New generation of Hong Kong brides tears up rules for wedding dresses

Rather than follow tradition, more young women – such as actress Shu Qi recently – wed in dresses that better suit their personality and style, and Hong Kong has no shortage of options

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Gemma Hayden Blest wore an Inbal Dror dress for her big day in Los Angeles.

Published: 12:31pm, 25 Sep 2016Updated: 5:49pm, 27 Sep 2016

When Taiwanese actress Shu Qi married recently, news of her wedding dress made headlines, but not for the reasons you’d expect. Unlike fellow actress Angelababy, who got married in October 2015 in an elaborate, custom-made Dior gown that took five months to create, Shu Qi wore a simple white dress that came from high-street retailer H&M.

Part of the chain’s “Conscious Exclusive” collection from two years ago, the “sustainable” gown featured a T-shirt body and three layers of ruffled lace with tulle underneath and cost only HK$3,990.

Actor/director Stephen Fung and Shu Qi in her H&M dress.

Shu is one of many brides to have forgone the traditional over-the-top frothy wedding gown in favour of looks that are more stylish and understated. Admittedly, she isn’t the first. Bianca Jagger wore a white Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking jacket, bare chest exposed, when she married Mick Jagger in 1971.

Others, including Cindy Crawford, Jessica Biel and Kate Moss have followed over the years, proving that brides are willing to experiment with more unconventional looks for their big day.

“The traditional bridal gown is not everyone’s style. Many brides want their wedding dress to reflect their personality and style and the traditional gown may not achieve that. They want something different, which hasn’t been seen over and over again,” says Dana Trang, director of Hong Kong boutique Hitched! Bridal.