A complex traditional wedding ceremony is not so easy for young couples in Guangzhou. (Lifeofugangzhou.com)

Guangzhou will head into its busiest marriage season this fall, a thriving time for wedding companies throughout the city. And in an age when everybody wants to stand out as creative and unique, an unforgettable wedding experience is essential, especially for those newly-weds who are favored by their families.

But holding a complex traditional wedding ceremony is not so easy for young couples, since many trivial formalities must to be addressed. It was out of this demand that the position of "bridal secretary" was developed.

Bridal secretaries cover all wedding bases

This special matrimonial assistant is both maid-of-honor and consultant to the bride, responsible for managing every detail of the ceremony, such as makeup, invitations, toasts and "lucky words" spoken at the reception.

"The career of bridal secretary is still quite new in Guangzhou," said one insider. "Ripe markets have already risen up in Beijing and Shanghai." Nevertheless, all full-time and part-time secretaries should be well-trained by companies before they take part in the management of any wedding ceremony.

Part-time bridal secretary a profitable job

This new career working for wedding companies is in-demand and well-paid, which has drawn many newcomers, even those still studying in schools.
"I am very interested in this," said Li from a university in Guangzhou. "I have learned wedding etiquette before, and this part-time job might bring me some extra money to ease my family's burden.¡±

Promising business still lacks industry standard

No more than 20 Guangzhou wedding companies held industry certificates in 2006, but that number has risen to nearly 100 just two years later. In Beijing and Shanghai, the number has even reached 1,000.

With a lack of industry standards, it remains to be seen if this career will stand the test of time.