For a Chinese wedding, just like in every other country, there are customs and traditions that are upheld. Traditionally, in China, the wedding is not about the bride, but the groom. It is his family that hosts the ceremony, as the bride is becoming a part of his family. Today, it is custom that the bride and groom host the wedding and they become a part of each other’s families.
Some customs do still take place in China, such as arranged marriages. Once the bride has been chosen for the groom, they are to be married on a lucky day according to the lunar calendar.
With all of these other traditions to be upheld, it is no surprise that the dress a Chinese bride wears is also part of the tradition. Depending on where in China a bride is from will determine the dress that she will wear. A bride in northern China will wear a one piece gown embroidered with silver and gold called a Qi Pao. Whereas the bride in southern China wears a two piece gown, Cheongsam, embroidered with a gold phoenix and dragons symbolizing male and female. However, what these wedding gowns do share is the Chinese color of luck – red. In the Chinese culture, it is believed that red will keep away evil.
If you are looking for a traditional Chinese wedding dress, you may travel to China to find it. If not, you can look online for retailers that carry such dresses. The Cheongsam or southern Chinese style has actually become quite popular in the western world, so you may be able to find a white wedding dress in this design. A red wrap and a bouquet of red peonies can be added to bring you luck on your special day.