A wedding planner in Jiangxi province is offering bridesmaids for hire to the increasing number of Chinese couples looking to emulate Western customs.

Cheng Fei, who works at Happiness Wedding Services Co in the provincial capital of Nanchang, said it was not hard for couples to find a best man, "but it is getting harder to find bridesmaids".

"Many brides say that their friends live too far away or are too busy. Some are even worried that the guests' behavior is putting off potential bridesmaids," he said.