Getting Married! My Chinese Wedding in Jan 2014

In family friends by Michael Michelini53 Comments

This blog has always been a mix of business and personal – today’s is definitely in the personal category! During this past mid-autumn festival Chinese holiday, I made a first trip up to Shenyang, China to visit my girlfriend’s hometown and family. My wife, Wendy (Wangxia) is an amazing woman who has been so supportive to me this past year. I want to take this blog post to summarize our history. I first met her in Beijing during my “Geeks on a Train” (GOAT) trip with Chinaccelerator, I was looking for startups and tech people to network with for the trip and we arranged a meeting. She had been working for 5 years in d.cn, one of the biggest android game marketplaces of China, and was one of their first employees – she has a lot of experience seeing a tech startup grow inside China and we had very intriguing conversations. She was always curious why a foreigner would come to China to do a startup, and that attracted her to me.

The Connection

I was attracted to Wangxia due to her being so independent and strong, she moved to Beijing on her own and built up a successful career and network. Her beauty and kindness (She’s tough on the outside, but a very kind heart) compliment her independence and strong personality. She is the oldest sibling with a younger brother and sister, from her hometown of Shenyang, China (“Dongbei”, Beifan, Northern Chinese are also a bit tougher people than those in the south), so I can imagine her being the caring and yet strong older sister in the home.

During Chinaccelerator we would keep in touch while I was in Dalian, she was always very supportive and understanding on my need to spend a lot of time on my venture, Social Agent. This was also something I didn’t know how long would last, as I know its hard to dedicate yourself to work while also being in a relationship. But time and time again, she has been supportive of my work – and she is also busy in her own career too.

I remember the end of last year, when I wasn’t sure if I was going to base in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, or wherever after the accelerator, it was a very stressful time. Again she has been patient and understanding of the situation. I think because she has been with d.cn since its eary days and understands these issues.

Ended up being back in Shenzhen, and during Chinese New Year she came down to visit with her aunt. A couple months later, we moved in together here in Shenzhen and its been for the most part a smooth relationship and we both understand our busy lives. She was able to work a deal with her Beijing company to start a subsidiary business down in Shenzhen licensing to mobile phone manufacturers their app store software. We even had work areas for both our startups in the same tech center in Shenzhen as well (Innovalley).

Trip To Hometown

Mid Autumn Festival in Shenyang just happened, and it was my first time to meet the family. I think for those who understand Chinese culture, meeting the family is a serious undertaking and means a lot. I have to say, I was a bit nervous coming last week – not sure what to expect. We came to Beijing first for business, and then took a 4 hour train ride to Shenyang for the holiday. Her family is really awesome, her mother is an acupuncture specialist running a clinic out of their apartment (those following me on social media see I gave it a try) Her father has been an entrepreneur in a few businesses. Her 2 grandmothers live with them, and 2 buildings down in the same complex is her aunt and uncle. We ate tons of traditional northern Chinese food (dumplings, seafood, soups). I made Italian pasta and sausages and they all loved it (except her brother got food poisoning…opps…).

It just felt comfortable and right. We’re both about the same age (she’s 6 months younger than me). I understand myself in life, and I know what I am looking for. So while we were in her hometown we filed the documents – trip to the USA embassy and some local government offices.

We are planning the wedding in January in Shenzhen, China – I will finally have a good reason to invite my parents to visit China. We don’t want a very complicated wedding, more like a big party. Will keep everyone posted on the date – thinking within the first 2 weeks of January.

Afterwards, we will take a USA trip in Feb – for Chinese New Years and also some extra time (to beat the travel rush), may have some kind of “USA wedding” or party.

There is a Red Hot Chili Peppers song I like, and one of the lines is:

“Take a wife because life is beautiful”

So there you go, time to enter the next chapter of my life. It won’t be “my” life now, its “our” life.

My cupping massage that my new mother in law gave me – free of charge!

My Italian dinner prepared to impress the wife’s family + neighbors.

Making dumplings – yes foreigners can make dumplings!

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Comments

  1. Love it! Beautifully stated Michael.

  4. Very Happy for you make sure you invite us to your US party! We love you Mike! Love the Strongs

    1. thank you Julie! Think we may have a family USA part in Florida sometime in early or mid Feb – will definitely keep you posted!

  5. Mike! saw the pics on WeiXin moments and now reading this post. very glad to get to know your personal story as well. Congrats to you both!

    1. Thanks Shlomo – it is a bit personal story but I love to share! Wendy is a bit nervous to be so open online , haah

  7. Congratulation, Mike! Amazing that you met during GOAT! Best of luck in the future!

    1. thanks Mike, it is truly an amazing thing right! I still meeting her that first or second day we got to Beijing and trying to figure out how to explain which Orange hotel we were in!

          1. Ok. Let me know when it is firm and I’ll see if I can make it happen. Shouldn’t be a problem though.

  11. Omg Mike! I am sooooo happy for you. Glad you found someone who matches and compliments you. It took awhile but worth the wait huh? Good luck, always wishing you the best. Big hug!

    1. Thanks Norn! Life is so much different from those days working in a bank in NYC! I look back and feel like a completely different person! Thanks for keeping updated and hope to meet ya in NY/NJ in Feb!

  12. Congratulations Michael – she does in deed look beautiful and understanding 🙂

  13. Congratulations my man!

      1. I was supposed to be in Beijing this summer for a pharma conference, but that fell through. When’s the wedding? Maybe that would be the reason to return to the Middle Kingdom!

          1. Oh wow that sounds awesome! Cold, but awesome! 01/11/2014 could be doable, and I’ve always wanted to see Tibet!

  14. Congrats Mike. Where you thinking for honey moon?

    1. thanks JP! Well we have the “public wedding” (party) Jan 11, 2014 – I think we wanna go hike Tibet or something. still deciding

  15. i am so happy for you! wish i could see her sometime!

  16. Congratulations Mike and Wendy.. May God richly bless you both.. Love in Christ Jesus, Aunt Nina and Uncle Jack..

    1. Thanks Aunt Nina & Uncle Jack!

      Thanks for keeping up with my blog! Should be in Connecticut in end of jan and in Florida in early February if you can make it to either locations. Wendy will be with me too

  17. Congrats again man, and ready for the wedding in Shenzhen!

      1. Is it time to finally get a visa??? Lol! Congrats Mikey!
        MikeMo

  18. Wow what a great post! Congrats man and best to both of you! Can’t wait for the party!

  20. DEAR MIKE AND WENDY, BARB AND I ARE SO HAPPY FOR YOU BOTH. WE HOPE YOU HAVE A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER. MY MOTHER, SANDRA LIVED IN HARBIN FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS BEFORE THEY WENT TO THE U.S. SHE WAS 9 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY LEFT. HARBIN HAD A LARGE RUSSIAN COMMUNITY IN THOSE DAYS.
    IT LOOKS LIKE HARBIN IS A 3 AND A 1/2 HOUR TRAIN RIDE FROM SHENYANG.
    ALL OUR LOVE AND BEST WISHES,
    UNCLE BILL AND AUNT BARBARA

    1. Thanks Uncle Bill and Aunt Barb!!
      Still got to make it up to Harbin.. Wendy has been there a few times. They have a nice ice festival in the winter with ice sculptures

      Hope to meet you guys soon, welcome to come to China! Or we meet in usa in late January/early February

  21. Congrats, Mike! You look great together with Wendy. So when i arrive to China i will search for an Asian girl too! ))

  22. So frikkin amazing. Way to go man and congrats Wendy 🙂

    I suggest New Zealand for honeymoon as that’s where I’ll be and has some stunning pristine nature.

    Please invite me to your Chinese wedding, I promise not to drink Baijo and dance on stage to Rasputin again…

    1. You crack me up man!

      Of course you’re invited! But I wont hold you to the no-baijiu drinking rule as I may force ya to down a few glass fulls!

      New Zealand… will I be a character in the next lord of the rings then? Would be a great place to see…but we go to usa the week after from jan 17 to feb 19

      Maybe in March?

  23. DEAR MIKE AND WENDY,
    THE DUMPLINGS YOUR MAKING LOOK LIKE PIROGIS. THE RUSSIANS MAKE A DELICIOUS MEAT FILLED PASTRY LIKE THE DUMPLINGS BUT THEY ARE A LITTLE LARGER AND SIMILAR TO THE ITALIAN STROMBOLI. I’M SURE THEY WERE ALL BORROWED FROM CHINA LIKE SPAGHETTI WAS. WE ARE THINKING OF YOU AND WENDY AND WOULD LOVE TO MEET UP WITH YOU AND HER IN CONNECTICUT. MAYBE WE COULD GET TOGETHER WITH NINA AND JACK’S FAMILY.
    LOVE TO YOU AND WENDY,
    UNCLE BILL AND AUNT BARB

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