Rhiannon Hendricks
Pakistani weddings are known for their colourful, elaborate outfits and intricate details. The bride traditionally wears an embroidered brightly coloured shalwar kameez, sari, or lehenga, with red being a popular colour choice as it symbolises love and passion. The groom usually wears a casual black or white shalwar qameez, sherwani, or Western suit. While there is limited information on what a Pakistani bride wears on her honeymoon, it is known that the honeymoon, or Shab-i-Zifaf, refers to the couple's first night together. The bride's family leads her to a bedroom decorated with flowers where she waits for the groom under a veil or head covering. Once their families have left, the groom enters the room and lifts the bride's veil to see her face.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Bright colours, red, pastel shades, yellow, green, blue, lilac, ivory, gold |
| Fabric | Embroidered, embellished, beaded, sequinned, stonework, silk |
| Style | Shalwar kameez, sari, lehenga, gharara, anarkali, dupatta, chador, sherwani, suit |
| Jewellery | Gold, diamonds, emeralds, maangtikka, kadas, choker, earrings, headpiece |
| Makeup | Dewy, minimal, natural, light lips, shimmery eyes |
| Hair | Open, neatly draped dupatta, wavy, neatly set |
| Accessories | Potli bag, scarf, turban |
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What You'll Learn
Pakistani brides wear red to symbolise love and passion
Pakistani weddings are a colourful, extravagant affair, with numerous customs and rituals, and a source of joy, entertainment, and festivity for those involved. The wedding customs in Pakistan are a pageant of pleasure, ornamental sophisticated dressing, and merriment.
Pakistani brides traditionally wear an embroidered brightly coloured shalwar kameez, sari, or lehenga, with the colour often being red, as it symbolises love and passion. The bride's attire is usually extravagant and elegant, with intricate beading and embellishments that are woven into the fabric. The colour red is also chosen as it is the same colour as the turmeric paste applied to the bride's skin during the pre-wedding Ubtan ceremony, where the paste is believed to enhance her beauty.
The groom usually wears a casual black or white shalwar qameez, sherwani, or a Western suit. Their attire is also often extravagant, with intricate beading and embellishments.
The wedding is followed by a honeymoon, called a Shab-i-Zifaf, which refers to the couple's first night together. The bride's family leads her to the bedroom, where she waits for the groom with a veil or head covering. The groom then enters and brushes the bride's veil aside to reveal her face.
The Pakistani wedding is not just a union of the bride and groom but also a coalition of their families, friends, and relatives.
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Pastel shades and gold jewellery are popular for the Valima
Pakistani weddings are colourful, extravagant, and full of customs and rituals. They are a source of joy, entertainment, and festivity for those involved. The wedding celebrations span over a week or two, and sometimes even longer.
The wedding reception in Pakistani culture is called the Walima or Valima and it comes after the Nikah or Nikkah ceremony, where the bride and groom exchange vows. On the day of the Valima, the groom usually wears a suit, and the bride wears pastel shades and gold jewellery.
Pastel-hued wedding dresses are popular in Pakistan, with brides opting for unique colour combinations. One bride wore a pistachio green Anarkali with multi-coloured work and a baby pink dupatta. Another wore a pale yellow kurta with a sage green Gharara. A third bride wore a lilac and gold lehenga with an off-shoulder blouse, and a fourth wore an aqua blue lehenga with a long half-sheer blouse and a pale yellow dupatta.
Gold jewellery is also a popular choice for Pakistani brides. One bride wore a heavy gold jewellery assemblage with a turquoise Anarkali. Another bride wore a wine-coloured outfit with gold details and minimal makeup, reflecting the magnum aura of a royal Pakistani bride.
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Bridal dresses are often embroidered and brightly coloured
Bridal dresses in Pakistani weddings are often embroidered and brightly coloured. Instead of wedding dresses, Pakistani brides traditionally wear a brightly coloured shalwar kameez, sari, lehenga, or gharara. These outfits are usually red, as it is a colour that symbolises love and passion, but they can also be pastel-hued or multicoloured. The dresses are often heavily embellished with intricate beading, embroidery, and other embellishments that are woven into the fabric.
The bridal look is completed with statement jewellery, hairstyles, and makeup. Some brides opt for heavy gold jewellery, while others choose diamond and emerald pieces. The hair can be left open or neatly draped with a dupatta, and the makeup can range from natural and dewy to bold and edgy.
The groom typically wears a casual black or white shalwar qameez, sherwani, or Western suit. Their attire is also often extravagant and elegant, with intricate beading and embellishments.
Pakistani weddings are a colourful, extravagant, and joyful celebration that spans multiple days or even weeks. The bridal dresses are a reflection of the vibrant and festive nature of the wedding celebrations.
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Brides may wear a dupatta or chador as a head covering
A dupatta is a shawl-like scarf that is a part of women's traditional clothing on the Indian subcontinent. It is worn in many regional styles across South Asia, with no single way of wearing it. The dupatta is traditionally worn over the left shoulder in India and tucked into a skirt on the opposite side. However, it can also be worn freely hanging over the shoulder or across the neck and behind both shoulders. A modern variation is to drape the length of the dupatta around the waist and through the arms at the front.
When worn as a head covering, the dupatta is pulled over the head, with the fabric covering as much of the head as desired. For religious Muslim functions, the dupatta is worn to cover the entire head so that no hair shows. For Sikh, Hindu, or non-religious events, the dupatta is worn casually over the back of the hair. The dupatta can also be draped over the head for a traditional look, with the top of the dupatta placed parallel to the hairline and each corner draped over the forearms and down towards the body.
A chador, on the other hand, is an outer garment or open cloak worn by women in several Persian-influenced countries, including Pakistan. It is a full-body-length semicircle of fabric that is open down the front and pulled over the head. The chador has been used as a face or head covering and as a full-body garment. It has been associated with Islamic dress codes and has been worn by women in public spaces or outdoors.
Both the dupatta and the chador can be worn as head coverings by Pakistani brides during their wedding ceremonies and on their honeymoons, providing modesty and elegance to their attire.
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Heavy gold jewellery is a common feature of Pakistani bridal wear
Pakistani weddings are known for their colourful, extravagant attire, with an emphasis on intricate beading, embellishments, and heavy gold jewellery. While Pakistani brides traditionally wear embroidered brightly coloured shalwar kameez, saris, or lehengas, it is common for them to accessorise with heavy gold jewellery. This jewellery is often passed down as heirlooms and is considered a symbol of wealth and status.
Gold jewellery is often chosen for its cultural and symbolic significance in Pakistani weddings. Gold is associated with prosperity, good luck, and purity, making it an ideal choice for a bride's wedding jewellery. The weight and amount of gold jewellery worn by the bride can vary depending on regional and familial traditions, as well as the bride's personal style and preference.
The type of gold jewellery worn by Pakistani brides can include a variety of pieces such as necklaces, earrings, bangles, maang tikka (a forehead ornament), nose rings, and heavy statement rings. These pieces are often intricately designed and may feature precious stones such as diamonds, emeralds, or rubies. The jewellery is typically chosen to complement the bride's outfit and enhance her overall bridal look.
While gold jewellery is a common feature, Pakistani brides also have the flexibility to choose other types of jewellery. Some brides may opt for diamond jewellery, especially if they are wearing pastel-hued or ivory outfits, as the sparkle of diamonds can add a touch of elegance and sophistication. Additionally, some brides might prefer to wear jewellery made of other precious metals, such as silver, or even opt for more contemporary and minimalist jewellery designs.
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Frequently asked questions
In Pakistani culture, the honeymoon is referred to as a Shab-i-Zifaf, which refers to the couple's first night together.
Pakistani brides traditionally wear an embroidered brightly coloured shalwar kameez, sari, lehenga, sharara, gharara, anarkali or maxi. The attire is usually extravagant and elegant, with intricate beading, luxurious fabrics and embellishments.
Pakistani brides often wear red as it symbolises love and passion. However, brides can also choose other colours like purple or apricot.
Grooms usually wear a casual black or white shalwar qameez, sherwani or a Western suit.
