Those planning a spring wedding might consider checking out the ongoing wedding fair in Guangzhou. If nothing else, the event could provide inspiration for throwing a wedding full of personal touches and flair.
About 1800 stores offering over 20,000 types of wedding paraphernalia took the stage at the Guangzhou International Wedding Fair, providing consumers with not only favorable prices but also style and uniqueness.
Du Wei, director of the wedding fair's organizing committee, said, traditionally, Chinese weddings required over 6 months of preparation, but today more and more young people prefer a fast solution.
"All the services and products needed for my entire wedding process were available here," said Shi Qingsong, a young white-collar worker who will get married in May. "I could shop around for everything from wedding rings to honeymoon travel packages. Everything can be done here in a quick and easy way, and the prices are also reasonable enough."
A lucky young lady, Zhang Ling, bought wedding rings and later won a refrigerator as a lottery prize. "That's so great! It just fits our new apartment well," she said.
Usually, the bride is the focal point of a wedding. These days, however, grooms also want to look good for their big day, making male consumers new targets for the wedding business.
Hu Daping, the manager of a dress suit shop, said, traditionally, about 90 percent of the wedding budget was spent on brides. Now, though, many young grooms are using more of the budget to dress themselves. Many men choose wedding suit jackets that pair well with jeans for use after the ceremony.
In choosing wedding details and decorations, Chinese newlyweds look for items with personality and a one-of-a-kind feel.
"I want my wedding photos to be meaningful, not just 'pretty.' And the photos should give people warm feelings," said Wang Zhan who felt a little disappointed after shopping around at several wedding photography shops.
To satisfy young people's dreams of hosting creative weddings that express who they are, companies are also promoting customer-specific products in the wedding market.
After filling out a form, customers can even design their own wedding rings.
Xue Shengyong, manager of Ou Baoli Jewelry Company said consumption habits of Chinese youths have changed and customized businesses will gain popularity in Chinese wedding market.
