Deborah Chan
Buddhist weddings are simple, spiritual affairs that are devoid of pomp and show. They are usually small, private events that include only the closest friends and relatives of both families. The dress code for a Buddhist wedding is not set in stone—Buddhism does not dictate a specific dress code for the bride and groom. However, it is customary for the couple to wear traditional attire. The bride typically wears a saree, lehenga, or a dress known as a Bhaku, while the groom wears a sherwani, a traditional Buddhist robe, or a Bhaku. The dress code for guests is usually in line with the tone set by the couple.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dress code | There is no strict dress code for Buddhist weddings, and guests should dress however they feel most comfortable while honouring the occasion. However, if the wedding is in a temple, guests should avoid revealing clothing and be prepared to remove their shoes. |
| Bride's attire | Traditional attire varies depending on the culture. In some cultures, the bride wears a full-length sarong-like dress called a Bhaku, made of brocade and paired with a long-sleeved blouse (Hanju) made of Chinese silk (Khichen). She may also wear a special jacket and a scarf, as well as jewellery made of precious and semi-precious stones. In other cultures, the bride may wear a saree or lehenga in vibrant colours. |
| Groom's attire | The groom typically wears a Bhaku that reaches just above the ankles, along with a waistcoat (Lajha) and a cap made of matching brocade. In some cultures, the groom may wear a sherwani or a traditional Buddhist robe. |
| Couple's attire | Some couples may choose to wear modern Western attire, such as a white gown and tuxedo, or combine modern elements with traditional garments. |
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What You'll Learn
There is no strict dress code for Buddhist weddings
Buddhist weddings are simple and spiritual affairs, devoid of pomp and ritualistic guidelines. They are a personal choice and not a religious duty. The emphasis is on the realization of the vows, not strict religious practices.
Buddhist weddings are also an opportunity to honour the couple's cultural heritage. The bride and groom may decide to wear traditional wedding garments from their culture. For example, a Japanese Buddhist might wear a floral kimono, while a Thai bride might wear a regal siwalai dress with cloth draped over one shoulder. A Nepalese groom would likely wear a long tunic and pants in a colourful geometric print, while his bride would wear a red sari and layers of gold jewellery.
Guests at a Buddhist wedding should dress according to the tone set by the couple. If no dress code is specified, guests can wear whatever makes them feel comfortable while honouring the occasion.
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Brides often wear a full-length sarong-style dress
Buddhist weddings are simple, spiritual affairs that honour the couple's cultural heritage and their partnership. The dress code for guests at a Buddhist wedding is usually not strict, and guests are encouraged to dress however they feel most comfortable while honouring the occasion.
Buddhist weddings do not have a specific dress code for the bride and groom, and couples can wear whatever they like. However, brides often wear a full-length sarong-style dress called a Bhaku, made of brocade and paired with a long-sleeved blouse called a Hanju, made from Chinese silk. The bride may also wear a special jacket and a scarf, along with jewellery made of precious and semi-precious stones like pearls, corals, and turquoise around the neck and forehead. This type of dress is considered traditional attire, and while there is no strict colour code, black is generally avoided as it is considered inauspicious.
The groom, meanwhile, wears a Bhaku that reaches just above the ankles, along with a waistcoat called a Lajha and a cap made of matching brocade. The groom's outfit is also considered traditional, and the colour black is also avoided.
The specific attire for the bride and groom may vary depending on their cultural heritage and the location of the wedding. For example, a Japanese Buddhist bride might wear a floral kimono, while a Thai bride might wear a regal siwalai dress with cloth draped over one shoulder. Similarly, the groom's attire can vary, with a Nepalese groom wearing a long tunic and pants in a colourful geometric print.
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Grooms wear a version of the same dress, but shorter
Buddhist weddings are devoid of any ritualistic guidelines and are considered a personal choice. The dress code for the wedding is also not dictated by the Buddhist religion. The couple is free to choose the setting, attire, and rituals for the wedding ceremony.
The bride and groom can wear whatever they like to the wedding, be it casual or formal, western or traditional. If the wedding is held in a temple, the couple usually chooses clothing that is not too revealing.
The groom usually wears a shorter version of the bride's dress. The groom's outfit is known as a Bhaku, which is made of brocade and reaches just above the ankles. It is worn with a waistcoat, known as a Lajha, a cap made of matching brocade, and a sash around the waist.
In India, the groom typically wears a sherwani or a traditional Buddhist robe. In Nepal, the groom would likely wear a long tunic and pants in a colorful geometric print. In China, the groom might wear a classic male chang shan.
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Black clothing is generally avoided
While there is no dress code for Buddhist weddings, it is recommended to avoid wearing black. This is because black is considered inauspicious in Buddhist culture. Buddhist weddings are simple affairs that emphasise the spiritual over the ritualistic. The focus is on the couple's commitment to each other and their spiritual growth.
Buddhist weddings are devoid of the pomp and show that characterise weddings in other cultures. They are considered a personal choice and not a religious duty. Couples have the freedom to decide what kind of ceremony they want. They can choose to include monks or not, and the ceremony can take place in a temple, a family home, or any other venue.
Buddhist weddings are also an opportunity to honour the couple's cultural heritage. The bride and groom may wear traditional wedding garments, such as a qun gua or chang shan in China, a kimono in Japan, or a siwalai dress in Thailand. The groom might wear a long tunic and pants in colourful geometric prints in Nepal, while the bride would wear a red sari and gold jewellery.
In general, Buddhist wedding attire for women includes a full-length sarong-like dress called a Bhaku, paired with a long-sleeved blouse called a Hanju, made of Chinese silk. The bride also wears a special jacket and a scarf, along with jewellery made of precious and semi-precious stones. The groom wears a Bhaku that reaches just above the ankles, along with a waistcoat called a Lajha, a matching cap, and a sash.
As a guest attending a Buddhist wedding, you can dress however you feel comfortable while honouring the specialness of the occasion. It is advisable to avoid wearing black and to be mindful of the setting; if the wedding is in a temple or a home, you may be expected to take off your shoes.
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Guests should dress according to the couple's chosen attire
Buddhist weddings are very flexible when it comes to attire, with no strict dress codes. The couple chooses the attire, and guests should dress accordingly. If the couple does not include a dress code on the invitation, guests can dress however they feel is most comfortable while honouring the specialness of the occasion. It is always best to check with the couple in advance if you are unsure.
Buddhist weddings often combine modern elements with ancient rituals. The ceremony may include local customs, such as binding the wrists with string in Cambodia or sipping from three cups of rice wine in Japan. The couple may also choose to wear traditional garments. For example, a Japanese bride might wear a floral kimono, while a Thai bride may wear a regal siwalai dress with a cloth draped over one shoulder. A Nepalese groom would likely wear a long tunic and trousers in colourful geometric prints, while his bride would wear a red sari and layers of gold jewellery.
In India, the bride typically wears a saree or lehenga in vibrant colours, while the groom wears a sherwani or a traditional Buddhist robe. In Buddhist weddings in general, the bride often wears a full-length sarong-like dress called a Bhaku, with a long-sleeved blouse called a Hanju, made from Chinese silk. The groom wears a Bhaku that reaches just above his ankles, with a waistcoat called a Lajha, a cap made from matching brocade, and a sash around his waist.
Buddhist weddings are usually small and private affairs, including only the closest friends and family of both families. If the celebration takes place in a temple, guests should expect to take off their shoes when entering.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no strict dress code for guests attending a Buddhist wedding. It's best to dress according to the tone set by the couple—if they haven't specified a dress code, wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable while honouring the specialness of the occasion. If the wedding is in a temple, avoid revealing clothing.
Buddhist weddings incorporate local customs and traditions, so the bride and groom's attire will depend on their cultural backgrounds. There is no dress code dictated by the Buddhist religion, so couples can wear whatever they want, from casual to formal, and from Western to traditional. In India, brides typically wear a saree or lehenga in vibrant colours, while grooms wear a sherwani or a traditional Buddhist robe. In Nepal, the groom might wear a long tunic and trousers in a colourful geometric print, while the bride wears a red sari and layers of gold jewellery. In China, brides and grooms might wear traditional Chinese garments.
It is generally best to avoid black, as it is considered inauspicious. If the wedding is taking place in a temple, avoid revealing clothing.
