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Why Western brides wear white, why many Chinese and Indian brides wear red, and how Japanese, Korean and other wedding dresses differ in colour and meaning.
Wedding dresses around the world differ most in colour. The white gown common in the West only became the norm after Queen Victoria wore white in 1840. Many Chinese brides wear red for luck, many Indian brides wear red with gold, and Japanese brides may wear a pure white shiromuku kimono or a colourful uchikake. Korean brides traditionally wear a richly embroidered hwarot. Many couples now wear more than one outfit on the day. Styles vary by region, faith and family, so this is an overview.
Traditional bridal colours and garments by culture: Western Europe and North America, Gown, White or ivory, common since the 19th century; China (Han), Qipao, gown or hanfu with red veil, Red; India, Sari or lehenga, Red with gold, with strong regional variation; Japan, Shiromuku or uchikake kimono, Pure white, or red, white and black; Korea, Hwarot or wonsam, Bright colours with embroidered motifs; Vietnam, Áo dài, Varies.
Before 1840 British brides married in many colours. The Victoria and Albert Museum says it was quite usual for a bride to wear red, pink, blue, brown or even black. When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 she wore white silk satin with Honiton lace, and the look spread. The V&A notes that many women on limited budgets kept wearing coloured dresses they could wear again, and that white only became the expected norm for most brides by the late 1800s.
In Chinese tradition, red stands for good luck, happiness and celebration. Han Chinese brides historically wore the honggaitou, a red veil that covered the face, a custom that can be traced to the Song dynasty. Today many Chinese brides wear a white gown for part of the day and a red qipao or traditional dress for the tea ceremony. See Chinese bridal clothing and why do brides wear red.
In many Indian traditions, red with gold brocade is the classic bridal choice, as red is associated with married women. The V&A notes that red is thought to signal future success and prosperity. Colours vary by region and community: the same encyclopedia entry mentions red-and-white checks in Tamil Nadu. Modern brides choose from a much wider range of colours. Brides wear a sari or a lehenga, a long skirt with a blouse and scarf. Indian bridal jewelry explained covers the jewellery.
At a Shinto wedding, the bride's outer layer is traditionally either a pure white shiromuku or a colourful uchikake. The shiromuku stands for purity. The uchikake typically uses red, white and black, described as auspicious colours in Shinto. Many brides change outfits during the reception. Japanese bridal kimono goes into more detail.
Korean bridal hanbok includes the hwarot and wonsam, ceremonial robes with embroidered symbols. Peonies on a bridal robe represented a wish for honour and wealth. Many Korean couples now marry in a Western gown and change into hanbok for the family ceremony. See Korean hanbok weddings.
In Vietnam, the áo dài is now a standard garment for weddings, as well as for Tết and other formal occasions. Cambodian, Thai, Burmese and Balinese brides also have their own traditional wedding clothing.
Wedding clothing across Africa and the Middle East is too varied to sum up in a line. Nigerian bridal fashion, African wedding fashion and Middle Eastern bridal fashion cover these in their own guides, and what brides wear around the world gives a broader overview.
Many weddings now include an outfit change: a white gown for the ceremony and a traditional dress for a tea ceremony or reception, or two outfits for two ceremonies. Why couples have multiple wedding outfits explains why, and what grooms wear covers the other half of the couple.
The colour customs above shape what guests should wear. At a Western wedding, guests generally avoid white. At a Chinese or Indian wedding, bright colours are welcome, but some families prefer guests to avoid red. Can you wear red to a wedding? covers the details. If your guests come from different traditions, a short note on your wedding website saves a lot of questions.
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