A Fascinating Look at Different Wedding Dresses From Around the World

Getting married is an important event in every person’s life. A lot of attention goes into preparing the right outfit for the occasion. In many countries, the bride and groom wear national costumes that reflect their religious beliefs as well as the local customs.

Leaving manly kilts aside for a moment, Bright Side decided to focus on the dazzling bridal dresses from around the world. Keep reading to find out what stories and traditions are behind them.

Bulgaria

A Bulgarian girl wearing a traditional wedding costume.

Turkey

In Turkey, before a bride leaves her parent’s home and heads to her wedding ceremony, her brother or uncle ties a red ribbon around her waist. Red symbolizes happiness, good luck, and innocence.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the bride’s outfit combines Eastern and Western traditions. Girls wear richly embroidered silk saris and veils. Jewelry should include an odd number of stones, since odd numbers are considered to be auspicious.

Indonesia

Each Indonesian island has its own traditions for bridal gowns. Local girls often dress up in brightly colored outfits with heavy embroidery.

Pakistan

Pakistani girls choose wedding dresses in deep red, pink, or purple. Both the bride and groom are traditionally crowned with garlands made from beads and cotton ribbons.

India

Indian brides choose a traditional lehenga choli outfit, often in red, adding 16 accessories and jewels according to Solah Shringar (a bridal beauty ritual).

Nubia

In Nubia, brides wear headscarfs, hide their faces behind sheer veils, and use additional white veils to cover their hair.

Eritrea

A traditional Eritrean wedding outfit includes a crown made from dark velvet and a purple dress with gold embroidery. The bride’s costume compliments that of the groom.

Republic of Tuva, Russia

In Tuva, the national costume reflects the nomadic lifestyle of local people. Ceremonial clothes are comfortable for horseback riding, and they’re made from light-colored fabrics but richly decorated.

Tibet

In Tibet, on the eve of the wedding day, the groom brings his bride a wedding dress and accessories. The outfit can include a headdress, silver coins for hair decoration, and a small metal Buddha amulet.

Palestine

For an official wedding ceremony in Palestine, the bride wears a gorgeous white dress. But she must also have a second gown, hand embroidered by her mother, for the actual occasion.

Peru

In Lima, the capital city of Peru, brides traditionally wear red-and-black dresses with layered cotton underskirts and decorative trims.

Jordan

Western fashion leaked to Jordan, where modern brides wear white dresses with either gold or silver jewelry. Often the bride’s head is covered with green fabric. The color symbolizes growth, harmony, and security.

Mali

In Mali, the bride’s outfit is called a ’kaftan,’ and is the same color as the dashiki — a loose-fitting pullover garment worn by the groom. Couples often choose white, but sometimes the go-to color is lavender or shades of violet.

Nigeria

Nigerian brides stand out with their bright lacy blouses and patterned kaftans, which are often made from Indian fabrics. Coral beads and an elaborate hat complete the look.

Iraq

In Iraq, brides traditionally try to set the record for the highest number of costume changes. Throughout the celebration, they manage to wear up to 7 dresses in different colors. Red symbolizes love and romance.

Italy

Italian brides believe that green brings good luck and abundance, so they often put on green dresses and green accessories, although white is still the most popular color.