Explore/Dress & Adornment/Qipao

Wedding & red

A red wedding qipao, and how it differs from the qun kwa and xiuhe.

Wedding & red
ColorRed, often gold thread
MotifsDragon, phoenix, double happiness
Worn forTea ceremony, banquet toasts
Lead timeStart months ahead

Three red dresses, three traditions

1

Qipao

One fitted piece in silk or brocade. Many brides wear a white gown first, then change into one for the toasts.

2

Qun kwa

The Cantonese two-piece jacket and skirt, covered in gold and silver thread. Denser embroidery is the more formal.

3

Xiuhe

A looser two-piece with Qing roots, named after a heroine in a TV drama. Now common across mainland China.

At a Chinese wedding, red is the color of joy.

Before you order

选Move in it. You may bow or kneel to serve tea, then walk table to table.
选Compare reds in daylight. Orange-red and wine photograph very differently.
选Feel the inside. Metallic embroidery needs a soft lining at the arms.
选Ask the lead time first, and leave room for alterations.

Wedding & red

Hand-picked pieces are on the way.

Good to know

What does a bride wear at a Chinese wedding?

Usually red: a qipao, a qun kwa or a xiuhe. Many brides also wear a white gown and change for the tea ceremony or the banquet.

Can a guest wear red to a Chinese wedding?

Best to avoid it. Red traditionally belongs to the bride. Some families also avoid black and white, which are tied to funerals. If unsure, ask the couple.

Can a non-Chinese bride wear a red qipao?

Yes, and many families are touched by it. Ask an elder on the Chinese side about colors and timing, since customs vary by region.

Keep exploring

GuideShopWedding tea ceremony婚礼奉茶GuideShopFull guideYour first qipao第一件旗袍ShopSilk & brocade真丝与织锦GuideShopRed string红绳