Six Etiquettes of an ancient marrage in china:

Proposing: If an unmarried boy's parents identify a girl as their future daughter-in-law, then they will find a matchmaker. Proposal used to be practiced by a matchmaker. The matchmaker would formally present his or her client's request to the identified girl's parents.
Birthday matching: If the potential bride's parents did not object the marriage, the matchmaker would ask for the girl's birthday and birth hour record to assure the compatibility of the potential bride and bridegroom. If the will-be-married's birthdays and birth hours does not conflict according to astrology, the marriage will step into the next stage. Once there is any conflict, meaning the marriage will bring disasters to the boy's family or the girl's, the marriage stops here.
Presenting betrothal gifts: Once birthdays match, the bridegroom's family will then arrange the matchmaker to present betrothal gifts, enclosing the betrothal letter, to the bride's family.
Presenting wedding gifts: After the betrothal letter and betrothal gifts are accepted, the bridegroom's family will later formally send wedding gifts to the bride's family. Usually, gifts may include tea, lotus seeds, longan, red beans, green beans, red dates, nutmeg, oranges, pomegranate, lily, bridal cakes, coconuts, wine, red hair braid, money box and other stuffs, depending on local customs and family wealth.
Picking an auspicious wedding date: An astrologist or astrology book will be referred to selecting an auspicious date to hold the wedding ceremony.
Wedding ceremony: On the selected day, the bridegroom departures with a troop of escorts and musicians, which will play happy music all the way to the bride's home. After the bride is clustered to the bridegroom's home, the wedding ceremony begins betrothal letter.