Double Happiness: The Season's Luckiest Wedding Gowns—In China's Most Heavenly Setting
In a traditional Chinese wedding, everything is according to custom. The date? Picked in consultation with an astrologer. The location? Chosen for harmonious feng shui. The decor and attire? Rich in auspicious symbolism. But in a modern Chinese wedding, all or none of the above may be true.
“After the Communist Revolution, so many of the ancient traditions that used to exist in China were erased, although they’re still practiced in other Chinese communities around the world,” says author Kevin Kwan, whose Crazy Rich Asians trilogy has more memorable weddings in it than Elizabeth Taylor’s biography. “In mainland China, they’re creating their own traditions—even the proposal is becoming more lavish, more elaborate, with thousands of flowers, fireworks; everyone is vying for their proposal to go viral.”
The idea of innovating ancient traditions in order to create something spectacular is also one of the driving forces behind Haute Couture—and like a character out of Crazy Rich Asians, many wealthy Chinese brides-to-be head straight to the Paris couture houses to shop for their gowns. What better place then, to showcase the most show-stopping dresses of the season, than in mainland China?
Armed with wedding-worthy gowns that riff on tradition, BAZAAR Bride headed to Hangzhou, the city whose beauty is celebrated in an old Chinese proverb that states, “In heaven, there is paradise; on earth, Suzhou and Hangzhou.” The idyllic images below were shot onsite at the Amanfayun, a spa resort of temples and tea plantations on the banks of West Lake, a World Heritage Site renowned for its serene beauty. It’s a heaven-sent backdrop for dresses that draw from the past while looking to the future—much like a wedding itself.
In Chinese tradition, the male counterpart to the bridal phoenix symbol is the dragon, the ultimate in yang energy. Together, the mythological animals make the ideal couple, which is why the traditional Chinese groom’s attire was a dark robe embroidered with a dragon, while the bride wore a headband called a fengguan, or “phoenix crown.” Surrounded by a dragon parade, this bride needs no crown to feel like a queen, or a character rising from the ashes of mythology. Her Schiaparelli Couture hologram gown, hand-beaded with silver paillettes and gold stars, makes her not just a phoenix, but a goddess, too.
Pictured above: Schiaparelli Haute Couture dress, schiaparelli.com; H.Stern earrings, hstern.net.
Diamonds are forever, it’s true. (And this De Beers’ necklace is definitely a keeper.) But so are Chinese knots, intricately woven from a single length of lucky red cord, to symbolize luck in marriage, harmony, prosperity, and abundance. They’re often given as wedding gifts, as the Mandarin word for knot also means “to unite.” In fact, some Chinese couples choose to be tied to each other with a piece of red silk during their ceremony, to recall the invisible cord believed to have connected them since birth—until fate brought them together.
Galia Lahav coat, $2,250, galialahav.com; De Beers "Swan Lake" necklace, debeers.com; Stephen Russell ring, stephenrussell.com; Tiffany & Co. earrings, tiffany.com.
Flirting between pink—the color of happiness—and red, the most auspicious hue, this Reem Acra gown is a lucky choice. Not just because it looks amazing with rubies, which are associated with luck, fame, and royalty in Chinese astrology. But because, in between blossoms, it’s appliquéd with a butterfly, a symbol of longevity. The Mandarin word for butterfly resembles one meaning “70 years,” and the specimen has been considered a sign of romance ever since the ancient sage, Zhuangzhi, chased a butterfly into a garden, where he encountered his true love in an early meet-cute.
Reem Acra Pre-Fall 2019 gown, reemacra.com; Stephen Russell earrings, stephenrussell.com.
Red’s not the only lucky color for Chinese brides. Gold, a symbol of abundance, is everywhere, from jewelry given the bride at the engagement ceremony to the red and gold banners bearing the Double Happiness symbol, which guests may sign instead of a guest book. Why stop there when you can wrap yourself in a voluminous gold gown like this one from Brock Collection?
Towards the end of the tea ceremony, a Chinese bride is often given 24 karat gold jewelry by the groom’s family, to show how much they value her. That may be dragon and phoenix bangles, a bracelet, necklace, earrings, and ring set known as “the four pieces of gold,” or a gilded box containing nine gold miniatures which together make up “the nine treasures.”
Beauty Note: These earrings are enough to cast a golden glow—especially when paired with subtle, but shimmering, golden-green eye shadow. Get the Look: Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée in 'Heat Wave' esteelauder.com.
Pictured above: Brock Collection dress, $7,740, net-a-porter.com; Bjorg Jewellery earrings, $253, bjorgjewellery.com.
“I have been to some truly spectacular weddings that really inspired what I write about in my books,” says Kwan. And this Giambattista Valli Haute Couture number, in pale pink, would fit right in. (Just ask Hong-Kong-based Instagram fashion legend Feiping Chang, who wore not one, but two voluminous Valli gowns to her wedding on Capri.) The cascading layers of tulle are shorter in front, just in case you need to saunter down an aisle covered in running water. A modern take on the veil (it’s a fascinator without the hat) adds a soft focus effect, no photoshop necessary.
Beauty Note: One practical reason pink is lucky? It’s flattering on every skin tone. Just look at the rosy created here with pale pink cheeks, eyes, and lips. Get the Look: Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in 'Power Grab' esteelauder.com.
Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown, giambattistavalli.com; Tia Mazza veil, tiamazza.com; Stephen Russell earrings, stephenrussell.com.
With a simple, one-shoulder shape, and clean lines trimmed in teardrop-shaped pearls, Ralph & Russo’s sleek stunner is as minimalist as it is glamorous. And since pearls represent enlightenment—they’re the mystical ball the dragon chases during traditional dragon dances—it’s a wise choice, too. Pair the look with a killer pair of heels, like these framed by the slit hem. They’re so eye-catching, they attracted a lucky butterfly to land on this bride’s toe.
Ralph & Russo dress, ralphandrusso.com; Chanel earrings, $1,700, chanel.com; René Caovilla heels, $1,580, renecaovilla.com.
Vietnamese designer Phuong My describes her work as “modern reinterpretations of traditional Asian design for women seeking the extraordinary.” For a Chinese bride, nothing could be more traditional than red bridal attire. The color not only repels the evil eye, it invites luck and wealth, and is associated with life-giving energy. What’s extraordinarily modern is the romantic, unstructured shape, and the weightless tulle fabric, which has this bride floating across the bridge that connects one side of the Amanfayun resort to the other—or from her single days into married life.
Beauty Note: An unexpected way to wear the traditional, auspicious bridal color: on your lashes, so you’re brushing away bad luck and inviting good with every blink.
Phuong My dress, phuongmy.com; Oscar de la Renta earrings, $350, oscardelarenta.com.
The classic gift for a Chinese wedding? A red and gold envelope filled with cash in lucky denominations featuring many nines or eights. When it comes to wealth, luck, and love, more is more—just ask this rolling-in-red-envelopes bride, whose crimson Cucculelli Shaheen dress is hand-beaded to custom specifications. Options for auspicious personalization include a star map of the night sky under which you’ll be getting married, an initial, or auspicious emblem—may we suggest the Double Happiness symbol? Not only is it a wedding classic, it’s also said to have been designed by two young lovers.
Pictured above: Cucculelli Shaheen dress, cu-sh.com; Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, vancleefarpels.com. Below: Phuong My dress, phuongmy.com; Oscar de la Renta earrings, $350, oscardelarenta.com.
While it hasn’t traditionally been an auspicious color for Chinese weddings, blue is associated with wood in feng shui; it represents strength, as well as the season of Spring. And what better hue to be married in than one linked to that season of new beginnings? This Richard Quinn strapless midi mixes the color of healing and harmony with green, which is thought to bring wealth, hope, and growth—all good things to have at your wedding and in your marriage.
Richard Quinn dress, richardquinn.london; Chopard earrings, chopard.com; Midnight 00 heels, matchesfashion.com; Tia Mazza veil, tiamazza.com.
Good feng shui can turn any venue into a lucky setting. Running water, for example, is calming—so it’s smart to seat complicated personalities next to a fountain at your wedding. Even more soothing? A natural body of water like Hangzhou’s famed West Lake. On its shore, the bride wears Vera Wang’s “Hyacinth” gown. A structural design with folded details gives the dress an architectural shape worthy of the two pagodas in the background, and the serenity of this setting.
Vera Wang Bride "Hyancinth" gown, verawang.com. Vera Wang Bride detachable silk flower pins, verawang.com.
Romance, drama, and luck come together in Monique Lhuillier’s “Bloom” gown, all voluminous skirt and sleeves covered in a print of lilies of the valley. A traditional wedding flower in Europe (where lily of the valley was carried by both Kate Middleton and Megan Markle), it would be considered auspicious in China too, because the Mandarin word for “lily” sounds like the phrase for “100 years of a happy union.”
Beauty Note: Finish the look with a red lip for an ample dose of auspiciousness. Get the Look: Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Paint-On Liquid LipColor in 'Poppy Sauvage Matte' ulta.com.
Monique Lhuillier "Bloom" gown, moniquelhuillier.com; Bvlgari earrings, bulgari.com; Stephen Russell engagement ring, stephenrussell.com; De Beers "Adonis Rose" cluster ring, $16,500, debeers.com.
While the average Chinese bride changes clothes four times during her wedding—from a traditional red qipao to a white Western-style gown, a ball gown, and a going-away outfit—some have been known to wear as many as 30 ensembles. No matter the amount of quick-changes, Alexandre Vauthier’s high-low, Haute Couture number is hands-down the most fun, with its fluffy layers and crystal-and-feather-embellished neckline. Cap it off with extras in color, like this bold pair of emerald mules with an added dose of sparkle.
Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture dress, alexandrevauthier.com; Manolo Blahnik mules, $955, farfetch.com; Bvlgari earrings, bulgari.com; De Beers "Adonis Rose" cluster ring, $16,500, debeers.com.
As she crosses the threshold into this new stage of her life—or at least passes through the gate of one of seven temples on the grounds of the Amanfayun—the bride is the image of feminine beauty. That’s partly because of the phoenix embroidered on the back of her navy Adrian Gan gown, the ultimate symbol of yang energy, which appears on customary Chinese bridal attire.
But while the imagery is traditional, the shape couldn’t be more modern—it’s a jacket that buttons to the waist, then opens over a tulle skirt. The combination of classic and cutting edge is what makes Jakarta-based Gan one of the most sought-after designers for wedding wear in mainland China.
Adrian Gan gown, instagram.com/adrianganworld; Stephen Russell earrings, stephenrussell.com; Alexis Bittar ring, $235, alexisbittar.com.
A tiny gold “union mirror” is one of the auspicious items found in the 9 Lucky Treasures box often given to a Chinese bride, as it is believed to represent a happy marriage and the bride’s ongoing beauty. Imagine the good fortune you’d invite, then, by covering yourself in a mirror head to toe—specifically, Carolina Herrera’s reflective gown with a lush flower growing on the bodice. The silver hue is a modern alternative to gold that also represents wealth and purity.
Carolina Herrera gown, carolinaherrera.com; Kenneth Jay Lane earrings, $150, orchardmile.com.
At a wedding, dragon and phoenix imagery is the classic way to embody the yin-yang of female and male energy. Wearing Viktor & Rolf’s tuxedo-front jumpsuit fit for a bride is another, more unexpected option. An arresting hairstyle isn’t just an opportunity to make a style statement, but also a way to layer more luck into pre-wedding prep.
Historically, a Chinese bride’s beauty routine included the shang tou ritual, in which a happily married lucky woman would arrange her hair while repeating blessings. Today, a friend or relative may say a few words while the hairdresser works magic.
Viktor & Rolf Mariage jumpsuit, viktor-rolf.com; Chopard earrings, chopard.com; Stephen Russell engagement ring, stephenrussell.com.
Lucky fruit is among the gifts exchanged during an engagement ceremony, the offerings strewn on the marital bed prior during the au chuang bed-making ritual, and the items involved during the tea ceremony. Dried fruit symbolizes sweet beginnings, and lotus seeds and pomegranates invite fertility. Other fruit is lucky because of its name—the word for pomelo sounds like the one for prosperity. Pineapple resembles the phrase “good fortune is coming,” and “orange,” when written, contains the character for “lucky.”
To double down on good fortune, the fruit should be present in lucky numbers—six (the word sounds like the one for “flow,” which means luck will rush over you), eight (it sounds like prosperity) or nine (long-lasting). Yes, the three-puffed sleeves on this Carolina Herrera gown, which add up to six segments, struck us as lucky, but so did the fact that it’s absolutely stunning.
Carolina Herrera bridal gown, carolinaherrera.com; Mindi Mond earrings, mindimondny.com.
How could married life be anything else, what with the abundance of auspicious symbols both above and below the water. Wearing a Valentino gown embellished in peony pink, poppy red, and saffron—the holy hue worn by Buddhist monks, and the emperor’s color in Imperial China—the lucky bride looks for mandarin ducks and koi, both of which symbolize happy unions. Ducks mate for life, after all, and koi, with their black and white coloring, are swimming symbols of yin and yang.
Valentino Fall 2019 gown, valentino.com; Oscar de la Renta earrings, $350, oscardelarenta.com; Ella Zubrowska earrings worn as hair clips, ellazubrowska.com.
Traditional Chinese bridal attire is embroidered with peonies, a symbol of marital love. This bride takes the idea a step further, carrying an armful of the fortunate flowers and all but turning into the bridal blossom in her lush, peony-colored Jason Wu gown. A flash of pink in a sea of green, she’s standing amid one of the Amanfayun’s tea fields. Tea was considered so valuable, it became an integral part of a Chinese bride’s dowry, and the tea trees themselves represent fidelity—because a mature plant can never be transplanted elsewhere.
Jason Wu Collection gown, jasonwustudio.com.
It wouldn’t be a traditional Chinese wedding without a tea ceremony, an elaborate ritual in which the betrothed couple pours tea for their elders. “It’s a way to pay respect to the families, but it also helps to introduce the relatives to one another,” says Kwan, who notes that tea ceremony is an integral part of weddings all over Asia. “The customs differ from place to place, but they’re all about the same underlying themes—prosperity, abundance, unity, harmony in families.”
Even if the symbolism of the tea ceremony is the star of this specific part of the show, this Zimmermann look is definitely stealing part of the spotlight. With a Victorian-style neckline, and a patchwork of lace, it’s modest enough to serve tea to the in-laws, and memorable enough to prove that their newest family member has a strong sense of style.
Zimmermann "Sabotage" lace dress, $4,500, zimmermannwear.com; Malone Souliers heels, malonesouliers.com; Chopard earrings, chopard.com; Ben Amun brooches worn as hairpins, ben-amun.com.
She can bring home the tea, serve it up in a ceremony. But beneath her elegant exterior, our bride is as untamed as the nature that surrounds her—or the waves of gorgeous ruffles rippling down her Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown. Its high-low silhouette makes it easy to run free—into the forest or down the aisle. Either way, she’s racing toward her future, not away from it. After all, she’s surrounded by green plants, which bring harmony according to feng shui.
Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown, giambattistavalli.com.
Photography by KT Merry; Creative Director & Stylist Carrie Goldberg; Written by Eleni N. Gage, author of Lucky in Love: Traditions, Customs, & Rituals to Personalize Your Wedding; Production by The Wedding Atelier; Cinematography & Video Direction by Brian Choy; Hair by Adrian Clark using Moroccan Oil; Makeup by Victor Henao for Estée Lauder; Contributing Fashion Editor Tennille Yamashita; Starring Junli Zhao for Elite Model Management; Casting by Muzam Productions; Photo Assistant Chad Keffer; Digital Tech Benjamin Rosser; Market Editors Kathy Lee, Andrea Zendejas, and Danielle Flum; Floral Design by The Floral Atelier; Shot at AMANFAYUN; Special Thanks to AMAN and Cathay Pacific.
You Might Also Like
