Loading Forever Farrah…
Why many couples change outfits during their wedding, which cultures expect it, from Chinese tea ceremonies to Nigerian and Indian weddings, and how to plan them.
Couples wear more than one wedding outfit mainly because many weddings are really several events, each with its own dress code. A Chinese-American bride may wear a red cheongsam for the tea ceremony and a white gown for the ceremony. Korean couples often change into hanbok for pyebaek. Nigerian and Ghanaian couples wear traditional cloth for the traditional wedding and a gown and suit for church. Others simply want a practical dress for dancing, or to honour two cultures in one day.
Common outfit changes by culture: Chinese and Chinese diaspora, Red qun kwa or cheongsam, white gown, Tea ceremony and banquet in red, ceremony in white; Korean, Western gown and suit, then hanbok, Hanbok for the pyebaek family ceremony; Japanese, Kimono, then Western dress or tuxedo, Shinto rite in kimono, other parts in Western dress; Nigerian, Aso oke or lace, then white gown and suit, Traditional wedding and church wedding; Indian and Pakistani, Different outfits for each event, Mehndi, ceremony and reception are separate events; Multicultural couples, One outfit per culture, Honouring both families.
Cantonese brides traditionally wear a qun kwa, a heavily embroidered red silk jacket and skirt decorated with a dragon and phoenix. Many Chinese and Chinese diaspora brides now wear both red and white. Writing in the South China Morning Post, one Chinese-American bride described buying two white dresses and wearing a red cheongsam for her tea ceremony to honour her father. Chinese bridal clothing explains the garments, and why do brides wear red? covers the colour.
Most Korean weddings today are Western-style, but many couples change into hanbok for pyebaek, the ceremony where they bow to the groom's family. The mothers often wear hanbok too, the groom's mother in blue shades and the bride's in red. See Korean hanbok weddings.
A traditional Japanese bride wears a kimono: a white shiromuku, a colourful iro-uchikake or a black kurobiki furisode. In non-religious ceremonies, brides often wear a Western wedding dress and grooms a tuxedo, and many couples do both over the day. Japanese bridal kimono explains each style.
In Nigeria and Ghana, many couples hold a traditional wedding and a separate church or civil "white wedding". Yoruba couples often wear aso oke, the hand-woven cloth worn for weddings, and Ghanaian couples kente, then a gown and suit for church. See African wedding fashion and Nigerian bridal fashion.
Hindu wedding celebrations may extend for several days, and many families hold a separate mehndi night, where henna is applied to the couple and guests. Each event usually gets its own outfit, from lighter clothes for the mehndi to the full bridal outfit and a sherwani for the ceremony. See Indian wedding traditions.
Two cultures, two ceremonies. Couples from different backgrounds often wear one outfit for each. See should you have two wedding ceremonies? and why some cultures have multiple wedding ceremonies. Comfort. A long train or heavy embroidered outfit is hard to dance in. Weather. A cooler outfit for an outdoor ceremony, a warmer one for an evening reception, or the reverse. Photos. Some couples want one look for portraits and another for the party.
Decide which events need a new outfit. Two or three changes is plenty for most weddings. Build the change into the timeline. A traditional outfit with a head tie or wrapped garments can take much longer to change than a dress. Leave room between events, and see the gap between the ceremony and reception. Book a private room near the reception. Ask the venue early. Bring help. Someone who knows how the outfit goes on, especially for a sari, gele or kimono. Tell guests the plan. If the couple disappears for a change, give guests something to do. Wedding reception activities besides dancing has ideas. Mind the budget. Each outfit comes with tailoring, accessories and sometimes a hair change. How much to spend on a wedding dress helps set a number.
It varies. Many couples wear two or three over the day; some wear one. There's no rule, and no reliable data on how common each is.
Red is the traditional bridal colour in Chinese culture, worn for the tea ceremony and often the banquet. Many brides also wear a white gown for a Western-style ceremony.
Loading Forever Farrah…