Returning Gift (回礼)

What Is It?

This is given to the groom’s family by the bride’s family as a formality for the betrothal gifts. Hence “returning gifts”. The bride’s family has to give an Ang Bao to the person who delivers the gifts to the groom’s house.

What Happens?

In the return gifts, the bride’s parents will replace the 2 bottles of brandy with 2 bottles of orange syrup. An even numbered portion of all the other gifts are returned to the groom’s family together with the 2 phoenix candles.

The bride’s side will light the 2 dragon candles and the groom’s side the phoenix candles on the morning of the wedding day.

Some hokkien family will also request for a bunch of bananas and red dates to be included in the return gifts.

A red packet for the groom’s parents to buy shoes is required. This is similar to the wedding shoe custom practised by the Naxi minority [纳西族] living in Lijiang [丽江] around the Sichuan [四川], Yunnan [云南] area.

The bride will also present towels to the parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles and groom’s siblings.

Decorate all packaging of betrothal and return gifts with red double joy stickers.

What to Give?

• Traditional Wedding Biscuits (礼饼)
• 18 Chinese Cakes (发糕)
• 2 Bottles of Orange Juice
• Melon Seeds (瓜子)
• Lotus Seeds and Lily (莲子百合)
• Jujube (蜜枣)
• Longan (龙眼)
• Tea Leaves
• 8 Mandarin Oranges
• 8 Apples
• A pair of pants, a belt and a wallet for the groom
• 1 towel and 1 Ang Bao each for the groom’s brothers
• 1 towel and 1 Big Ang Bao each for the groom’s parents
• 1 money pouch containing 5 types of grains / nuts (五谷)
• 2 yams (芋头)
• 2 gingers (姜)
• 1 pair of old ginger (老姜)
• 2 stalks of chives (韭菜)
• 2 blocks of coal with red paper
• 2 bags of glutinous rice flour (汤圆粉)
• 1 piece of tie with tie-clip
• 1 additional Ang Bao
• Shoes for the elders in the groom’s family
• Shirt for the groom’s father
• Shoes for the groom’s mother
  *To make things easier, most people will give an Ang Bao to replace the clothing in the form of “Clothing Fees”

Source:
http://www.weddingbells.sg/traditional-chinese-wedding-customs-you-need-to-know-teochewhokkien/