Wedding attire has long been the same in most cultures. However, there are some cultures that have original wedding dresses. This article looks into these various wedding dresses from different cultures.
Wedding Dresses from Different Cultures
Indian Bride
An Indian bride usually wears a sari – a traditional piece of clothing made of up to yards of fabric. The sari is so versatile that it can be tied in several ways, allowing the wearer to adjust it to any style she likes. Also, many brides wear a shawl known as a dupatta with the sari. However, some modern-day brides wear neither and instead opt for western outfits such as pants or gowns on their wedding day. A “bindi” or dot is worn on the forehead by many Hindu women for religious reasons and also because it’s simply considered attractive.
Korean Bride
The Korean wedding dress, known as hanbok, is still worn today by modern-day brides during special occasions, such as weddings and funerals. Usually made of silk or ramie cloth and colorfully embroidered, the Hanbok’s form varies depending on several factors, such as social class, region, and period in history. The baji was worn underneath the jeogori which is the top part of this outfit. A material band with intricate designs called balk was wrapped around the waist to give shape to the hanbok – somewhat like how belts are used today. When wearing a jeogori or jeogori with two sleeves, some women choose to wear jokki which are fingerless gloves made of the same fabric as the hanbok.
Chinese Bride
During traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies, brides wear red dresses. However, today’s modern-day brides usually opt for white gowns instead. Though these bridal gowns may not be as elaborate as before, they are still worn with red wedding shoes and accessories to match their outfits. The color white is often associated with good luck in China, so couples who seek a simple yet auspicious ceremony prefer this color.Â
Moroccan Bride
The Moroccan wedding dress is known as the bjellaba or kaftan . This floor-length outfit is usually one of purple or pink, which symbolizes fertility. Men wear white kaftans on their wedding day – the only time that they get to wear this color.
African Bride
Traditional African wedding dresses, known as bubas, are mostly hand-woven by the bride herself. The colors and patterns used in these outfits depend on the tribe of the origin or even which part of Africa they originate from. A Ndebele woman, for instance, wears an indigo-colored buba with white triangles while some Zulu women wear red bubas with beadwork on the sleeves and hemline. These outfits are usually complemented with headpieces made of feathers and anklets around their ankles to protect them against evil spirits during ceremonies.
Ukrainian Bride
Ukrainian brides wear traditional folk attire for their weddings. This wedding dress is known as the ornate “vyshyvanka.” Usually made of cotton, these outfits are embroidered using white thread on a blue background. The “krushka”, which is a head covering worn by both the bride and her groom, has an intricate design that includes flowers and leaves made of silk or cotton threads.
Mongolian Bride
The Mongolian wedding dress is called the “deel”. It is a one-piece garment with long sleeves and worn over trousers. It is usually hand-woven using black or red wool that is elaborately embroidered in silk thread. Traditionally, men wore full deels on their wedding day, but today’s modern-day marriage ceremonies have traditional attires for both the bride and groom, so he might wear slacks instead.
Russian Bride
The Russian wedding dress is known as a kokoshnik and was worn by brides during the latter times of the 19th century and early 20th century. It usually resembled headgear that women wore with their everyday clothing, but these wedding day kokoshniks were embellished with pearls, jewels, and gold embroideries. The most common design for this outfit is one that has two parts: a cap-like portion that covers most of the forehead and another part that covers the back of the head. Sometimes brides wear flower wreaths or garlands instead. This garment can be considered one of Mother Russia’s national costumes, for it became popular even after World War 2 and remains to be worn until today in many Eastern European countries.
Western European Bride
European brides traditionally wore white wedding gowns during their weddings. Today, they still accept that the modern-day bride now has more options for her outfit’s design and material. Brides also choose to wear blue wedding dresses if their grooms are not Caucasian or purple dresses if both of them are of different races or ethnicity. Also, some European cultures like the Hungarians prefer red over white for their national costumes symbolize courage and fertility, so brides who are soon-to-be mothers usually wear this color.
Malay Bride
The Malay wedding dress is known as the baju Melayu and is usually complemented by a sarong or kain panjang. The groom also wears a songkok hat and sometimes an embroidered shirt called the baju kebaya on formal occasions, particularly on their wedding day. This traditional outfit for men has been worn since ancient times; it can be traced to Hindu-Buddhist origins that were later adopted by the Srivijaya and Majapahit empires that ruled South East Asia many centuries ago.
Maasai Bride
The Maasai wedding dress for women is called a kitenge, and it’s composed of three pieces: the short-sleeved top known as enkesho, a full-length skirt called endekay, and a headscarf that covers the bride’s hair. The most intricate designs on this outfit are found in its two lower pieces with colorful beadwork. This ensemble can also include golden necklaces, bangles, and earrings made of animal horns or even ivory when these accessories are available in their region. Maasai men wear long robes when they go out of their homes so their national costumes wouldn’t be visible, unlike when they wear very short dresses for special occasions such as their wedding day.
Afghan Bride
The Afghan wedding dress for women is called a Khet partug and comes from the Pashtun tribal regions in Afghanistan. It is usually made of red, black, or green silk with an embroidered waistband and it can be worn with no head covering when the bride’s family approves of her decision to show her beautiful face. The traditional men’s outfit for this ceremony is a turban that has been colored using a substance made from mixing ashes and clay over his pants and shirt. This outfit is complemented by a long cape called a patuka which acts as his outer garment during chilly weather in Afghanistan because this national costume keeps him warm even if he doesn’t wear any other fur coat.
Hope this article on different wedding day national costumes for brides can help everyone understand better one’s belief in their outfits.
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