7 Styles For Your Chinese Wedding Dress

For your Chinese wedding, explore these 7 styles:

1. Qipao: $500–$2,000; choose silk or satin for elegance.
2. Xiu He Fu: $1,000–$5,000; rich embroidery adds cultural charm.
3. Long-Sleeve Satin Gown: $1,200–$4,000; great for formal settings.
4. Lace-Overlay Dress: $1,500–$8,000; timeless and romantic.
5. Two-Piece Set: $1,200–$3,500; modern and customizable.
6. Embroidered Gown: $2,000–$15,000; ideal for luxury.
7. Red & Gold Dress: $2,500–$10,000; a bold, cultural statement.

Tailor designs for comfort and style, adding accessories like veils or headpieces ($150–$1,000).

Qipao (Cheongsam)

The Qipao or Cheongsam represents one of the most important parts of Chinese tradition and grace, especially when it deals with weddings. Traditionally made from extremely expensive fabrics such as silk or satin, the Qipao really portrays the beauty and cultural significance of the occasion. For example, a decent-quality Qipao in silk would cost anything between $500 and $2,000, depending on the craftsmanship and how much intricate embroidery is used. These embroidery works generally consist of motifs, such as dragons and phoenixes, which offer great visual impacts and are symbolic of prosperity, fertility, and good fortune. The average cost of an embroidered silk Qipao for a wedding ranges from $800 to $1,500, depending on the designer and particular customizations, such as the choice of threads or additional embellishments with pearls or crystals.

Choosing between silk and satin makes a practical difference in both comfort and cost. Silk is the more classic option, but while soft and plush, it’s less breathable than satin, which may make satin a more workable choice for warm-weather brides. A satin Qipao on average costs 20% less than its silk counterpart. The price for a satin dress would be between $300 to $600, while a similar design in silk would be anywhere between $700 to $1,200. Besides, the breathability of satin makes it a popular choice for weddings in tropical or humid regions, as it has a fit of comfort with ease of wear without compromising on aesthetic appeal.

Size is also an aspect to reckon with when choosing a Qipao for a wedding. A dress requires very definite and specific measurements to enable it to fit well. Many Qipaos are ordered and, thus, tailored specifically to their wearers, particularly those used during weddings. Standard sizes usually fit someone with measurements like a bust of 34 inches, a waist of 26 inches, and hips of 36 inches, which would correspond to a size Medium in most cases. However, a lot of brides get them tailored, which might increase the price but will definitely guarantee a perfect fit. Detail work and reputation of a designer could amend the prices to a range from $900 to $1,800. Besides, the custom tailoring allows for modifications considering the height of the bride and the style of the dress, which may include full, half, three-quarter, or no slits or sleeves.

Of course, accessories accompanying the Qipao add not just to the overall price but also to the visual appeal of the outfit. A traditional wedding Qipao is usually accompanied by a phoenix coronet or headpiece, which itself can be in a wide range of prices, depending on the material and craftsmanship involved. Thus, a very simple phoenix coronet made of plated synthetic gold and decorated with fake gems would likely cost about US$100, while its luxurious version in real gold and pearls may cost between US$500 and $2,000. The headpiece is not only a certain cultural statement but also a reflection of the status of the bride, as its type is usually chosen by the bride’s family for showing its wealth or the importance of the occasion. These coronets, together with the beautiful Qipao, help the bride achieve the traditional look of opulence and grace so highly valued in Chinese weddings.

Xiu He Fu

Xiu He Fu is a traditional wedding gown in Chinese, and the complexity of its design maintains very rich cultural significance. This type of wedding dress would include a big, long-flowing skirt with a heavily embroidered top, often adorned with auspicious symbols of dragons, phoenixes, and flowers. The price of an excellent quality Xiu He Fu could run from 1,000 to 5,000 dollars, depending on the material used and how special it is. Luxuriant versions are usually of brocade silk or satin, with extensive hand embroidery or beadwork. For example, the cost of a silk Xiu He Fu with the most complicated embroidery made of a gold thread might be within the range from 2,000 up to 4,500 dollars, while its simplified version made using synthetic fabrics could be estimated at approximately 800-1,200 dollars.

The design of the Xiu He Fu inherits historical traditions of this costume, and the exquisite looking external side reflects the cultural and ceremonial role of this vestment. Its most defining features include the very heavy embroideries, with many weeks required to complete. Many of the detailed patterns on the gown often include symbolic motifs, which represent harmony and unite the bride and groom, like the dragon and phoenix. The embroidering usually involves the use of threads made from gold or silver, and the intensity of the gold used in the design may raise the price of the gown. A gown with a heavier use of metallic threads may range in the price of $3,000 to $5,000, while one that is more subtle in its embroidery will be ranging from $1,500 to $2,500.

Perhaps the most important factor in selecting a Xiu He Fu for a wedding is in its sizing and fitting. Unlike the wedding gowns of the West, which come in standard sizes, this Xiu He Fu is fitted on the bride. Adjustments would be made for bust, waist, and hip measurements and the length of sleeves and skirt. Indeed, the average Xiu He Fu has an estimated bust measurement of about 34 inches, while the waist and hip measurements are about 26 and 36 inches respectively. However, since the wedding dresses are custom-made based on measurements, there will be a markup to be anticipated by brides with various body types for such specialized service. Depending on the designer and how much work needs to be done, the custom tailoring can add a different $500 to $1,500 to the total price of the gown.

The accessories accompanying the Xiu He Fu also make a great difference in both the looks and the general cost of the bridal outfit. To complement the gown, brides commonly wear a phoenix coronet, a traditional headpiece embellished with gold and precious stones to represent the bride as the queen of the house. The price of a phoenix coronet is all over the map, from simple ones starting at around $300 to intricate headpieces made of true gold, pearls, and diamonds at upwards of $3,000. Along with the headpiece, over the gown, a silk veil or a mantle can also be worn by a bride, adding even more detail to the overall traditional look. All these other accessories can add an extra cost from $500 up to $1,500 to the whole bridal outfit.

Long-Sleeve Satin Gown

The long-sleeve satin gown is a modern interpretation of traditional wedding attire, offering both elegance and practicality for brides who seek to combine sophistication with comfort. Satin is one of the most usable fabrics because it features a really luxurious sheen and smooth texture that a bride would want, especially if the aim is to appear more formal or conservative. The price will vary greatly depending on the design, quality of satin, and other embellishments. Basic satin gowns, those with very minimal embellishment, usually begin at about $500 to $1,000. Those gowns that have great detail, such as beading, lace appliqué, or custom tailoring, range from $1,500 to $4,000. For example, some extremely high-end satin gowns may cost more than $3,500 due to the quality of lace sewn by hand or delicate crystal beading.

A very important consideration with regard to a long-sleeve satin gown is in its fit. Unlike the usual strapless gowns, many long-sleeved gowns will require meticulous measurement and fitting so that they will not cause limitation in movement, especially in the shoulder and wrist area. Standard sizes for gowns begin at 2 and end at 14, but custom-fit gowns allow for exact measurements to be taken against which a perfect fit can be made. An example would be a gown with a 34″ bust measurement, a waist measurement of 26″, and hips of 36″ would correspond to a size 6 in most bridal collections. Add an additional $500 to $1,000 for custom gowns, which are cut to exact measurements. Brides wishing for a glove-like fit can expect to invest from $2,000 up to $4,000 for a bespoke satin gown, depending on the intricacy of the design and the various options for customization.

In addition to the outright price of a gown, there’s fabric selection, which makes all the difference in determining the final price of a gown. Satin is a diverse fabric whose prices vary based on quality and finish. High-quality satin, such as duchess satin, is relatively more expensive than ordinary satin since it is heavier and of a really luxurious finish. The cost of duchess satin alone might range from $200 to $1,000 depending on the amount of fabric one may use. A full-length long-sleeve gown made from duchess satin may cost as much as $2,000 or higher, while a gown in common satin can be had for an estimated $1,200 or less. The disparity in quality will not only raise the price for the gown but also influence the structure since duchess satin will result in a voluminous and dramatic gown in contrast to the fluid, soft look of common satin.

Accessories also factor into the total dollar amount a long-sleeve satin gown will cost. A bridal attire would most likely be made up of a veil, gloves, and a sash or belt. The price of a veil can be as low as $100 for a plain tulle creation to $800 or more if it is a satin or lace creation with heavy beadwork. A satin belt or sash can be added, providing an enhancing silhouette to the gown. These can cost from $50 to $300 more, pending the materials and design. For instance, a pearl– and crystal-bedecked satin belt will enhance the price of the gown by an additional $200 to $500. For those adding gloves, this can be another $50 for very simple satin gloves to upwards of $200 for those with lace or beading detail. Overall, these accessories can add an additional 20% to 30% on top of the overall cost of the bridal outfit, contingent on a bride’s choices.

Lace-Overlay Wedding Dress

Lace-overlay wedding dresses are popular among brides who wish to appear both romantic and timeless on this very special day. The lace overlay is mostly known for its delicate and detailed work, adding a further layer of elegance and texture to the gown, often raising the overall appeal of the dress. In general, a lace-overlay wedding dress can be quite varied in price, depending on a number of factors such as fabric, designer, and craftsmanship. Prices start from an average of $1,200 to $2,500 for a very simple lace-overlay gown with minimal embellishments. High-end versions in luxurious lace-like Chantilly or Alençon lace, which is renowned for its fine detail and quality, may start from $3,500 up to $8,000 and upwards. For instance, a gown of silk satin with a laborious Chantilly lace overlay may start at $4,000 to $6,500, depending on who the designer is and how detailed the lace pattern is.

This quality of lace overlays applied on a wedding dress decides much about the price one has to pay for the wedding gown. Chantilly lace, with its fine thread work with floral patterns, is highly expensive; Alençon lace, with a heavier design with distinctive raised patterns, is another expensive variety. For example, a gown whose overlay is Alençon lace may start at about $3,500 for a simple design but increase to $5,000 or more if there are extra layers of lace or embroidery involved. Other laces include Venetian or corded laces. Each of these will have its own particular texture and price considerations. For example, one lace-overlay corded might cost anywhere from $2,500 to $4,500, depending on the intricacy of the lace and if the lace is sewn on by hand or by machine.

Sizing and customization also play a very important role in the final price of a lace-overlay gown. Custom wedding gowns, especially those with lace overlays, often require multiple fittings to achieve the perfect fit. Custom tailoring itself can add anything from $500 to $2,000 to the base price of the dress, depending on the level of detail and alterations made. In this case, for example, a bride with particular measurements or an unusual request for the design may make a custom lace-overlay gown, which can be more expensive than store-bought versions. A lace-overlay dress that is in a standard size between 2 and 14 is cheaper. Custom dresses, that take more time and materials to create, are sure to be over $3,000 and upwards to $6,000 to $8,000 for some high-end custom designs.

Other accessories and additional details complete the final cost of a lace-overlay wedding gown. Most brides still add some other accessories to the gown, such as veils, belts, or boleros. A simple lace veil, for example, may start from $150, going up to $500, based on the length and complexity of the lace. Other accessories include a lace or crystal belly belt, adding that sparkle in the dress, which costs in a range of $200 to $1,000. Also, added lace details to the dress, like lace sleeves or lace overlay on the train of the gown, add more value to the overall price by $300 to $1,000. While these makings enhance the beauty of the dress, they add up to the final cost; hence, the lace-overlay gown will be highly priced but definitely worth it for the bride-to-be.

Two-Piece Set

Embroidered Wedding Gown

An embroidered wedding gown counts among the most lush and detailed options for brides wanting a dress representative of personal style and the artistry of traditional craftsmanship. Wedding dress embroidery can range from simple floral patterns to very intricate, entirely stitched designs covering the whole gown. Prices differ greatly according to the intricacy of the design involved, the type of fabric chosen, and whether the embroidery has been done by hand or machine. For a basic, embroidered gown with minimal designs—such as small floral motifs on the skirt or bodice—prices begin at approximately $2,000 to $4,000. On the other hand, when you have heavy embroidery, where great detail, lace, and even beadwork are embedded in that embroidery, it could be upwards of $5,000 to $15,000 or more. For example, a silk gown with a hand-embroidered floral motif in metallic threads would be anywhere between $6,000 and $8,000, based on how intricate it is.

The type of embroidery used will go a long way in determining how much the gown will cost altogether. This is because hand embroidery involves skilled artisans stitching each and every design individually, hence the higher cost arising from the time and labor put into stitching. Hence, works of labor on hand-embroidered wedding gowns can be so time-consuming that they generally take several weeks to accomplish and may run up a tab anywhere in the range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the scale and complexity of the design. An extra handwork simple floral design may add US$1,500-US$3,000 to the base cost of the gown, while more intricate patterns including additional elements that could be incorporated, such as pearls, crystals, and beads, can increase the price upward by US$5,000 or more. For example, a heavily embroidered gown featuring flowers and pearls completely stitched by hand may be in the range of $8,000 to $12,000, whereas a simpler design using machine embroidery may be closer to the range of $3,000 to $5,000 in price.

Another important determinant factor is the type of fabric selected for the embroidered wedding dress. Because of their richness in appearance and texture, these are usually made with traditional fabrics such as silk satin, taffeta, and organza. In particular, silk has been in demand due to its soft and shiny appearance, wherein it tends to be one of the costlier materials for wedding dresses. A silk gown with basic machine embroidery can cost around $3,500 to $6,000, while a silk gown with heavy, complicated hand-embroidery can easily exceed $10,000. Taffeta is another fabric used in embroidered gowns; this provides a stiffer framework and is usually less expensive, beginning at approximately $2,500 to $5,000. This is because it is one of the lighter and more see-through fabrics, most often combined with a quiet, rather unobtrusive embroidery on the gown, which is usually between $2,000-$4,000 for the less complicated ones. Besides the base gown, the custom tailoring and embellishments bring up the price as well. It is customary for brides who want their gowns to fit perfectly, and this addition costs anywhere from $500 to $2,000 to the overall cost, depending on the degree of alterations involved. For example, some brides may want to make certain specifications to the neck line, waist line, or the general outline of the gown, and they would therefore have to incur an extra amount of money by about $1,000 to $1,500 for customization. Other embellishments could include additional layers of embroidered lace or beading to the train, sleeves, or bodice, adding several more thousands of dollars onto the overall cost. Other features to enhance a heavily embellished embroidered gown may include, but are not limited to, a detachable cape, heavy appliqué work, or even a dramatic cathedral-length train—all adding anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 more to the overall price.

Red & Gold Wedding Dress

The wedding dress in red and gold is a bold choice, both culturally deep and different from traditional white weddings. This combination speaks very loudly of prosperity, wealth, and happiness in very popular Asian cultures. The cost of such a red-and-gold wedding dress would be highly variable depending on the quality of the fabric, the design of the dress, and the level of embellishment. A plain red gown with gold accents or embroidery would start at around $1,500 to $3,000, while the more elaborate ones with heavy gold thread embroidery, beadwork, and expensive fabrics would cost between $4,000 and $10,000 or more. While a red satin with a minimum of gold embroidery can be around $2,500 dollars, for instance, a more lavish style in silk with heavy gold thread work and crystals may be over $7,000 dollars.

The most influencing factor on pricing for a red and gold wedding gown would definitely be the type of fabric utilized. These gowns are usually made with great-quality fabrics like silk satin, brocade, and organza, as they are richly textured and really look luxurious. As an example, silk satin can be used for red or gold gowns because it’s really brilliant in its smooth finish and catches the light. A simple red satin dress with gold decoration may cost about $2,500. Lush silk brocade—a fabric whose texture is richly juxtaposed against an ornate pattern—can easily cost between $5,000 and $8,000 for a gown. Brocade fabric is usually made in a lot of different woven patterns, and when interwoven with threads of gold or embroidered with metallic threads, it really gives a luxurious look, though it is rather expensive because of the complexity in the weave.

Another important influential element of the red and gold wedding dress price is custom tailoring. Most brides have their gowns tailored because they want the perfect fit, and such a color combination deserves a uniquely designed gown. Custom gowns are usually more expensive because of the labor and material involved in tailoring. A custom-made red and gold dress may start from $3,500 to $12,000 and even higher, depending on the intricacy of the design. A custom-made red and gold gown with a dramatic A-line silhouette and hand-stitched gold embroidery on the bodice can range from $4,500 to $6,000. Tailoring to create your perfect fit, adding extras, or changing the style of the dress will also add an additional $1,000 to $2,000.

Yet another significant factor in the overall price will be how much ornamentation the red and gold wedding dress has. As for the details on the gown, one can often see gold embroidery representing flowery patterns or dragons and phoenixes, which may be imbued with rich symbolic meaning across various cultures. The intricate nature of the embroidery speaks a lot about its price: the hand-embroidered ones are more expensive than those that are machine-embroidered. For example, a dress with gold floral patterns, hand-embroidered, can be about $5,000. Simpler gowns, machine-embroidered, may be between $2,500 and $4,000. Adding extra embellishments to these gowns, incorporating beads in gold, crystals, or pearls, dramatically raises the price. A gown which is encrusted with crystals on gold embroidery may start upwards of $8,000 to $10,000 or more depending on the designer and how much of the decoration.