As the 2010 wedding season reaches its peak, I'd like to share some of my experiences as a wedding guest both in Canada and in Hong Kong.

Each culture has its own way of celebrating weddings.

What I find interesting are the differences in gift customs, catering and guest attire surrounding western and Chinese weddings.

Canadians are quick at assisting engaged couples in communicating gift preferences to guests.

With the help of a bridal registry, friends and families can select presents desired by the grooms and brides hassle-free.

However, those who are invited to a Chinese wedding can save the time of choosing a present altogether as cash is the standard gift.

In Hong Kong, for instance, each person is expected to give HK$500 ($70 Canadian) as a wedding gift.

This idea, albeit practical, may cost the giver a hefty sum, especially if he or she has a lot of friends tying the knot.

Last Saturday, I attended a Chinese wedding banquet at Kirin restaurant in Richmond.

Across from my table was a young couple who had been to five banquets this year.

The guy had to work on Saturday night, the most popular wedding day.

Therefore, he needed to take a day off almost every time he attended one.

"I'm feeling the pinch paying for all the gifts with a reduced salary resulting from the days off," he jokingly complained.

While $70 seems quite a lot of money for a wedding gift to some, guests often feel more than satisfied with the food served at Chinese banquets.

Held in a Chinese restaurant, the traditional Chinese wedding feast begins with such delectable appetizers as roast suckling pig and shark's fin soup, followed by Chinese delicacies: abalone, lobster and deep fried squab.

I still remember how excited I was every time I went to a Chinese banquet with my parents.

You simply don't eat that kind of food very often, if at all.

Canadian wedding receptions are no less extravagant.

The two I've been to were held in a scenic golf course with a romantic ambiance.

Dinner buffets included light starters ranging from salads and soups to pastas and entrees featuring filet mignon, pork tenderloin and king crab.

Eating my way through the buffets, I was often full before I had the chance to get any dessert.

When it comes to guest attire, Hong Kong people dress surprisingly casual for the special occasion.

Dress shirts, jeans and sneakers are common wedding guest outfits for guys of my age (20s).

Female guests like to wear black for a formal outlook, be it dress or jeans.

Nevertheless, I've rarely seen anyone wearing a cocktail dress to a wedding unless she is a close relative to the bride.

By contrast, the dress code is much more formal for Western weddings.

Dark suits with ties are standard for men while women often wear formal dresses.

Knowing different marriage customs can help prepare one for what to give for an engaged couple, what to eat at a reception and what to wear to a wedding.

In Vancouver, however, the mix of Eastern and Western cultures has made some Chinese wedding rituals insignificant -- not everyone is expected to give cash as a wedding gift.

Regardless of the diverse traditions surrounding Chinese and Western unions, the happiness is shared by the newlyweds and the guests alike.

Melanie immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong three years ago.

She can be reached at melanie.mc.ho@gmail.com.