There are both good and bad points about the registry our registry. The good? It allows for international billing addresses - both my fiance and I have tons of guests from outside Canada (US-based stores with Canadian locations don't allow for billing addresses outside Canada, so registring at places like Williams-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel or Bed, Bath and Beyond were out for us. If Americans wanted to make purchases, they'd have to call in). The bad? There are sooooo many. The first is that you don't get to see what the product is. When you type in our names, you just get a list. You then click on a button next to the product and type in the number you want to purchase. There are NO pictures. Does the store not realize that it's 2010? Still, though, it's the biggest registry in Canada. I don't get why they don't make any improvements. Surely, people have complained! The interface is seriously from like 1992 or something. I realize that they don't have e-commerce, but STILL!
Another issue is how they don't always notify you that something has been purchased. I spoke with the store, and they said that this usually means that someone bought it at the store and took it home. Not true. When I went to the store to pick up some of the gifts (another problem - most other stores will SEND the gift to your house. Not this place - you HAVE TO PICK UP!! Totally WTF, no?), a rep said that they were purchased online. So why wasn't I getting any e-mails? I only found out who gave me the gift from a handwritten list at the store. Again, WTF??!!
This store, a NATIONAL CHAIN, really needs to step up and enter the 21st century. They have good products, just not a good website.
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Friday, July 16, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
On Chinese Wedding Traditions
I like criticizing and commenting on weddings. Sometimes, to the point that I think I should be on the show, Four Weddings. Of course, being on a reality show isn't my cup of tea. I want to be on television, but I also don't want do subject myself to anything that may be seen as embarassing. This is why I mostly stick to talking about other people's, either online or to friends and family. One topic I like to do the most is to criticize weddings from people with a similar cultural background.
Chinese weddings (both in the west and in Asia) can range from outright modern-traditional (no one does traditional-traditional anymore. In fact, I don't think anyone has since the 1960s. It's just not politically correct in this day and age) to ones with very little cultural traditions. Usually, weddings which fall into the latter category are intercultural weddings. Some traditions can be very over the top, in my opinion. I mean, who really needs to have three or four dresses? Two (one white, western gown and one red, Chinese kwa) dresses are plenty. Besides, when you're paying four figures for a dress (as most wedding gowns are), don't you want to wear it longer? Door games can be a little crazy, too. Originally meant to quiz the groom on what he knows about the bride (meaning whether he truly cared for her or not), they have, for many, gone way, way OTT. I've seen some which would likely earn a PG-13/14A rating (or higher!!!) if it were a movie. It may be fun to make the boys perform unusual tasks, especially if it involves push ups, donning wigs or eating/drinking very spicey foods, but what if it's on the verge of embarassing? You're most likely being video taped, so what if it somehow ends up on YouTube? Reception are crazy, too. Seriously, folks, brides and grooms aren't 20 year old university students. Those games should have been left behind when one graduated.
Two traditions I *DO* like, both which will be in my wedding, are the tea ceremony and table toasting. They are lovely traditions that are both very civilized. Though the origin of the ceremony is sad - in the old days, a girl officially leaves her family when she marries - it's a way to honour parents and other family members for raising you as well as bring together both families. Table toasting, where the bride, groom and sometimes, their parents and/or elder relatives go from table to table to toast guests and be toasted, is another tradition I am a fan of.
I know this post makes me sound stiff, but I like weddings to feel elegant, from start to finish. Some of the traditions, unfortunately, just aren't the case to me. Or at least, not the case anymore. I realize that some might see door games, for example, as a way to loosen up, but really, what would you do if it goes viral on YouTube? I honestly don't want to be the next crazy reality star. If I want to be on television, I want to get in the proper way.
Examples of Door Games at a Chinese Wedding
Chinese weddings (both in the west and in Asia) can range from outright modern-traditional (no one does traditional-traditional anymore. In fact, I don't think anyone has since the 1960s. It's just not politically correct in this day and age) to ones with very little cultural traditions. Usually, weddings which fall into the latter category are intercultural weddings. Some traditions can be very over the top, in my opinion. I mean, who really needs to have three or four dresses? Two (one white, western gown and one red, Chinese kwa) dresses are plenty. Besides, when you're paying four figures for a dress (as most wedding gowns are), don't you want to wear it longer? Door games can be a little crazy, too. Originally meant to quiz the groom on what he knows about the bride (meaning whether he truly cared for her or not), they have, for many, gone way, way OTT. I've seen some which would likely earn a PG-13/14A rating (or higher!!!) if it were a movie. It may be fun to make the boys perform unusual tasks, especially if it involves push ups, donning wigs or eating/drinking very spicey foods, but what if it's on the verge of embarassing? You're most likely being video taped, so what if it somehow ends up on YouTube? Reception are crazy, too. Seriously, folks, brides and grooms aren't 20 year old university students. Those games should have been left behind when one graduated.
Tea Ceremony
Two traditions I *DO* like, both which will be in my wedding, are the tea ceremony and table toasting. They are lovely traditions that are both very civilized. Though the origin of the ceremony is sad - in the old days, a girl officially leaves her family when she marries - it's a way to honour parents and other family members for raising you as well as bring together both families. Table toasting, where the bride, groom and sometimes, their parents and/or elder relatives go from table to table to toast guests and be toasted, is another tradition I am a fan of.
I know this post makes me sound stiff, but I like weddings to feel elegant, from start to finish. Some of the traditions, unfortunately, just aren't the case to me. Or at least, not the case anymore. I realize that some might see door games, for example, as a way to loosen up, but really, what would you do if it goes viral on YouTube? I honestly don't want to be the next crazy reality star. If I want to be on television, I want to get in the proper way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
