Lyla Dejesus
Wedding dresses are often considered to be white in Western countries, but this is not the case everywhere. Traditional wedding dresses around the world vary in style and colour, reflecting the culture and heritage of the bride. From vibrant colours to intricate designs and stunning fabrics, each culture has its own unique wedding dress style. For example, Nigerian weddings are large, boisterous affairs, and the bride wears an iro, a loose-fitting blouse, and a buba, a wrap-around skirt made of hand-woven fabric. In China, the wedding dress often features a mandarin collar and bold shades of red. Indian wedding dresses are known for their vibrant colours, such as red, yellow and green, which symbolize power, prosperity and new birth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Poland, Afghanistan, Yemen, Peru, Indonesia, Pakistan, Korea, Mongolia, India, Philippines, Norway, Hungary, Andes, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, Uzbekistan, Poland, Maasai, Bedouin, Bulgaria, Eritrea, Tibet, US |
| Common Colours | White, red, yellow, blue, green, purple, violet, cream, gold, pink |
| Fabric | Cotton, silk, satin, lace, tulle, woven fabric, brocade, lightweight fabric, wool |
| Style | Long, full skirt, form-fitting bodice, tunic, mandarin collar, long sleeves, side slits, loose pants, blouse, skirt, poncho, veil, wide-legged pants, gharara, tunic, crown, hijab, shawl, headscarf, hanbok, del, kimono, qipao, cheongsam, ball gown, floral patterns, underskirts, head-dress, woven cloaks, hats, aprons, robes, full veil, buttonhole flower, face veil, embroidered dress |
| Traditions | Henna, jewels, gold, nikah ceremony, face cover, roses, scented water, neutral shades, ivory, champagne, bright colours, batik cloth, blouse, lehengas, kente, masi, kebaya, qun kwa, phoenix, dragon, sarees, kimono, ball gown |
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What You'll Learn
Indian wedding dresses
Indian weddings are known for their vibrant colours, with the bride's dress holding great meaning. The most common colours are red, yellow and green, which symbolise power and strength, prosperity and wealth, and new birth, respectively. Indian brides traditionally have their hands and feet covered in mehndi (henna) to complete their look.
For pre-wedding events and receptions, Anarkali suits are a must-have. Their sleek and comfy flowing forms and complex decorations easily fit all body types. They come in regal styles and pastel colours, as well as classic red bridal suits.
Trending in Indian wedding dresses, sharara outfits provide Mehndi and Sangeet ceremonies with a royal flair. Indo-Western dresses are ideal for those who enjoy a modern touch, combining modern cuts with traditional embroidery. Salwar kameez is another option, offering comfort and elegance with light, airy designs and finely embroidered elements.
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Nigerian wedding attire
Nigerian weddings are grand, vibrant affairs that typically last two to three days. The wedding attire varies across the country's 371 tribes, with each tribe boasting its own unique set of traditions and clothing. However, there are three main tribes in Nigeria—the Yoruba, the Igbo, and the Hausa—which together make up 60% of the country's population.
In the Yoruba tribe, brides wear an iro, a loose-fitting blouse, and a buba, a wrap-around skirt, made from aso oke, a hand-woven fabric unique to the tribe. Grooms wear an agbada, a grand, flowing robe, with a fila (cap). The Yoruba people also practice the wearing of Aso-ebi, or "family clothes", which involves sending chosen fabrics to close friends and family, and members of the wedding party.
In the Igbo tribe, brides traditionally change outfits two to three times throughout the day. Grooms begin the day wearing an isi agu top, a richly patterned shirt featuring lion head motifs, along with a red cap (okpu agu) and accessories such as a walking stick or beads. They later change into a more formal kaftan or Igbo wedding attire, complementing the bride's outfit.
While Nigerian weddings are known for their vibrant traditional attire, many also incorporate a "'white wedding" where Western attire is worn.
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Peruvian wedding customs
Attire
Peruvian wedding attire is often bright and vibrant, with geometric designs. The bride typically wears multiple layers of colourful skirts, while the groom wears a poncho and sandals. The couple might wear headdresses influenced by indigenous customs. In some cases, the bride and groom each have a unique poncho and skirt made for their special day. The bride's dress is often a family heirloom, with custom designs and colours that reflect their regional identity and cultural heritage. The use of handwoven fabrics, regional patterns, and nature-inspired accessories highlights the deep connection between Peruvian brides and their cultural roots.
In larger cities like Lima and Arequipa, couples usually opt for Western-style attire, such as a white wedding dress and a dark-coloured suit. However, even in these settings, some couples choose to incorporate traditional Peruvian elements into their outfits, such as colourful shawls.
Engagement Traditions
The engagement party, or "la pedida", is the first major celebration in a Peruvian wedding. Traditionally, this began with the groom asking the bride's parents for their permission to marry their daughter. Although this custom has largely died out, many couples still host a meal to announce their engagement to family and friends. Proposals often involve romantic gestures such as serenading the bride-to-be with traditional Peruvian love songs.
Wedding Ceremony
Peruvian wedding ceremonies are full of meaningful rituals and symbols. They are usually held in a church or religious venue, as most Peruvians identify as Catholic. However, outdoor weddings are also popular, with beaches, gardens, and country clubs serving as potential locations.
The processional and recessional involve music, dancing, and blessings from family members, and sometimes even fireworks. The exchange of vows and rings is a crucial part of the ceremony, symbolising the couple's commitment to each other. During this ritual, couples exchange rings and make promises to one another about their love and commitment.
Another unique Peruvian wedding tradition is the symbolic offering to Pachamama (Mother Earth), known as a "despacho". This custom originates from the Indigenous people in the Andes Mountains. During the ceremony, a woven cloth is spread on the ground and covered with symbolic items like food, flowers, and confetti. Each guest places a cocoa leaf on the cloth and expresses their wishes for the couple. The couple then receives the despacho as a gift and can choose to burn or bury it, offering their sacrifice to Pachamama.
Post-Wedding Traditions
Peruvian weddings are known for their vibrant and joyful celebrations. The reception includes Peruvian food, an open bar, music, and sometimes professional dancers or entertainers. One unique post-wedding tradition is the "cake pull" or "cintas de la torta", where an inexpensive ring or charm is tied to a ribbon and attached to the base of the wedding cake, along with several other ribbons without rings. Single women participate in this ritual, and the one who pulls the ribbon with the ring is believed to be the next to marry.
Another tradition is the doll burial, where two small dolls representing the bride and groom are wrapped in cocoa leaves and buried alongside a tree seed. This symbolises the growth of their love as the tree grows.
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Malay headwear
Malay wedding attire varies depending on the region and the wearer's religious and cultural background.
Male Headwear
In Malaysia, grooms and male wedding attendees may wear a tengkolok, a type of headgear made from long songket cloth folded and tied in a particular style. The tengkolok is also known as Tanjak or Destar, with some arguing that these terms refer to different types of headgear with distinct cloth types and tying styles. The tengkolok is usually worn at ceremonial functions, including royal and wedding ceremonies. Each Malay state has a unique style of tengkolok, with different symbols and meanings. For example, the Sultan of Selangor wears a golden yellow Solek Balung Raja (Royal Crest Style) for coronation and birthday ceremonies.
Alternatively, men may wear a songkok, a cap widely worn in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, the southern Philippines, and southern Thailand, especially among Muslim males. The songkok is usually made of black or embroidered felt, cotton, or velvet and is worn during religious, formal, or state occasions, including weddings. The songkok is also part of the uniform of the Royal Malay Regiment of the Malaysian Army.
Female Headwear
Malay brides often wear a crown to illustrate their importance during the wedding ceremony. Underneath the crown, they wear a tudung or hijab to cover their hair, and a selendang, a decorative shawl that covers the headscarf. In Singapore, Malay brides may wear a headdress made of a silver alloy set with dozens of diamantes. The headdress is designed to fit tightly over the head, with coiled wire springs and metal flowers radiating from it, creating a dazzling effect when the bride moves her head.
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Korean hanboks
Wedding dresses vary significantly across the world, with each country and culture having its own unique traditions and styles. In Korea, the traditional wedding dress is called the hanbok, which has been worn for thousands of years. Hanboks are typically customised for special occasions like weddings, with brides often opting for shades of pink or purple.
The hanbok is a traditional Confucian-inspired style of dress for Koreans. It was once worn daily but is now reserved for special occasions, such as weddings, the Lunar New Year, annual ancestral rites, and the birth of a child. The hanbok consists of the jeogori (a neatly fitted jacket), the baji (trousers), the chima (a voluminous skirt), and the po (a coat). The basic form of the hanbok has remained unchanged for centuries, except for variations in length.
The wedding hanbok is a modern interpretation of the traditional ceremonial hwalrot, which was worn by princesses during the Joseon period. The hwalrot was later adopted by common women as wedding attire. The flower crown, called a hwagwan, is typically made from silk and decorated with flowers, though some regions use real flowers instead. The jokduri is another type of headpiece worn on special occasions, featuring a round black coronet with black ribbons.
For those planning to attend a Korean wedding, it is not compulsory to wear a hanbok unless you are a close relative of the couple. Hanboks can be custom-made or rented for the wedding day, and it is customary for the mother of the groom to wear blue. The hanbok remains an important symbol of Korean culture and identity, with North Koreans referring to the dress as "chosonot".
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Frequently asked questions
The most common wedding dress in the US is a long, white ball gown with a full skirt and a form-fitting bodice.
Indian weddings are known for their vibrant colours. Brides often wear lehengas, a traditional type of dress with impressive embroidery. Common colours include red, yellow and green, which symbolise power, prosperity and new birth.
The Chinese qipao is a traditional one-piece dress with a high collar, long sleeves, and a floor-length skirt. They are usually made from lightweight silk or satin and decorated with intricate embroidery, beads, and stones. The colour red is common due to its association with luck, fertility and good fortune.
This varies depending on the region and tribe. In Nigeria, for example, there are 371 distinct tribes, each with its own set of traditions and clothing. In Maasai weddings, brides are required to wear bold and colourful necklaces made of beads and shells. In Morocco, bridal fashion varies by region, but the takchita remains central to each bridal look.
This varies depending on the country. In Poland, brides traditionally wear a white dress and a full veil. In Hungary, brides usually wear a dress with floral embroidery and three bright colours, along with an elaborate head-dress with wheat woven into it.
