Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

I found this on the web, the Knot.com has created a site about chinese weddings!! not sure if it has been posted before...

http://www.chineseweddingsbytheknot.com/


Lucamon, here are links to styles for cheongsam

http://www.orienttouch.com/index.php
http://www.huadesign.com/index.php
http://www.efushop.com/

I got a recommendation of Madam Design Inc, 38 Mott Street, Susan 212-349-0818, she quoted a simple cheongsam would be $400, which I think is a little expensive.

My friend had gone to one on Walker Street Between Broadway and Baxter, I can't remember the name of the store, but they were really expensive, and the dress come out really poorly, she couldn't lift her arms up in that dress!

I'm still shopping around for pricing and stores, will give an update when I come down to a choice.
hope this helps!

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

I got my Cheong Sam at Flushing Mall. My dressmaker did an awesome job. She took my measurements sent them to china and had the dress back very soon....

Actually, the factory sent the wrong dress, but Helen got them to make my real one and express ship it right away. She worked her tushy off to make sure that the dress came in. She also made a deal with me that if the dress didn't come in in time she would give me a different one for a very steep discount. (Keep in mind that I waited until the last mintue to order my dress, so it was my fault too for waiting too long)

Of my wedding day I got the most compliments on my Cheongsam (too bad for my white wedding dress). Best of all she charged all of about $200. Her name is Helen, but I can't remember the name of the shop.... her business card is at my parent's home.

It is the first shop you see when you go in the side entrance. If anyone wants to go there let me know and I will look up the exact information.

This isn't the best picture of it but here it is...

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

It is the first shop you see when you go in the side entrance. If anyone wants to go there let me know and I will look up the exact information.


Is it called True Love Wedding Consultants, on the second floor? That's who I'm using, but I thought they only do rentals. I want a new gown just like yours. I love the pheonix and the cut of the dress.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

True love only does rentals. I think there are two stores in the mall that make the cheong sam. I spoke briefly to the both of them, but neither of them had the material that I wanted for my dress.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

I love your dress! Congrats!!

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

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Posted by MayWeddingGrl

I found this on the web, the Knot.com has created a site about chinese weddings!! not sure if it has been posted before...

http://www.chineseweddingsbytheknot.com/


Lucamon, here are links to styles for cheongsam

http://www.orienttouch.com/index.php
http://www.huadesign.com/index.php
http://www.efushop.com/

I got a recommendation of Madam Design Inc, 38 Mott Street, Susan 212-349-0818, she quoted a simple cheongsam would be $400, which I think is a little expensive.

My friend had gone to one on Walker Street Between Broadway and Baxter, I can't remember the name of the store, but they were really expensive, and the dress come out really poorly, she couldn't lift her arms up in that dress!

I'm still shopping around for pricing and stores, will give an update when I come down to a choice.
hope this helps!

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Thank you, I checked out all three websites but I really want to see the dress before ordering.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

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Posted by lucamon

It is the first shop you see when you go in the side entrance. If anyone wants to go there let me know and I will look up the exact information.


Is it called True Love Wedding Consultants, on the second floor? That's who I'm using, but I thought they only do rentals. I want a new gown just like yours. I love the pheonix and the cut of the dress.

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It is not the store you are talking about.
I believe that the store I got my dress at is called 'eastern helen's' and it is on the first floor. It is not a wedding store at all. She does normal clothing and fancy dresses. its actually more like a booth. She has a number of cheongsams on display, and some 'regular' clothing and some jewellery. I think it was across the path from a bra place.

I looked through the wedding stuff I have in my place and couldn't find her phone number. I need to check for her business card at my parent's place.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

I just rented my dress:



For $120, I went through their entire collection. They took care of the alterations, I had it for 3 days.

But then again, I had a total of 5 dresses, and didn't feel the need to keep a 5th.: (2) White, (2) Thai (1)

• 

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

I had a hard time finding a place to rent a Chinese dress and didn't really see anything that I liked so.....
I ended up having my Chinese dress made. I got it done at a place on the 2nd fl of Flushing mall. I think it's a Shang Hai Tailor something, can't remember the exact name. The guy did a great job. I recommend them.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

bump

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

The more I plan, the more dilemmas I have. How is everyone dealing with this issue?
My mom wants to have chinese invitations printed to give to her friends. I'd like to do my own invites but I can't do them in Chinese. I can order them, but it won't be the same style of invite.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

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Posted by lucamon

The more I plan, the more dilemmas I have. How is everyone dealing with this issue?
My mom wants to have chinese invitations printed to give to her friends. I'd like to do my own invites but I can't do them in Chinese. I can order them, but it won't be the same style of invite.

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You can get free downloads for Chinese language capability from the Microsoft Office Web site. There are different downloads for traditional and simplified. You can then get different fonts, which are more attractive than the default MS Word fonts, free off the Web (do a Google search). Different language packs are available for different versions of MS Office.

That said, I tried to desgin my own bilingual invitations and it was very difficult. You have to use Pinyin or look up the number of strokes for each character to write it in Word, making it pretty slow to compose. Layout can be challenging, too. Also, if you're using traditional characters, I found some of those free fonts don't support characters with a high number of strokes.

You could also take a look at the TwinBridge software package, which has a free 30-day trial period (but with limited fonts). You can buy the package for access to more fonts or for a longer time period.

I threw in the towel and ended up going with H2 Cards after spending 50 hours on the Chinese part. Let me reiterate that I was trying to combine both languages in the same document, using differing layouts (horizontal for English and vertical for Chinese), with traditional characters, so I made it triply hard on myself. I had a great experience with H2.

I've also seen invitations where there was a separate Chinese insert, which takes care of a number of the previous challenges.

You can also get a Chinese calligrapher to write out the Chinese, then scan it in the document as an image. I have a list of contacts if you like, including the guy who is the official Chinese calligrapher of the Smithsonian. If you are using a 'mainstream' invitation company, this is probably what you'd have to do anyway without incurring an obscenely high foreign language typesetting charge.

FM me if you would like more information. Good luck!

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

I thought about using a chinese program but I can't do the pinyin. Using a caligrapher is a good idea. I'll FM you. Thanks.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

Hi ladies, I need help finding a makeup artist, had a trial last week, didn't like it, and she was one of the MUA many girls recommended, but for some reason I didn't like it, the make up and hair didn't 'WOW' me, didn't make me feel like a bride.

I don't want to spend so much on trials either, so not sure what to do. I need someone who can makes the eyes just pop!!

thanks

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

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Posted by lucamon

The more I plan, the more dilemmas I have. How is everyone dealing with this issue?
My mom wants to have chinese invitations printed to give to her friends. I'd like to do my own invites but I can't do them in Chinese. I can order them, but it won't be the same style of invite.

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I ordered my american invites (pocketfolds). I plan to have a printer print out the chinese portion and i will add it to those invites who need it as another insert.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

just wanted to bump this thread back up....

i decided to finally cave in and get a traditional chinese dress made in chinatown. it'll cost me $400, but i hope to wear it again to other events. i picked a blue fabric instead of red, so that i'll most likely be able to find someplace else to wear it to. and maybe after the wedding, i'll have it shortened to a cocktail dress to make it less formal.

just an fyi, i ordered a custom made dress online at oriental-cheongsam.com. it's very confusing when you're not sure what your exact measurements are. but anyway, it only took 3 weeks from the time of ordering to receive it in the mail. unfortunately, it was too big. so i had to ship it back with different measurements to see if they'll fix it. they said they would fix it for free, but i haven't gotten it back yet. maybe if it fits ok, i'll wear that after my reception and wear the one made in chinatown to the chinese banquet.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

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Posted by emcheung

just wanted to bump this thread back up....

i decided to finally cave in and get a traditional chinese dress made in chinatown. it'll cost me $400, but i hope to wear it again to other events. i picked a blue fabric instead of red, so that i'll most likely be able to find someplace else to wear it to. and maybe after the wedding, i'll have it shortened to a cocktail dress to make it less formal.

just an fyi, i ordered a custom made dress online at oriental-cheongsam.com. it's very confusing when you're not sure what your exact measurements are. but anyway, it only took 3 weeks from the time of ordering to receive it in the mail. unfortunately, it was too big. so i had to ship it back with different measurements to see if they'll fix it. they said they would fix it for free, but i haven't gotten it back yet. maybe if it fits ok, i'll wear that after my reception and wear the one made in chinatown to the chinese banquet.

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that's awesome!!! can't wait to see pics! I ended up not even wearing mine because I didn't have time to change. The parents were okay with me not changing at all, so they were fine with it...but oh well. hahaha

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

jen, did you even get your dress altered? i know you said it was a little big. i guess if i'm going to be spending all this money on it, i'll have to find time to change into it.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

Just want to say Happy Chinese New Year to all the brides! It's our last year to get red envelopes, and it's all going towards my wedding.

Re: ***~OFFICIAL Chinese Brides Thread!~*** updated w/ dancing lesson info

Happy Chinese New Year!!