Wedding day is one of the most important days in a person’s life. However, the proceedings depend on the culture the couple follows. This includes the rituals and even the outfits. Unlike conventional Western white gowns, Asian brides get to pick from a wide range of vibrant colors.
Here are four Asian cultures and their bridal outfits:
India
Traditional Indian brides wear stunning ‘Lehengas’ for their main ceremony. It is a long floor-length skirt adorned with beautiful crystals and embroidery. The brides pair these with blouses featuring a similar design. And the look is completed by adding a long scarf in the same or contrasting color.
Or they may wear a stunning classic saree for the main ceremony. Usually the outfit is bright red in color, but modern brides have added their touch to this and started wearing blue, green, pastels, or other shades. From neck pieces to rings and anklets, the look is completed by adding copious amounts of jewelry.
Miss World 1994, Aishwarya Rai wore a Rs. 75 Lakhs worth Kanjivaram saree for her marriage to actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007. This is known as the second most expensive wedding outfit worn by an Indian bride. It was designed by Neeta Lulla and had intricate gold and Swarovski crystal detailing.
Pakistan
Traditionally called ‘Nikah’, a Pakistani wedding is said to be an elaborate affair for the families. Therefore, the bride has to look her best for the ritual. This is why Pakistani wedding dresses are known to be some of the most elegant and ornate outfits chosen for a celebration.
In Pakistani culture, brides have two wedding dress options. One being Sharara-Kurta with a long scarf and second is a modern bridal Lehenga. Sharara is like a fit & flare palazzo pant, which is very comfortable to wear and looks beautiful. The scarf is wrapped over the shoulders and head, to act like a veil.
On the other hand, Lehnga is a better choice for brides who like to keep their looks contemporary. One of the most popular Pakistani Bridal dress designers is Nida Azwer. She is known for her elaborate designs and mirror detailing on the dresses.
China
There are three traditional outfit options for Chinese brides. The Northern Chinese people prefer wearing Qipao, a long one-piece dress with intricate gold and silver thread embroidery. While Southern Chinese brides wear a two-piece dress called Qungua, which are generally decorated with fine embroidery shaped like a dragon or phoenix.
Qungua has a covered coat-like top paired with flared bottoms or a long skirt, both of which have the same detailing. All these apparel are designed in the traditional red color as it is considered the color of luck in the Chinese culture. They pair it with a veil or a phoenix coronet for the headdress.
In modern weddings, the brides change to a white wedding gown for reception and third gown for the evening. They may even have a fourth change of dress for seeing-off the guests. Guo Pei is known as one of the top best Chinese wedding dress designers.
Turkey
Turkish bridal dresses are also known for their ornate designs and vibrant colors. The Ottoman wedding dresses are made by using luxurious fabrics and sports lots of embroidered detailing. It consists of a long floor-length gown-like dress and an elaborate headpiece or veil.
The shades of these can range from red, purple, blue, pink, etc. Initially, red was only worn by brides in the royal family. But the trends changed after Naime Sultan married Kemalettin Pasa in a white dress. After this, the brides all over Turkey started opting for pastel and other vibrantly colored dresses.
Pricing for these dresses can vary based on the designer and efforts put in the creation. However, it ranges between 400 TL -2000 TL. This pricing is ideal for brides with different budgets.