A Foreign View

By DAVID SPARKES 

Miyoshi Nakahara, from I Wish Wedding Planners, is a woman making a splash in the Chinese wedding industry.

The Japanese wedding planner entered the industry two and a half years ago, after training courses at the Association of Bridal Consultants in Japan. But rather than pursue a career in her homeland, she was lured by China's thriving wedding industry.

From a foreigner's perspective, Miyoshi says the wedding game in China is a lot less rigid than Japan. "In China, more groups are involved in this industry."

"For example, the master of ceremonies is very important in [Chinese] wedding planning. Many new couples would first find a master of ceremonies, and then ask him or her to plan the wedding ceremony. In Japan, we rarely have this kind of business model."

Miyoshi agrees there is big money being spent on weddings in China and says she is still amazed by the vibrant nature of the sector here.

"Since the market is huge, the competition is fierce. Because of this, we need to keep learning and constantly work hard."

The sector in China is teeming with job opportunities and Miyoshi says there are extra advantages to being a foreigner. "In Beijing, most of my clients are international couples. Currently, there are few foreign wedding planners in Beijing, let alone those who can speak English.

So, that creates great opportunities for me." She says Chinese couples have unique aspirations for their wedding.

"'Creativity' is the word most often heard from my clients. Nowadays Chinese expect special and unique wedding planning, both in the process and the design. Since weddings [in China] are about recreation, rather than religious belief, all the processes and rituals are flexible. I always add creativity to the basis of the traditional meaning of a wedding."