The white wedding dress is probably one of the first things a bride focuses on during the onset of planning for her wedding. It’s also included many girls’ dreams, thanks to fairy-tale weddings that have them feeling like princesses for a day. In the same vein, traditional wedding costumes like the cheongsam (or qipao) are sadly overlooked, which is a waste.
In my opinion, weddings are a great way to highlight and celebrate your culture and heritage, whether your parents are deeply traditional or not. And one of the ways to do so, is to include your traditional costumes – during the day ceremony, or during the second or third march-ins at your reception, like Angelababy did.
Local designers like Lai Chan, Dang Bridal, Emmanuel B and Blush Blush Bridal Couture offer classic cheongsams, while Wedding Present features more avant garde, modern designs. You can also look to bridal salons such as Digio Bridal and Rico-A-Mona Bridal for updated versions.
Here, some of the beautiful options to consider.
Real bride Grace Gn wore a sleek white cheongsam with illusion neckline from Dang Bridal, (6223-8829). Click here for more details of her wedding.
Real bride Simone Wu wore a champagne-coloured cheongsam with pleated short skirt from Elasdress, contact@elasdress.com. Simone’s wedding was first featured in Her World Brides June – August 2013.
Lace and chiffon with sheer bodice, from Dang Bridal. This gown was first featured in Female Brides Issue 6.
Real bride Vanessa Ho wore a red cheongsam at her destination wedding in Danang, Vietnam, from Max Couture, (6841-1146). Click here for more details of her wedding.
Real bride Shujun Lu wore a modern cheongsam with illusion neckline, Mandarin collar, flowy skirt and embroidery from Time Taken to Make a Dress (6648-0316). Click here for more details of her wedding.
Real bride Elsa Sim wore a red and blue cheongsam flecked with gold accents by Silhouette The Atelier (6733-7197). Click here for more details of her wedding.
Real bride Xing Ling Chua, wore an adorable pale peach cheongsam with rose buttons by Ong Shunmugam, info@ongshunmugam.com. Click here for more details of her wedding.
Beaded fit and flare dress, from The Wedding Present, (6327-4423). This dress was first featured in Female Brides Issue 7.
Real bride Belinda Teo wore an iridescent green cheongsam with cape to her Great Gatsby-meets-1920s Shanghai wedding, by Lai Chan, (6338-4806). Click here for more details of her wedding.
Real bride Karen Seah wore a silver and peach cheongsam from Shanghai Silk House, (6736-2579). Her wedding was first featured in Her World Brides December 2012 – February 2013.
Real bride Wu Yifei wore her mother’s peach-coloured cheongsam, which was tailor-made for her banquet 34 years ago, to her back-to-school wedding at Chung Cheng High (Main). Click here for more details of her wedding.
Real bride Serene Toh wore a made-to-measure red cheongsam with blue embroidered details, from Valens Couture, (6257-1008). Click here for more details of her wedding.
Silk halter cheongsam with lace and floral appliques, Emmanuel B. Couture. This dress was first featured in Female Brides Issue 7.