in the bridal bouquet, as long as they are held together with colored ribbons. Any other white flowers suggest death and are used in funerals, so if you want white flowers, roses are your safest bet - perhaps the "fire and ice" variety. Most lilies will also work, as long as you avoid solid white.

2. Wear Traditional Attire
Chinese traditional attire is more varied than you think. China has more than 150 different cultures and ethnic groups that have lived together with little conflict for nearly 20,000 years. White Jade Design specializes in creating Chinese traditional clothing including dominant styles Qi Pau (Chinese Jacket) and Cheongsam. The Qi Pau is the traditional style of the two-dynasty Manchu people. While the Qi Pau is millennia old, Hong Kong's Cheongsam was developed during the 1920s under British colonial rule. Cheongsams are easily recognized; they are very slim and usually have two side slits for walking. For men, the style is called a Da Gua, featuring front-closing tunics that are either hip or knee length. For weddings, they are typically made of fabric similar to the bride's.

3. Chinese Brocades
Creator of the brocade (the method of weaving a pattern into a fabric instead of printing or embroidering it in), most Chinese don all-silk wedding brocades. The bride and groom wear brocades featuring the dragon, phoenix, or a mix of the two - the rest of the bridal party wears solid red or a brocade of another color. Formerly hard to find, Chinese brocades have become extremely popular, and most major fabric chains will carry at least one or two - cities with large Chinese populations having the most options.

4. Altar to the Ancestors
Respecting elders and remembering departed ancestors is a very important part of Chinese traditions. Set aside a table or altar decorated with white flowers for the ancestors. Fruits, a glass of offertory wine, and burning incense are also usually included. A beautiful Chinese alternative to a unity candle is to join two altars during the ceremony. Have two small altars on which the couple can kneel, and after the vows, join the two altars together to represent the new union. Have the immediate family members kneel with the bride and groom at the joined altar as a symbol of unity and joining families. Beautifully inclusive, remember that for Chinese, marriage is more about the families joined than the couple themselves.

5. Tea Ceremony
This ritual is followed in China, Korea, and Japan. Simpler than its Korean and Japanese counterparts, the Chinese tea ceremony is performed in a private anteroom following the ceremony, just before the reception. The couple serves tea to their parents and grandparents from a traditional porcelain set, often with dragons, flowers, or double happiness design. Serving her parents (mother first) followed by her grandparents, the tea is served in the same way to the groom's elders. The type of tea served is at the discretion of personal taste, though black dragon, orange blossom, and classic green tea are the preferred choices.

6. Double Happiness/Shuang Xi
Few can miss this very special wedding character which Chinese put on everything. The character is gold on a red background and you can find cutouts, scarves, and just about anything you want to decorate your wedding with this important symbol. Called double happiness because it is two xi (joy) characters put side by side and compressed into a single character, it is symbolic of the bride and groom's union. Manhattan, Chicago, San Franscisco, and other major Chinatowns have these in abundance, and stores in these areas are widening their commerce to the internet as well.

7. Dragons and the Phoenix
Heard the phrase "queen for a day?" Chinese practically invented the idea of bride and groom being empress and emperor for the day. Rooted in mythology, the dragon symbolizes the Emperor. At his side stands the magically powerful Phoenix with her life-giving song. The bride is the Phoenix and the groom is the Dragon on their day. Wear a Phoenix Crown (traditional headpiece for the bride), which is hard to find in the US. Integrate these symbols not only in your brocade but in just about every way imaginable. The phoenix is a flaming crested bird with a long tail. The Chinese dragon is a wingless male, though items with female (winged) dragons will work just as nicely.

8. Signature Cloth
The Chinese traditional guestbook isn't made of paper, but silk! Usually a medium-to- lightweight silk square, often embroidered around the edges and always red, guests sign their witness to this cloth with a black pen. The cloth is then carefully folded and stored as a special memento of the wedding. If you really want to be authentic: use a brush pen and ink. Most Chinese giftshops will carry these cloths ready to use for the wedding, often featuring dragon/phoenix motifs and/or double happiness.

9. Chinese Music
Why not include Chinese traditional instruments like the funky-sounding zither in your ceremony music? The effect will be stunning and unmistakably Chinese. If you choose CDs instead of live music, the soundtrack to "The Last Emperor" is thick with stunning performances featuring both the Er Hu and the Chang Di. Dancing is a large part of the reception, and Chinese pop is all the rave. In addition, a lot of American music has been translated to Chinese, including an impressive version of "My Heart Will Go On".

10. Firecrackers, Not Rice
Whoever came up with the idea of throwing rice on the bride and groom were not Chinese! Chinese show prosperity through the huge wedding feast - not rice, which is probably a Japanese tradition. Instead, Chinese use firecrackers to scare away evil spirits who may want to cause problems later. This ritual is performed not only at weddings, but most major celebrations. Before the couple crosses the threshold during the recessional, long chains of firecrackers suspended on a stick are lit for several minutes. Evening weddings feature noisy, full-scale firework displays as part of the festivities. Taking today's strict air pollution laws into consideration, most Chinese couples have to settle for a tape of fireworks or crashing cymbals to get the desired affect.