Search results
Some choose to wear a western style wedding gown for the ceremony and switch to a traditional red qipao or cheongsam for the reception and banquet. Others may choose a traditional, two-piece Chinese wedding dress known as a qun kwa for the Chinese tea ceremony. There are also Chinese dresses in white that can take you from ceremony to banquet.
The bride traditionally wears a red qipao or a modern white wedding gown, while the groom wears a traditional black or blue silk coat. Red, symbolizing luck and joy, is the predominant color in Chinese weddings, seen in the bride’s dress, decorations, and even the wedding invitations.
The Bridal Tip » Wedding. Elegant Red Chinese Wedding Dress. When it comes to traditional Chinese wedding attire, there is one element that stands out and captivates everyone’s attention – the elegant red Chinese wedding dress. This iconic garment holds deep cultural significance and symbolizes good luck, happiness, and prosperity.
- Double Happiness Symbol. Pronounced shuāngxǐ, the double happiness symbol is one of the most recognizable icons incorporated in Chinese weddings. "The Double Happiness character is very aptly named—it's made of two connected copies of the character xi, which means 'happiness.'
- Auspicious Colors. Red and gold are the two colors most frequently used in color palettes for Chinese weddings. "Across all of Chinese tradition, red is by far and large the most popular color at all major celebrations, including weddings," explains Valente.
- Gate Crashing and Door Games. "The beginning of the wedding ceremony often begins first with collecting the bride. The groom and his groomsmen will travel to the bride's house, where sometimes a tea ceremony is performed in order to pay homage to the bride's family, before everyone heads over to the groom's family's house for their own tea ceremony," explains Valente.
- Tea Ceremony. "The tea ceremony is one of the biggest components in a traditional Chinese wedding," explains Bishop. "Once this is done, it is a sign of marriage in the eyes of Chinese tradition.
- The Betrothal. Known as the Guo Da Li, the groom will present betrothal gifts (gold jewelry, dragon and phoenix wax candles, tea leaves and sesame seeds, wine or brandy, etc.)
- Choosing the Wedding Date. The date of the wedding ceremony isn’t chosen by chance. “Many couples consult with a fortune teller, Chinese monk, or Feng Shui master to choose an auspicious date to bring success to their marriage,” shares Froelich.
- The Invitation. The Chinese wedding invitation is typically red with gold lettering and bears the Double Happiness symbol. Inside, it’ll include dates for the wedding banquet, order of birth, and names of the bride, groom, and respective parents.
- Preparing the Marriage Bed. The An Chuang usually takes place on an auspicious day and time, two to three days before the wedding. “This tradition is carried out by a female relative of good fortune—one with parents, husband, children, and grandchildren—where the bed will be dressed in new red color beddings and pillows with a mix of dried fruits and nuts such as longans, persimmons, and red dates,” explains Yu.
People also ask
Can you wear a red dress to a Chinese wedding?
What color is a Chinese wedding dress?
What is a red wedding dress called?
What to wear to a Chinese tea ceremony?
Chinese wedding attire is often colorful and ornate, with the bride typically wearing a red dress called a qipao, which symbolizes happiness, prosperity, and good luck. The groom wears traditional Chinese clothing, often in a color such as blue or green.
Sep 7, 2021 · It’s customary for the bride to wear a red satin or silk dress for the tea ceremony with gold accents and gold jewelry. For the groom, it’s customary to wear either a traditional Chinese red mandarin collar jacket and pants, or, if you’d like to keep things more modern, a suit (often different from the wedding suit) with a red tie.
