Bridal Bonanza: the world's largest bridal shop!

DW (English)

Bridal dresses in Europe often cost thousands of euros, and most women want to marry in white. A look at the trends.

Transcript

00:01More than 4,500 glittering gowns are on display at Koenings in the Netherlands.

00:07The store, with over 11,000 square meters of floor space, is the world's biggest bridal shop

00:12and a paradise for those planning a white wedding.

00:16It's the only time you stand out of the rest of your guests.

00:22Standing out should be reflected in my wedding dress.

00:25We have answers to the most common questions at the top bridal shop.

00:29What's the most popular dress and how much do customers spend?

00:35The Koenings family opened the shop in 1968.

00:39It was a fairly modest business.

00:42Ineke Koenings is the founder's niece.

00:44She started working there at 14 and has seen many trends come and go.

00:48Wedding fashions have changed a bit over all these years.

01:00But things come back.

01:03Back in the day there was lots of silk.

01:07The fabrics change.

01:09The skirts would be broader.

01:10And yes, sexy as in.

01:15But no brides are in pure white anymore.

01:19Nobody.

01:20It's more ivory.

01:21Ivory.

01:24Ivory and other warm shades of white have been found in bridal gowns in the Western world for some time.

01:30They represent purity and virginity.

01:32Britain's Queen Victoria set the dream-in-white trend in 1840 when she got married in a cream-colored dress.

01:40In the 20th century, the masses followed her lead.

01:45The 51 dressing rooms at Koenings are often all occupied.

01:5030 stylists advise the brides-to-be, ideally eight months before the wedding,

01:55because fitting and delivering the gowns takes time.

01:58Today as well, some women have come to try things on.

02:02They're choosing classic white gowns.

02:11First of all, the bride can only wear a white dress, so other guests shouldn't.

02:17So, yes, that's true.

02:21And it's the only time you stand out of the rest of your guests.

02:26I think a dress should be white for a bride.

02:32I try to look my best all year round, so everything goes together.

02:36And that should also be reflected in my wedding dress.

02:40Besides, I love beige and white and would really like to marry in these colors.

02:43Here, no one bats an eye that a gown, which will only be worn on one day,

02:50costs a four-figure sum in euros.

02:52The price level is high.

03:01We've really got an amazingly large range here at Koenings.

03:05Not just the styles and fabrics, but the budget range.

03:09The least expensive dresses start at 1,500 euros.

03:12Right now, we're in front of the most expensive one.

03:16The price can reach 25,000 euros or higher, depending on what the customer wants.

03:22According to a 2023 survey, on average, the customers pay between 3,000 and 4,000 euros for a dress.

03:29Compared to brides in the U.S. who shell out the equivalent of just about 2,000 euros on average.

03:35But which model is the most popular at the world's biggest bridal shop?

03:50We're standing in front of the most sought-after and popular wedding gown in the whole store.

03:55You've got a really nice glistening tulle, fine appliques decorated with pearls and stones and thin spaghetti straps.

04:03So it's very trendy.

04:04The popular A-line cut gown has a starting price of 2,500 euros.

04:10It fits the classic Western ideal of a wedding dress.

04:13But what about brides with other ideas?

04:16After all, customers from around the world flock here looking for their personal dream gown.

04:21We can cater to people from other cultures, especially where they value less revealing dresses.

04:33We have lots of different models.

04:36And even if it's not your dream gown, we can change it and make the neckline more modest or sew on longer sleeves in our own studios.

04:44It can be a black wedding dress, a jumpsuit.

04:47It can even be something very short.

04:49We've custom-made all sorts of things here.

04:51But there's one thing almost all brides have in common.

04:57Precise ideas and high expectations of their dress.

05:01With the cultural significance of weddings on the rise and the influence of social media,

05:06the global market for bridal wear is booming.

05:09What do you think?

05:11And how much would you spend on your wedding dress?

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