Chinese sportswear heiress and clothing brand heir’s wedding draws attention for extravagance

Ding Jiamin, daughter of sportswear brand Xtep Group’s chairman Ding Shui Po at her wedding. Photo from Ding Jiamin's Douyin

Local media outlets report that Ding Jiamin shared a video on her social media accounts showcasing her wedding, where she recounted her love story as "from school uniforms to wedding dresses." She noted that she and Zhou were high school classmates who eventually became lovers and married after establishing their careers.

The video attracted hundreds of thousands of views and ignited discussions across social media platforms, with many users commenting on the couple's compatibility and the opulence of their wedding.

Under the video, one user commented: "This is a typical wedding of the wealthy elite."

"It turns out that romance novels really do reflect reality," another remarked.

The wedding took place at the Xiamen International Conference Center Hotel in Fujian province, China, accommodating 135 banquet tables. Reports suggest that each table cost between 5,999-9,999 yuan (US$828-$1,380).

The venue was adorned in pink and purple hues, and guests contributed large floral arrangements, symbolizing their good wishes for the newlyweds.

Ding Jiamin, the daughter of sportswear brand Xtep Group’s chairman Ding Shui Po, and her groom Zhou Liyuan, the son of the founder of clothing company Septwolves. Photo from Ding Jiamin's Douyin

At the ceremony, Xtep Group’s chairman and the bride’s father Ding Shui Po walked his daughter down the aisle and adjusted her wedding dress.

During the event, the bride expressed her gratitude, stating: "I grew up in a family full of love and am very grateful to my parents for their meticulous care."

She continued by thanking her in-laws for "raising a joyful, kind, and reliable son" and humorously praised her husband for his discernment in choosing an excellent wife.

Zhou reminisced about their early friendship and subsequent romantic relationship during high school, commenting: "We’ve gone through many ups and downs in our love journey."

"Strangely, today I still feel excited," he added. "Being able to marry you is the greatest fortune of my life."

Prominent guests at the wedding included Mario Ho, son of the late casino tycoon Stanley Ho, and his wife, supermodel Ming Xi.

The couple’s engagement party in Sep. 2022 also stirred a social media buzz in China, becoming one of the most-read topics on the Chinese social platform Weibo for several days, earning many praises for their family backgrounds and romantic connection.

At that time, Ding Jiamin remarked that their relationship was not just a union of two families but also a merging of their souls.

Ding Jiamin, 27, is the second daughter of Ding Shui Po.

In 2023, Forbes valued her father’s net worth at US$1.2 billion. His brand Xtep is a prominent professional sports brand with a vast network of over 6,300 stores across 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China and abroad.

Zhou, also 27, graduated with a degree in art history from the University of Toronto, Canada. He joined his family’s business Septwolves in 2018.

The Financial Times has recognized Septwolves as a familiar name in China, and Week in China noted that by 2001, it became a major player in the country’s casual wear market, leading in jacket sales.