Chinese women have traditionally worn red dresses on their wedding day. In Chinese culture, red is strongly associated with happiness, celebration, prosperity, good fortune, and fertility, making it especially appropriate for wedding clothing and decorations.
Traditional bridal garments vary by region and community. Cantonese brides, for example, may wear an embroidered red silk dress called a kwa, often decorated with dragon-and-phoenix imagery symbolizing a harmonious union. Other brides may wear a red qipao, cheongsam, or another regional style, sometimes changing outfits several times during the celebrations.
Red also appears throughout the ceremony in veils, paper decorations, gift envelopes, candles, and the double-happiness character. The answer describes a tradition rather than a universal modern rule: many Chinese brides today also wear white Western-style gowns, especially for photographs or formal ceremonies. Even so, red remains the classic traditional bridal color and is often worn for the banquet or tea ceremony.