Woman spends two years to prepare her big day in historical style (2)

Dai Zhenzhen and her groom, Chu Haiting, tie the knot with a traditional Chinese wedding in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. The ceremony features rituals dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). [Photo provided to China Daily]

She studied design in college. After graduating in 2016, she had worked as a designer of children's toys before quitting the job two years later to become a photographer.

Dai put two years into designing the wedding. Her enthusiasm for Han Chinese clothing is part of a recent trend, especially among the country's youth.

Han clothing, or hanfu, refers to the clothing of Han Chinese during various dynasties in ancient China. The price of such clothing ranges from hundreds of yuan to hundreds of thousands. The most expensive items are tailor-made, like Dai's wedding dress and many other pieces worn at the ceremony.

Dai says she began buying Han clothing on the internet around 2015.

"I also started to learn about styling, which was very important in ancient China. For example, it was regarded as inappropriate for women to leave their hair loose," Dai says.

"I personally prefer Han clothing of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) because the styles are more connected with everyday living."