Weddings are one of the most important events in our lives. For many people and across many cultures around the world, their lives are centered around their weddings. And special or not, weddings are always celebrated with much fanfare, as it is one of life’s most memorable events.
With different cultures come different thoughts, different practices, different traditions. And an important part of tradition is attire. And what best to sneak a glance at the attire of different cultures over the world than in their weddings?
Here are some of the world’s most diverse cultures and their wedding outfits.
1. Japan
At Japanese weddings, brides often wear two or more dresses throughout the ceremony — white and red.
2. Ghana
Ghanaian traditional weddings are very colorful. Their national cloth designs vary with different colors and patterns. Each family has its own cloth pattern.
3. Romania
Today, the vast majority of young Romanians prefer weddings with a modern style. However, traditional ceremonies can still be seen in more remote areas. Though Romania is not big, each of its regions has its own wedding costumes.
4. The Sami, Northern Europe
The Sami are the indigenous people living in Lapland. Their traditional dresses can tell you a lot about their owners. For example, square buttons mean that the person is married, while single people wear belts with round buttons.
5. Sri Lanka
The bride often becomes the center of attention on her wedding day. However, if you find yourself at a traditional Sri Lankan wedding, you most likely won’t be able to take your eyes off the groom.
6. India
Red or pink wedding dresses are the traditional garment of choice for brides in the Indian culture. In the northern regions, married women traditionally wear a red dot on the center of their forehead.
7. Scotland
In Scotland, the groom traditionally wears the kilt of his clan. After the wedding ceremony, the groom puts a shawl embellished with his clan’s colors around his bride’s shoulders to symbolize her membership in her new family.
8. Pakistan
Although Pakistan is an Islamic nation, its traditions have a lot in common with Indian customs. Drawing intricate henna patterns on the bride’s hands and wearing a red wedding dress are the most popular of them.
9. Ethiopia
This may surprise you, but Ethiopia is the only country in Africa where Christianity is the official religion. The majority of Ethiopian people belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. That is why the wedding ceremony here resembles that of Greeks or Russians.
10. Indonesia
Indonesian weddings can vary greatly from island to island. With more than 300 ethnic groups and 6 major religions, this relatively small country is a crossroad of various cultures and civilizations.
11. Georgia
At a traditional Georgian wedding, the groom usually wears the Circassian coat and attaches a sword to his belt. The brides often choose a white wedding dress with national motifs.
12. China
Traditional wedding dresses in China are red. In this country, the colour white symbolizes the time of mourning and funerals. After the marriage, the groom removes the red veil from the bride’s head.
13. Hawaii
In traditional Hawaiian weddings, the groom wears all white. Almost everyone who gets married here includes the flower garlands as a part of the wedding ceremony. And the brides often adorn their hair with fresh flowers.
14. Malaysia
In Malaysia, most wedding ceremonies are held according to Islamic tradition. The brides often choose a wedding dress with shades of purple, violet, or cream.
15. Yemenite Jews
Most Jewish communities have no special wedding garments. But Yemenite Jews are the exception to this rule. Girls here usually get married dressed in special outfits, which are inherited from their ancestors.
16. South Korea
Traditional weddings are becoming more and more popular in South Korea. According to the ancient tradition, the groom should carry his wife around the table on his back. This symbolizes that the bride can rely on her husband.
17. Norway
In Norway, it is common to wear bunad, a traditional Norwegian costume, for special occasions like weddings and christening parties.
18. Bali
Balinese weddings will definitely amaze you with their richness and magnificence. Traditional wedding clothing involves lots of intricate details. Moreover, during the ceremony both groom and bride usually wear crowns of gold on their heads.
19. Nigeria
Nigerian brides often choose bright wedding clothes and wear Gele, a Nigerian head tie. However, the grooms here look no less elegant than the women.
These different and diverse styles of clothing offers a peek into the cultures of the world, and their wedding practices!
H/t: BrightSide