{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-572d6a42.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-f4d0de30.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Civil weddings please lawyers and bride and bridegrooms to be' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bdefd8eafeecae137cbe' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bdefd8eafeecae137cbe' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nCivil weddings please lawyers and bride and bridegrooms to be\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eIt's a big day for Joyce Lam and Frank Che. But it's a big day too for Man Kwok Leung - a lawyer and Civil Celebrant.To qualify for the job he had to have at least seven years of work experience.  And after decades of being a criminal...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eIt's a big day for Joyce Lam and Frank Che. But it's a big day too for Man Kwok Leung - a lawyer and Civil Celebrant.\u003cbr/\u003eTo qualify for the job he had to have at least seven years of work experience.  And after decades of being a criminal lawyer, Man Kwok Leung has chosen a more satisfying line of work. \u003cbr/\u003eWhile he still practices criminal law, he finds time to officiate and enjoy a more pleasurable side of his job.  \u003cbr/\u003eEden Marriage Registry Co., has 6 full-time lawyers, 30 permanent staff members and 8 venues in different locations across town. \u003cbr/\u003eThe company is a law firm of sorts, that also combines services like makeup, hairstyling and other basic necessities to help couples tie the knot.  \u003cbr/\u003eAs with any business, especially one that deals with the law, it needs to have administrative specialists that follow each part of the process.  \u003cbr/\u003eHeidi Yuen has been taking care of this for seven months, and she says she enjoys each time she performs her duties.  \u003cbr/\u003eThe company's main administrative offices are located next to the historical Star Ferry terminus, on the Victoria Harbour. \u003cbr/\u003eThese ferries have been crossing the harbour since 1888, and have become an icon of this city.  \u003cbr/\u003eAlfred Siu, Managing Director of Eden Marriage, says this business is mainly about location. \u003cbr/\u003eReal estate costs, are one third of the company's overheads.  \u003cbr/\u003eAccording to Siu, the firm weds 7 out of 10 people who use Civil Celebrants in Hong Kong. \u003cbr/\u003eEden Wedding joined some 5000 couples in 2008.  \u003cbr/\u003eThe company was formed when Mr. Siu joined his sister Sylvia Siu - a business lawyer- and partner, Tina Fong, in mid-2004. \u003cbr/\u003eTogether they operate a business that has not been seriously affected by the current financial crisis.  \u003cbr/\u003eWhile some people have decided to postpone their weddings, Siu explains his company has been able to capitalise on referral fees for related services, like photographers and makeup artists, to offset the reduced main business. \u003cbr/\u003eAdditionally, some couples have decided to save on big banquets and instead use the company's cocktail service.\u003cbr/\u003eThe company offers pre-marriage seminars, to coach couples on how to perform during the ceremony. Tina Fong, Director of the company, heads these monthly events.  \u003cbr/\u003eWhile getting married in City Hall costs USD 130, using Eden Marriage may average USD 390. \u003cbr/\u003eThe cheapest service costs USD 180 for a fifteen minute event to USD $1820 with a cocktail service for more than 100 people.  \u003cbr/\u003eSylvia Siu is a lawyer who was looking to change her life after surviving a rare form of kidney cancer in 2000. \u003cbr/\u003eAfter this, her values shifted and she wanted to stop litigating. \u003cbr/\u003eWhen the company started in 2004 she saw an opportunity to talk to newly weds about the most important things in life, like love and good health. \u003cbr/\u003eShe is not a full time civil officiator, as she is also dedicated to the Hong Kong Mediation Centre, a group that advocates negotiation as a means to solve conflicts, especially divorces, instead of going to court.  \u003cbr/\u003eChinese wedding traditions go centuries back. \u003cbr/\u003eSome of these, are related to feng shui, a traditional discipline that connects environmental and other factors that are believed to improve the quality of life. \u003cbr/\u003eAs a consequence, some days of the year are believed to be more auspicious than others for getting married.  \u003cbr/\u003eIn some of these auspicious days, Eden Marriage has wedded 200 couples, according to Alfred Siu.  \u003cbr/\u003eRed is considered the colour of happiness, and the characters of fortune also act as a positive influence.\u003cbr/\u003eHong Kong, February 13th 2009 \u003cbr/\u003e1. Wide shot of a bride (Joyce Lam) walking down the aisle accompanied by male relative as congregation clap\u003cbr/\u003e2. Zoom in to close up of the bride reading vow to her new husband \u003cbr/\u003e3. Wide shot of Bride, Groom (Frank Che) and Civil Celebrant (Man Kwok Leung) speaking in the ceremony. \u003cbr/\u003e4. SOUNDBITE (English): Man Kwok Leung, Lawyer and Civil Celebrant:\u003cbr/\u003e\"It's quite a new experience, well, as a solicitor you have to face different kinds of jobs. And sometimes... and mostly your clients are in difficulty. On tragedy, they seek your help. But as a civil celebrant you enjoy the happiness, this is quite a complete, different and happy job.\" \u003cbr/\u003e5. Close up of the bride's eyes with makeup\u003cbr/\u003e6. Medium shot of the bride and hairdresser getting ready for the ceremony \u003cbr/\u003e7. Medium shot of the bride looking into a mirror as photographer takes pictures, with the bride's sister looking on in the background \u003cbr/\u003e8. Medium shot of the bride, her hairdresser and friends speaking on the phone while getting ready \u003cbr/\u003e9. Close up of the bride's hands holding her phone \u003cbr/\u003e10. Medium shot of the bride and groom sitting looking at marriage documents before the ceremony \u003cbr/\u003e11. Medium shot of administrator Heidi Yuen checking the documents with the couple before the ceremony \u003cbr/\u003e12. SOUNDBITE (English): Heidi Yuen, Operations \u0026amp; MC, Eden Marriage Registry Co.:\u003cbr/\u003e\"I'm so happy, I'm so happy I can see the bride gets married, very happy. And I'm happy too, so I like this job.\" \u003cbr/\u003eHong Kong, Thursday February 12th 2009\u003cbr/\u003e13. Close up of front of Star Ferry with \"Hong Kong\" written on it\u003cbr/\u003e14. Wide shot of the Star Ferry departing the pier, next to Eden Marriage office location \u003cbr/\u003e15. Medium shot of  Alfred Siu, Managing Director of Eden Marriage Registry Co., sitting at his computer\u003cbr/\u003e16. SOUNDBITE (English): Alfred Siu, Managing Director, Eden Marriage Registry Co.: \u003cbr/\u003e\"It's a service using lawyers who turn civil celebrants. When they come here they aren't actually so much in a lawyer's role, they are like a pastor, like giving blessings to make people get married, so you know, it's a happy thing for them too because normally lawyers do very boring stuff like convincing, litigations.\" \u003cbr/\u003e17. Medium shot of employee at desk in the office using her computer\u003cbr/\u003e18. Close up of documents being held in worker's hands\u003cbr/\u003e19. Close up of a model of traditional Chinese bride and groom figures \u003cbr/\u003e20. Close up of the face of an administrative employee at the Eden Marriage office seen over a computer \u003cbr/\u003e21. SOUNDBITE (English): Alfred Siu, Managing Director, Eden Marriage Registry Co.:\u003cbr/\u003e\"One couple had their friends dress like Winnie the Pooh, the whole room was Winnie the Pooh. (Laughter) Crazy ceremony that was very memorable.\" \u003cbr/\u003e22. SOUNDBITE (English): Tina Fong, Director, Eden Marriage Registry Co.: \u003cbr/\u003e\"Pre-wedding seminar, we teach them how they walk down the aisle, with their groom. In the big dresses, how you don't trip yourself, how you don't trip your groom. And then how you put on wedding rings, to take the best photos, how you unveil the bride. How you sit, and how you sign, sign your marriage certificate.\" \u003cbr/\u003e23. Close up of document showing the marriage vow \u003cbr/\u003e24. SOUNDBITE (English): Tina Fong, Director, Eden Marriage Registry Co.: \u003cbr/\u003e\"This is the groom, the short one, and then the bride. And we have Chinese... English and Chinese.\" \u003cbr/\u003e25. SOUNDBITE (English): Sylvia Siu, Lawyer and Civil Celebrant: \u003cbr/\u003e\"It's my mother, who has always wanted to be a lawyer, she couldn't make it because she got us. And so she wanted me to be a lawyer. And really it's out of her passion to be a lawyer that I became one in her place.\" \u003cbr/\u003e26. Zoom out to medium shot of Sylvia Siu, Civil Celebrant, playing the piano \u003cbr/\u003e27. Medium shot tilt up of a wedding cake\u003cbr/\u003e28. SOUNDBITE (English): Sylvia Siu, Lawyer and Civil Celebrant: \u003cbr/\u003e\"I also take the opportunity to... I give some tips to the couples, which, you know, it helps a lot.\"\u003cbr/\u003eHung Hom, Hong Kong,  Friday February 13th 2009 \u003cbr/\u003e29. Medium shot of the bride and groom sitting on steps at venue, with photographer taking photos \u003cbr/\u003e30. Medium shot tilt up of the bride and groom standing together on the steps\u003cbr/\u003e31. SOUNDBITE (Cantonese): Joyce Lam, Bride:\u003cbr/\u003e\"It was good, we had many people witnessing the wedding, this is better. Everyone could see the wedding registration.\" \u003cbr/\u003e32. Medium shot of a traditional wedding rickshaw \u003cbr/\u003e33. Close up of  \"Fortune\" characters inscribed on rickshaw \u003cbr/\u003eCentral, Hong Kong, Thursday February 12th 2009 \u003cbr/\u003e34. SOUNDBITE (English): Alfred Siu, Managing Director, Eden Marriage Registry Co.:\u003cbr/\u003e\"It's all the elements of... you know, it's feng shui stuff all put together, and then that makes some days better to get married than other days.\" \u003cbr/\u003eHung Hom, Hong Kong, Friday February 13th 2009 \u003cbr/\u003e35. Close up of the guest list and table arrangements\u003cbr/\u003e36. Medium shot of the groom's friends and ushers sitting at a table\u003cbr/\u003e37. Medium shot of the bride, groom and guests assembling for a photograph\u003cbr/\u003eLove may be the same all over the world, but marriage ceremonies often aren't.\u003cbr/\u003eIn Hong Kong a change in the law means lawyers can act as Civil Celebrants at weddings - a move which seems to have pleased them and the happy couples alike.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details 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