China's wedding dress sellers pin hopes on rise in marriages

Vendors at Suzhou's Huqiu Bridal City are hopeful after marriage rates rose 8.5% in the first nine months of 2025, amid a record low birth rate and a fourth straight annual population decline.

Vendors at Huqiu Bridal City in Suzhou are hopeful that recent increases in marriage registrations will support their businesses. Official data show marriage rates rose 8.5% in the first nine months of 2025, even as China's birth rate hit a record low and the total population fell for a fourth straight year. Sellers say a May 2025 policy allowing couples to marry anywhere in China and cultural timing, such as the Year of the Horse, helped the rebound. Many vendors nonetheless note economic concerns and changed attitudes among young people continue to influence wedding spending. Key facts: - Marriage rates rose 8.5% in the first nine months of 2025, according to Ministry of Civil Affairs data. - Huqiu Bridal City in Suzhou is home to more than 800 wedding shops selling dresses, shoes and related items. - A nationwide policy change in May 2025 allowed couples to marry outside their place of residence, and local authorities opened registration points at scenic spots, festivals, subway stations and malls. - Vendors report typical wedding budgets are commonly about half of pre-COVID levels and cite job and economic uncertainty as factors in spending. - China's birth rate reached a record low last year and the country's total population fell for the fourth consecutive year. Summary: Vendors say the rise in marriage registrations could help reverse a long decline in annual nuptials and provide some relief for bridal-market sales. Sellers point to favourable cultural timing and the May 2025 registration rule as supportive factors, while many also emphasise that broader economic conditions and any future government incentives will influence how the trend develops.