The wedding dress and what the couple wear

Colour and meaning

Red stands for luck, joy and fertility in India, China, Vietnam and much of the Middle East, so brides wear red saris, lehengas, qipao and cheongsam, and guests avoid wearing it as outsiders to the family. White became the usual bridal colour in Britain and America after Queen Victoria married in a white gown in 1840, and has spread worldwide through film and magazines. In Japan a bride may begin in white, shiromuku, then change into a red or patterned kimono. Many cultures use several colours across the days: green and yellow for the henna and turmeric nights, gold for the ceremony.

The groom and the others

Grooms wear the sherwani and turban in North India, the dhoti and angavastram in the South, the barong Tagalog in the Philippines, the kilt in Scotland, the hanbok in Korea and the morning suit or dark suit in much of Europe. The couple's parents, attendants and guests often wear matching colours or fabrics. Family members may wrap the couple in a shawl, tie their garments together, or give them a cloth as a blessing, so clothing is part of the rite and not only the decoration.

Made by hand, passed down

Many wedding garments are textile heritage: the Kanjivaram and Banarasi saris of India, the piña cloth of the Philippines, the Hungarian Kalocsa embroidery, the Norwegian bunad with silver brooches, the Palestinian thobe stitched by the bride's female relatives. Family gowns and jewellery are altered for the next bride. Renting, borrowing and wearing a dress more than once are common in some places, and the resale and rental of gowns is growing.

How it is changing

Couples now mix: a white dress for the vows and a red outfit for the tea ceremony, or a sari with a veil. Dress codes include tailored suits for women and gowns for grooms. Sustainability and cost are pushing a rise in rented and second-hand outfits, and designers such as those who work in handloom revive local weaves. Because the clothes carry meaning for those who wear them, the choice is best left to the couple and their families.

The wedding dress and what the couple wear around the world

Compare all 16 places

Traditions to start with

Wedding dressThe overview of bridal clothing.Kente clothGhana's ceremonial woven cloth.LehengaThe long skirt of the South Asian bride.

Also part of it, and being written: Shiromuku (The Japanese white bridal kimono.), Hanbok (Korean traditional dress, worn at weddings.), Barong Tagalog (The Filipino groom's shirt.), Qipao (The Chinese one-piece dress.), Bunad (Norwegian regional costume.).

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