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Huang Xiaoming steals a kiss from Angelababy. Photo: Xinhua

Megabucks 'fairy tale' wedding of actor Huang Xiaoming and Hong Kong-raised star Angelababy sets Chinese media abuzz

Extravagance rarely seen even for celebrities leaves some enchanted, but others cynical

Was it the wedding of the decade, or just a multimillion-yuan exercise in product placement and building on fame?

That's the question on many people's minds after being exposed with an avalanche of headlines regarding the celebrity marriage of mainland actor Huang Xiaoming and Hong Kong-raised star Angelababy.

The gala event in Shanghai on Thursday was intensively reported in domestic media and on the two most active social media platforms, Weibo and WeChat.

READ MORE: Chinese screen stars Huang Xiaoming and Angelababy wed before 2,000 guests

Media were abuzz about the wedding not only due to its extravagance, but also due to its record attendance by more than 100 celebrity guests from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong.

The 37-year-old groom is among China's first-tier actors and is featured with his handsome outlook, while his bride, 26, whose real name is Yang Ying, is ranked among the four most beautiful young actresses in China.

The centre, which costs half a million yuan per day to rent, was sealed off for several days beforehand for decorating.

The main hall of the centre was decorated with tens of thousands of roses in an arrangement designed by high-end florist, The Beast, which sourced the top-class O'Hara and other fragrant rose varieties from around the world, several months in advance. Some 200 Chinese and foreign workers were hired to put the finishing touches to the installation.

Days before the wedding, the bride showed off her pear-shaped six-carat diamond Chaumet Josephine wedding ring on social media. The jewellery she wore at the wedding all came from Chaumet, including an antique brooch and a crown that Huang rented from the Parisian jeweller's museum.

Her wedding dress came from Dior, while several sets of dresses that she wore in the couple's wedding pictures - taken in Paris, of course - were from Elie Saab, another upmarket tailor.

What wasn't revealed was the wedding's cost, but Huang told reporters that some items were presents or on loan from friends. The couple have both signed lots of endorsements.

"In my heart, she is priceless," Huang said in front of reporters, and vowed to spoil his "princess".

The mainland's leading news portal 163.com estimated that Huang forked out at least 200 million yuan (HK$260 million) for Angelababy to say "I do".

The Chaumet ring is estimated to be worth 10 million yuan. Huang was reported to have offered about six million yuan to her parents when he sought their approval of the marriage. Over the past few years, Huang has bought a set of luxury house and at least two racing cars for her, worther about 140 million yuan in total.

To surprise his goddess at the wedding, Huang danced like the South Korean band Big Bang in their hit song - although it's fair to say his dancing skills were just fair - since Angelababy is a big fan of the band.

The wedding's officiator was Hong Kong film director John Woo, while masters of ceremony at the the party wre the mainland's Xie Na and He Jiong for the first session, and Taiwan's Dee Hsu (better known as little S) and Kevin Tsai for the second half.

Other celebrity guests included mainland actress Li Bingbing, Taiwan stars Shu Qi and Lin Chi-ling Lin, mainland pianist Li Yundi and tycoon's son Wang Sicong, who is closely connected with the entertainment circle.

Coverage of the event was read 1.6 billion times by internet users on Sina. Some sent messages of congratulations but others were more cynical.

"Having money is such a good thing," said one internet user. "From their marriage and wedding, I only see money, not romance or touching another's heart."

The outspoken dancer Jin Xing wrote on her microblog that "[Taiwanese pop star] Jay Chou gave Hannah Quinlivan a wedding, while Huang Xiaoming gave the media a wedding. I am speechless."

Professor Yu Hai, a sociologist from Fudan University, said it was a normal thing for stars to "fully utilise their wedding - normally private matters - to enhance their fame".

"From a commercial perspective, it was quite successful," he said. "The event was popular among the public, but no one in academic circles cares."

WATCH: Footage from inside the spectacular wedding.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Megabucks nuptials has mainland media abuzz
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