Weddingbee

When I was in Shanghai in the Spring, I made a point to stop by Chang Le Lu, which is notorious for custom qipao tailors. I wish I had taken pictures of the all the beautiful designs. I was surprised with all the modern variations, and many were so elegant– I could have started a complete qipao wardrobe.

I had visited a few qipao shops in New York’s Chinatown with my mom before I left for the trip, and she was adamant about having a dragon and phoenix design… because that’s just what you do for weddings! When you want to know why, just defer to Wikipedia!

The Fenghuang (phoenix) has very positive connotations. It is a symbol of high virtue and grace. The Fenghuang also symbolizes the union of yin and yang. It appears in peaceful and prosperous times but hides when trouble is near. In ancient China, they can often be found in the decorations for weddings or royalty, along with dragons. This is because the Chinese considered the dragon and phoenix symbolic of blissful relations between husband and wife, another common yin and yang metaphor.

The same day we were in Chinatown, Mr. C bought a red/maroon mandarin jacket. Though there were no dragons, he looked quite handsome in it. I thought he was supposed to get matching pants too, but apparently that’s a faux-pas because then he’d look like he’s wearing pajamas! He’s supposed to wear black slacks or his tuxedo pants. I also thought he was supposed to wear a blue jacket, but that was also a no-no, since it’s usually worn for mourning. Eeek… I have a lot to learn about my culture!

When I went shopping for qipaos in Shanghai, I was searching for dresses with both the dragon + phoenix, but learned that only the bride wears the phoenix and the groom dons the dragon. Very enlightening. 

So… I couldn’t decide and bought two dresses. One is a little flashier and the other more detailed. I guess that mirrors my personality. They’re both red with phoenix designs. I had wanted something a little more modern, but after visiting a few shops, I felt that I needed something more traditional. This is my wedding after all, right? I want some connection to the past, even though my parents didn’t have a wedding. I want to have a reference to my culture. Plus, it’s not like I’ll really have an occasion to wear a qipao again so why not make it more traditional.

They’re both impeccably made. The details are just amazing, especially the hand embroidery. Also, they were both under $200 each which can’t be beat! In New York, the average qipao without embroidery costs upwards of $300. My mother’s custom-made qipao will cost her around $400. The price depends on the fabric you choose and the details you want incorporated into the style.

Anyway, here goes:

Option #1
- More traditional
- I’ll probably wear it for the tea ceremony
- A little too big. I’ll probably have to get it taken in
- Beautiful hand embroidery. Lovely and delicate details. I love the colors on the sleeves and edges of the dress.

Option #2
- Less color, more flashy
- The gold is quite beautiful
- I’ll probably wear this one at the reception
- It’s simple and classy. No sleeves. Lighter fabric

What do you think? Do you prefer one over another? I love them both.

Are you incorporating any unique cultural traditions or costumes into your wedding?

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For brides shopping for qipaos in New York, here’s some info. Most of these places don’t have websites, so you have to show up at the shop for quotes.

• Shanghai Tailoring (Flushing Mall, 133-31 39th Avenue #F21, Flushing NY 11354, 718-886-2410). This is where my mom ordered her dress. We will take Mr. C’s mom here as well, but Mrs. Bellpepper used the same tailor and her dress was fantastic!

• Peony Red ( 217 Centre St, between Grand St & Howard St, New York, NY 10013, 212-655-5428). We had every intention of stopping by here, but didn’t get a chance. I think they have a lot of off the rack options.

If you don’t want to purchase a dress, another option is to rent from one of the traditional Chinese wedding studios. They often offer pretty good prices for a day rental.