Mandarin Duck Wedding Gifts: A Symbol of Lifelong Marriage
Minchu NguyenQuick answer: In Vietnamese art, a pair of mandarin ducks stands for a faithful, lasting marriage, which is why the motif suits a wedding gift. Folk Form's Lotus Serenade silk scarf carries the pair beneath an open lotus. If you are unsure, choose the 36 inch (90 cm) square at $153: large enough to wear every week long after the day.
Why give a pair of ducks at a wedding? Below you will find where the symbol comes from, what it says, and how to give it well.
Why do mandarin ducks mean marriage?
In Vietnamese the birds are called uyen uong, and in art they almost always appear together, side by side and turned toward each other. The meaning lives in that picture of a pair, which is why people placed it where a household would see it every day.
The pair asks for faithful love, a marriage that held and a household at peace. The lotus beside them adds a second layer. In Buddhist art the lotus bud rises out of the mud and opens clean, a picture of purity and enlightenment.
Where does the Vietnamese mandarin duck motif come from?
Excavations at the Thang Long imperial citadel in Hanoi turned up roof tiles decorated with mandarin ducks and with lotus flowers. They are known as the "mandarin-duck tile" and the "lotus tile". They date from the Ly and Tran dynasties.
What is Folk Form's Lotus Serenade scarf?
Our studio redrew the ducks and the lotus by hand from objects of the Ly and Tran dynasties, then printed them by hand screen. Each color gets its own screen and its own pass, through both faces of 100% mulberry silk. Momme is the traditional unit of silk weight; the supplier specifies 16 momme and 5A thread grade. The edges are rolled and stitched by hand.
It comes in three colorways:
- Green and pink, the colors of a spring or summer wedding
- Brown and blue
- Brown and pink
See every size and color in the Lotus Serenade collection. Folk Form holds third-party thread-density reports from the Textile Testing Center of the Vietnam Textile Research Institute for three of its designs. They cover only the samples tested, not every scarf. Every box also includes a small cutting of silk, so the recipient can burn a thread and test it at home. ELLE Vietnam and Harper's Bazaar Vietnam have both covered our studio.
Which size should I give for a wedding?
| Size | Price | How it is worn | Give it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 inch (90 cm) | $153 | Head wrap, shoulder cover, neck knot | The wedding itself |
| 26 inch (65 cm) | $97 | Headband, ponytail wrap, neck knot | A bridal shower or an engagement |
| 44 inch (110 cm) | $197 | Shawl, sarong, or framed as a textile print | A gift that shows the whole design |
| 22 inch (55 cm) | $75 | Bag handle, wrist, small neck knot | A small token from a guest |
For what each size does in detail, see our silk scarf size guide.
Our pick for a wedding, if you are unsure
Choose the 36 inch (90 cm) square at $153. It works as a head wrap or a shoulder cover over a sleeveless dress. That keeps it in use in ordinary weeks, long after the day. Pick the colorway from the couple's own palette; the print is the same in all three.
Picture the morning after the wedding, when the couple sorts through boxes of kitchen things. One box holds a story card about two ducks redrawn from Ly and Tran dynasty objects, and the bride reads it aloud. That is the gift people remember. The green and pink and brown and blue colorways both arrive gift boxed, with free shipping past $90 and import duty paid. A 5% reduction applies when BLOG5 is entered at checkout.
Every colorway of the mandarin duck print is in the Lotus Serenade silk scarves.
Who is a mandarin duck scarf for?
- The bride, or the couple: a wedding gift that sits outside the registry and outlasts most of what is on it.
- Your wife or partner, on an anniversary: any year you are celebrating. On the 12th, silk is the traditional gift; see our 12th anniversary gift ideas.
- A couple's parents: at the wedding, or on their own anniversary.
- Valentine's Day: for a spouse or a long-term partner.
Can I give one piece to each of them?
Yes. The ducks are about two people, so some guests give the Lotus Serenade scarf to her and a woven silk tie to him. Folk Form ties are woven 100% mulberry silk jacquard from $142, the pattern built from the threads so the knot keeps its color. Browse our silk gifts for him. Together the two pieces make a matched gift without matching outfits.
When is another motif kinder?
Because the ducks mean marriage, they can land badly in the wrong hands. For a woman who is single, or someone for whom marriage is a difficult subject, choose Phoenix Dance instead: the phoenix speaks about the person herself. Our guide to what Vietnamese silk motifs mean compares every design.
How is the gift presented?
Every scarf arrives in a rigid gift box. Inside are a printed story card naming the motif and its dynasty, an illustrated styling guide and a care card. Add your own message in the Gift message box in your cart and we write it by hand on a card. To ship straight to the couple, enter their address as the shipping address and yours as billing. No price appears anywhere in the parcel.
A line for the card:
"They are mandarin ducks. In Vietnam they have meant a marriage that holds."
To complete the gift, add a silk-wrapped bead necklace: plain silk at $64 or printed at $75, with no clasp and nothing to size.
How early should I order for a wedding?
A wedding date does not move. Orders ship from Vietnam in 1 to 3 business days. US delivery takes 9 to 15 business days after dispatch, so allow up to 18 business days, about three and a half weeks. Shipping is free on orders of $90 or more and a flat $20 below that, and we pay the import duty. An unused, unwashed and unworn scarf in its original box can be returned within 30 days of delivery; choose store credit and we add 15%.
Mandarin Duck Wedding Gifts: what people ask
What do mandarin ducks symbolize at a wedding?
A faithful, lasting marriage and a peaceful home. Shown as a pair, they are a traditional wedding symbol in Vietnam.
Is a mandarin duck scarf a good wedding gift?
Yes. Its meaning is the marriage itself, and it is worn for years after the day. It arrives gift boxed with a story card naming the motif and its dynasty. A 36 inch (90 cm) square at $153 is the size we suggest.
What is the Vietnamese word for mandarin ducks?
Uyen uong. Folk Form's mandarin duck motif, Lotus Serenade, is called Uyen Uong Lien Ha in Vietnamese: mandarin ducks among summer lotus.
Which size should I give as a wedding gift?
The 36 inch (90 cm) square. It is large enough to be worn every week as a wrap or shoulder cover, so it does not end up in a drawer.
Is a mandarin duck scarf a good anniversary gift?
Yes, for any anniversary, and it suits the 12th especially well, since silk is the traditional 12th anniversary gift in the US.
Can I send it directly to the couple?
Yes. Use their address for shipping and yours for billing, and add your message in the Gift message box in your cart. We write it by hand, and no price is included in the parcel.
