Exploring Affordable Wedding Dresses on Taobao
Having experienced the often exorbitant costs associated with wedding planning, I was intrigued by the incredibly cheap wedding dresses available on Taobao, China's online retail giant. I decided to order several dresses to see if these budget-friendly options, some priced as low as $13 USD, could actually be worthwhile. This is the story of my experience.
The Wedding Venue Dilemma and Dress Costs
I'm engaged to be married to Deoki, who proposed in the Philippines. Planning the wedding has been eye-opening, especially regarding venue costs. Initial quotes were shocking; renting a venue for a few hours could cost as much as a down payment on a house. The cost of wedding dresses in Australia was equally daunting.
Even "cheap" dresses, often secondhand or sample sizes, could cost around $2,000 AUD. Knowing that some people spend over $10,000 on a dress worn only once, I decided to explore options available in China, where I currently live.
Discovering the Suzhou Wedding Dress Market
My search began with a trip to Suzhou, home to a massive, four-level wedding dress department store spanning kilometers. This place allegedly holds 80% of the world's wedding dresses. While I tried on many dresses, priced around 700 to 1,000 RMB ($100-$140 USD), I didn't find "the one," but the prices were definitely more appealing.
Taobao: A Wedding Dress Goldmine?
After returning from Suzhou, I turned to Taobao. It occurred to me that it should have been my first stop. Taobao offers virtually everything available for purchase in China, including every single dress from the Suzhou market but at my fingertips. The prices were unbelievable, with some dresses listed for as little as 100 RMB ($13 USD). The pictures looked surprisingly good, prompting the question: How good could a dress this cheap actually be?
The Taobao Wedding Dress Haul
I purchased six wedding dresses from Taobao for a total of 1,500 RMB, or just over $200 USD. While I'm not sure I'll keep all (or any!) of them, Taobao's seven-day return policy gives me options. I chose a variety of styles to keep things interesting.
Dress #1: The Extravagant Cinderella Gown
The first dress, also the most expensive at 348 RMB ($48 USD), was quite extravagant. It took a while to get into, but the result was impressive. The fact that you can get a dress like that for that price is still incredible. It felt like a Cinderella dress. While it's not my dream dress, the beading is nice, and the twirling effect is fun. The back has a corset situation that snatches the waist. Comparing it to the advertised photo, it's not far off. Overall, it's a great value for the price.
Dress #2: Simple and Structural
Dress number two had a very different vibe – more simple and structural. I loved the bustier corset and the asymmetrical design. I actually liked it better on me than it appeared in the photos. The floral details made me think of a bachelorette party dress, maybe shortened.
Dress #3: The Forest Wedding Dress
This dress came with gloves, a veil, and earrings. The price of veils in Australia are sold for over $300 for a piece of fabric. It included arm "thingamabobs," but I preferred the dress without them. While still a bit "frou-frou" for my taste, the dress was impressive. It would be perfect for a forest wedding.
Dress #4: The Heavy, Off-White Gown
This dress was my least favorite so far. The quality seemed cheaper, and it felt heavy. The off-white color didn't flatter my pale skin. While the gloves improved the overall look, it was still a dress best appreciated from a distance.
Dress #5: Simple Elegance
The fifth dress was simple, elegant, and effortless. I especially loved the neckline. However, I wasn't a fan of the shorter dress showing underneath. It would be a candidate for shortening into a bachelorette party dress.
Dress #6: The $13 Surprise
Finally, the cheapest dress at 100 RMB ($13 USD). It wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't embarrassing either. The dress was very white, which I liked. It had some structure. It fit better around the top and had a corset back. For $13, it was a worthwhile purchase.
Final Thoughts and Future Wedding Content
Overall, I was impressed with the Taobao wedding dress experience. It is important to note that this video was not sponsored by Taobao. Packing the dresses back into their bags was challenging!
I plan to save the "wedding dress reveal" for Deok until the actual wedding day. I will be creating more wedding-related content, including a wedding photo shoot in China and a video of the wedding itself, which is happening at the end of September. I can't wait to share more.
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