A Chinese bride typically changes her wedding dress 2 to 3 times during the event. First, she wears a red traditional dress for the tea ceremony, lasting about 1-2 hours. Then, she changes into a white gown for the main ceremony and banquet, which can last 4-6 hours. Finally, she may wear a banquet dress for the evening, especially for a more relaxed celebration.
Initial Traditional Attire
The first attire that is traditionally worn in a Chinese wedding is considered an essential ingredient in the wedding. A few of the most traditional choices a bride can wear are a red qipao or cheongsam. This is a very culturally symbolic dress because it features a lot of red, which is associated with good luck and happiness. A red dress wards off evil spirits and invites blessings. They wear a red qipao for the tea ceremony, which is one important component in a wedding celebration. This could take about 30 minutes up to one hour, depending on the number of family members and the depth of the ritual. In this part of the day, brides wear the qipao for 3-4 hours while they go through a formal interchanging with their elders by offering tea to parents and grandparents as a respect gesture.
The material used in making the qipao varies, though silk and brocade are some of the most popular. These fabrics are rich in texture and sheen, adding to the luxurious feel of the outfit. The price of a high-quality silk qipao with detailed embroidery and a better-known designer ranges from 300 to 1,500 dollars. The embroidery often includes symbolic motifs such as phoenixes, dragons, and peonies, which represent marital harmony, strength, and fertility, respectively. Sometimes, the embroidery work itself increases the overall cost of the dress. A qipao, for example, with hand-stitched gold threadwork in it could raise its price by 500 to 800 dollars.
Qipaos are usually tailored to fit because with this dress, the perfect fit will bring out the figure of the bride. The usual collar is high, and the silhouette should be fitting. It may also include a side slit to make walking easy without affecting the bride’s posture and elegance. The size range for the qipao usually runs from extra small to extra-large, with some places offering custom sizing. The prices of custom tailoring range from 100 to 400 dollars, depending on the intricacy of the design and the type of service opted for.
Most brides prefer to wear a qipao at the start of their ceremonies, usually in the morning or early afternoon, because this garment is both culturally significant and comfortable. However, comfort can sometimes be an issue, especially with the very body-hugging nature of a qipao dress. For this reason, some brides may opt for qipaos in lighter fabrics like satin, which have a bit more breathing room than heavier silks. A satin qipao costs on average about 10-20% less than its silk counterpart. For instance, the red qipao is only worn for about 4-5 hours during all the traditional events at the wedding. Then, in the formal banquet, the bride usually changes into a white gown.
Wedding Gown Change
The main change of wedding apparel, usually white, is considered a major transition within a Chinese wedding, often right after the traditional tea ceremony and morning rituals. This change of clothes bears great symbolic meanings; white symbolizes purity and a new start to life together. In a traditional Chinese wedding, after the tea ceremony, which can take as long as 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the number of guests, the bride will change into her wedding gown for a formal wedding ceremony or banquet, which could last from several hours to sometimes even up to 5 hours or more, depending on the scale of the reception and the events involved in the process.
Wedding dresses have a very wide price range, but usually, the tailored ones are much more expensive than those available on the rack. Generally, a wedding dress in China will cost between $1,000 and $3,000, based on the designer, the material, and decorations. For example, high-end designer gowns can have prices as high as $5,000 to $10,000. These gowns are made of luxurious fabrics such as satin or tulle with extensive lacework and beading. It takes a few months to make them, and brides are often involved in the creation process, including choosing fabric, cut, and embellishments. In contrast, the less expensive versions can be lower than $200 to $500 for simpler, ready-to-wear dresses.
The kind of fabric used to make the wedding gown also matters in terms of the price and comfort of the gown. Some of the common fabrics used in making wedding gowns include satin, chiffon, and lace, all popular for their feel and appearance. Satin is the most commonly used fabric since it has a very luxurious sheen and smoothness. Satin wedding gowns cost more in comparison with others because of the intricacies in the making of this kind of fabric. For instance, a satin gown can be pricier than a chiffon one, lighter and less constraining than satin but less formal, by about 20 to 30%. Whereas lace gowns, though equally a wonder in texture and very detailed, tend to raise the price since working the fabric is painstakingly and detailedly intricate in stitching.
Symbol of New Beginnings
This change of attire in the celebration of a Chinese wedding denotes more than just a simple fashion make-over. Changing into a white gown, which is traditionally associated with purity and new starts, marks a fresh chapter in a bride’s life. Normally, the change of the wedding gown takes place after completion of one of the most important parts of the day: the tea ceremony, which is usually performed in the morning. It may take as long as one hour, where the bride and groom show respect to their elders by serving them tea. Once done, the bride would be given the change into her white wedding dress and start the formal rejoicing of the marriage bond tie-up.
New beginnings are deep within the symbolism of white embedded. While the color red may be dominant in the culture of the Chinese to symbolize luck and prosperity, white is a fresh beginning, a clean slate, and the purity of the couple’s union. In Western wedding traditions, too, white is viewed as a color of chastity, and that crosses over to Chinese weddings where the bride’s white gown represents her commitment to entering a new phase of life. This is all the more significant since traditional Chinese weddings are far more inclined toward the color red. This convention of turning to white, starting in the 20th century, is carried on with around 70-80% of modern brides now wearing a white wedding dress as a badge of modernity and fresh starts.
The price of the wedding dress itself also appeals to that notion of new beginning. For a bride, a wedding gown is often an investment in her future. Very many brides spend a lot of money on just the right dress. The average price for a wedding gown in China ranges from 10,000 to 20,000 yuan, but for those who want a designer label or individually designed, the sky’s the limit: 80,000 yuan upwards. While a high-quality designer gown with lace and beading can cost upwards of $5,000, off-the-rack items from a reputable brand cost around $1,500. These prices signify how much this token of transition is valued, in which the gown is an extension of a physical covering but acts also as something very personal—a bride’s journey of self and her transformation.
In addition to the gown itself, accessories and makeup round out the bride’s new beginning. Most brides wear a veil, which can be as inexpensive as $100 for a simple design or as expensive as $2,000 or more for an elaborate, custom-made creation with embroidery or crystals. The veil is often symbolic and may bring forth the notion of leaving single life and entering into married life; thus, most of the time, it is worn during the ceremony and later discarded to mark the full coming into her new role. The bridal accessories are by no means cheap; the average spending of a bride on accessories alone lies in the range of $300-$1,500, depending on the style and preference. This reinforces the idea of the wedding day being a new beginning, one in which the bride financially and symbolically invests in.
Banquet Dress
The Chinese wedding banquet dress is the second big change of attire a bride goes through, after first wearing the traditional red dress and then the wedding gown. It is worn to the wedding banquet, a big celebration with family and friends that may last from 4 to 6 hours, depending on the size and the number of guests. It is typically a big dinner affair with courses, speeches, and entertainment. A banquet wedding dress should, therefore, be elegant but practical enough for the times of extended rejoicing without sacrificing the bride’s best looks throughout the evening.
The cost of the banquet dress varies considerably depending on whether it is made to measure or bought off the rack. On average, a banquet dress costs in the range of $500 to $3,000. Some brides prefer to wear a more luxurious outfit, especially if the wedding reception is going to be in a high-class venue or if your family wants an extravagant celebration of such an occasion. A heavy beading and quality fabric designer banquet dress with detailed embroidery may cost as high as $4,000 or more. For example, a gown with luxurious fabrics like satin, silk chiffon, or tulle, detailed with crystal or pearl embellishments, would fall into the higher price category. For a cheaper banquet dress, a simple A-line dress costing around $500 to $1,000 can also be made of chiffon or polyester.
The style of the banquet dress may also be very different; many brides wear dresses that are far less traditional than the wedding gown—something utterly modern or trendy. Others would instead prefer to wear a sleeveless dress or strapless-neckline gown to give them more freedom for dancing and mingling around. The price of an average sleeveless dress intended for a banquet varies between $700 and $2,000, depending on the material and certain design features. Another popular variety is something that can be taken off the dress, like a detachable train or bolero jacket, which allows the bride to change her outfit at the reception. This adds about 10-20% to the price of a wedding dress because it involves extra tailoring and design features.
Different for Different Events
Also in Chinese weddings, the attire of the bride tends to change with whatever event or ceremony is to take place. Each time she changes her dress, it has a particular implication, mirroring the importance of the different stages of celebration. One of the most evident changes occurs between the events of the morning tea ceremony, the wedding ceremony, and the banquet, each of which also requires a different type of dress to correspond with its cultural significance.
Most of the time, the morning tea ceremony—when the bride and groom serve their elders tea, as a mark of respect—requires a more traditional outfit. Brides wear a red qipao or cheongsam for that part of the day, as it is highly rooted in their culture that the color red signifies good luck, happiness, and protection from evil spirits. Prices for a qipao range from $300 to $2,000, dependent on the material—silk or brocade—and the degree of customization, with higher prices paid when the design is more elaborate. As a rule, a traditional dress is worn for about 2-3 hours because the very ceremony of tea may take up to 30 minutes to an hour while the bride needs to greet several relatives. The design of the qipao can vary, with simpler designs costing less and ornate ones with intricate embroidery (often in gold or silver thread) commanding a higher price.
As the day progresses into the main wedding ceremony and reception, the bride usually changes into a white wedding gown, signaling the start of the formal celebration. Wedding dresses: between $1,000 and $3,500 US dollars; high-end designer wedding dresses can exceed well over $10,000 US dollars. The wedding gown may be quite different from what was worn earlier in the day. For example, the gown is much more formal and would include lace, beading, or crystal to make it even more dressy and ceremonial. Actually, the wedding gown can be worn for 4-6 hours during the ceremony and the banquet. Some brides prefer multiple changes, even gowns with removable parts, like a train or sleeves, in order to adjust to different parts of the celebration. For a designer wedding gown that has some intricate features, like lace and embroidery, the price could be added to as much as 50% to add extra luxury to the bride’s appearance.
This includes the change into a banqueting dress after the wedding, usually in the evening reception, which closes the events for the day. It can range from $500 to $3,000, contingent upon the style, fabric, and embellishments. With this event, being mainly a grand feast with 200 to 500 guests, brides wear attire that is more relaxed and glamorous. Formal attire for the banquet should be striking yet serviceable so the bride may join her guests and partake in any dancing or other interactive activities. It is usual to wear dresses with detachable parts for such an occasion, such as a removable train or bolero, for ease in movement. For instance, a banquet dress with a removable train could ask for an additional $200 to $500 because of the extra tailoring it requires.
Cultural Significance of Red
Red is a color invested with considerable symbolic meaning in Chinese culture, most evident in a wedding. According to popular belief, the color represents good luck, happiness, and prosperity and thus plays an important part in the dressing of the bride and groom and in wedding decorations. Among the most iconic, a Chinese wedding would include the bride in red, acting as a powerful cultural symbol throughout the entire ceremony. Traditionally, the bride wore a qipao or cheongsam in red, a color treasured from Ancient Chinese beliefs that would ward off evil spirits and bring positive energy into the marriage. It is intended to fill the couple’s new life with joy, wealth, and harmonious relations.
The color red in a Chinese wedding is not limited to the bride’s attire; rather, it overflows in the event itself. For instance, the color is common in the decorations—lanterns, banners, and flowers—all with the intention of attracting good fortune. The prevalence of red here is symbolic of a very prosperous and happy future. The average cost for wedding decor that would involve red could range from 500 to 5,000 dollars, depending on the magnitude of the wedding and the quality of the materials used. Extensive preparations featuring red curtains, flowers in the form of bouquets of red roses, and even red-colored food reinforce this belief that red will bring good fortune and joy to the marrying couple.
The color red features in the signification of one of the most critical elements of the Chinese wedding, the rite of tea ceremony. In this most solemn moment of a Chinese wedding, red plays a focal role, wherein the marrying couple would serve tea to their parents and other older relatives out of respect. In this rite, the bride would wear a red qipao. This portion of the marriage might take up to 30 minutes to an hour. The red dress is expected to honor family heritage inasmuch as the bride and the groom are happy and prosperous. Red is believed to drive away all bad luck and evil spirits, so it will be quite an appropriate color for such a moment. A red qipao to wear for the tea ceremony may range from $300 to $2,000 depending on the complexity of the design and the quality of the fabric. The presence of gold or silver embroidery often enhances the symbolic meaning of these metallic threads, which respectively stand for wealth and good luck.
Customized Dress Choices
The weddings have seen Chinese brides go for bespoke dress choices as an important trend. These dresses allow them to create a unique and personalized look that brings out one’s style and cultural preference. Bespoke wedding dresses are, therefore, gaining increasing popularity in China as an indicator of modern wedding trends whereby brides cannot just settle for off-the-rack options but seek custom designs incorporating both traditional and contemporary elements. These custom-made gowns are mostly well-fitted to the brides’ bodies, flattery assured, and uniquely designed to stand out from others with special features, such as embroidery, beadwork, or lace. The price of wedding gowns in China that are custom-designed by famous designers varies between $1,500 and $5,000, depending on famous designers and complicated designs. Adding one other detail, such as hand-stitched embroidery to a gown or a personalized motif, might add $1,000 to $2,000.
The reason that most brides opt for bespoke dresses is because they desire the gowns to be original and unique, with some personal connotation. Most brides like customized designs with heirlooms from their families, colors, or some selected symbols in their cultures. For example, a bride would choose a gown with embroideries of phoenixes or dragons, as they are traditional Chinese symbols to denote marital harmony and strength. Many symbolic designs added to the body or at the gown’s train not only enhance its aesthetic appeal but also give it depth in meaning—that which can never be given to store-bought dresses. An original gown with detailed embroidery can be $500 to $3,000 depending on the intricateness of the project from that of a standard design.
In addition to the traditional elements of the gown, most brides prefer hybrid designs incorporating the Western aspect of the attire with the Chinese traditions. For instance, the modern bridal gown may incorporate the traditional color of red into the white wedding gown. This design combines the cultural emphasis of red with the Western meaning of white and has become very popular with brides who want to celebrate their heritage along with a more globalized wedding tradition. The prices for such fusion dresses range from $2,000 to $4,000, depending on the designer and materials used. A bespoke gown that incorporates both red and white fabrics or merges a traditional qipao outline with a Western-style ball gown design could take several months to create, with fittings spread over 2-4 months.
