Wedding traditions with the colour white

White is so tied to the Western wedding that many people think it is the only wedding colour.

White is so tied to the Western wedding that many people think it is the only wedding colour. The custom is more recent and more varied than that, and white has a different meaning in other parts of the world.

How white became the fashion

Queen Victoria wore white lace at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840, and the picture spread through magazines and department stores. White was a sign of wealth, since it was hard to keep clean, and later a symbol of purity, though the claim that white always stood for virginity is a modern simplification. Before that, brides wore their best dress in any colour.

White in other cultures

In Japan the shiromuku is white to show a bride who is ready to take on the colours of her husband's house. In many Buddhist and Chinese communities white is the colour of mourning, and a white wedding dress may be worn only for the photographs. In India some communities, such as Kerala Christians and Parsi brides, wear white or cream. In Western Christianity white is also the colour of baptism.

About this page

Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background on The colour white (symbol). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

🇯🇵 JapanTamagushitamagushi (玉串) A decorated sakaki branch offered to kami during Shinto wedding ceremonies and other rites.Rite · The ceremony

🇮🇹 Rome, ItalyWeddings in ancient Rome The religious ceremonies and attire that marked a union in the city of Rome before the rise of Christianity.Rite · The weeks before

🇲🇦 MoroccoAhidusⴰⵃⵉⴷⵓⵙ (aḥidous) A collective Berber dance from Morocco performed in circles or lines to celebrate unity and victory.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts

🇲🇽 Oaxaca, Mexico and 1 moreHuipilhuīpīlli The traditional tunic worn by indigenous women in Mexico and Central America for weddings and daily life.Attire · The weeks before

🇭🇺 Hungary and 5 moreCsárdás A Hungarian folk dance that begins slowly and ends with a fast spin.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts

🇲🇾 Malaysia and 4 moreBaju Kurungباجو كوروڠ The traditional blouse and skirt worn by Malay women for weddings and religious ceremoniesAttire · The weeks before

🇲🇱 MaliWeddings in Mali Multi-day Malian wedding traditions blending Islamic rites, civil law, and local customs with bazin attire.Rite · Engagement and betrothal 🇵🇦 PanamaTamborito A Panamanian courtship dance performed in a circle with drums and female chorusPerformance · The wedding feast

🇮🇳 IndiaShankha White conch shell bangles worn by Bengali Hindu married women as a symbol of their husband's well-being.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇪 In-Gall, Niger and 2 moreGuérewol A week-long courtship dance where Wodaabe men display their beauty to win the attention of marriageable women.Rite · The weeks before

🇱🇦 Laos and 1 moreBaciບາສີ (Lao); บายศรี (Thai) The wrist-tying ceremony that calls the soul back to restore balance and good luck.Blessing · The ceremony

🇫🇯 FijiTabua A polished sperm whale tooth exchanged as a gift in Fijian weddings and ceremonies.Gift custom · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇱 Jerusalem, IsraelTu B'Avט״ו באב A minor Jewish holiday in Israel that serves as a popular day for weddings and matchmaking.Betrothal · The weeks before

🇬🇭 Ghana and 2 moreKente clothnwentoma Hand-woven silk and cotton strips from Ghana that mark weddings and graduationsAttire · The ceremony 🇮🇳 Kochi, IndiaKasavuകസാവ് The white cotton and gold border attire worn by Malayalis for weddings and festivals.Attire · The weeks before

🇯🇵 Tokyo, JapanMizuhiki水引 The knotted paper cord that adorns Japanese wedding gifts and envelopesAdornment · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇬 Iseyin, Nigeria and 2 moreAso okeAṣọ òkè Hand-woven cloth worn by the Yoruba for weddings and formal gatheringsAttire · The ceremony

🇮🇳 IndiaTulasi Vivahतुलसी विवाह (Tulasī Vivāha) A symbolic Hindu wedding uniting the holy basil plant with a stone representing Vishnu.Rite · The weeks before

🇪🇸 Spain and 4 moreMantilla A lace or silk veil worn over the head and shoulders by women in Spain and Latin AmericaAttire · The weeks before 🇺🇦 UkraineSong about the RushnykПісня про рушник (Pisnia pro rushnyk) A Ukrainian song that celebrates the embroidered cloth used in weddings and family life.Performance · The ceremony

🇮🇩 IndonesiaUlosᯥᯞᯘᯬ᯲ The hand-woven textile that binds Batak couples in marriage and symbolizes warmth.Attire · The ceremony

🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark and 2 moreKransekakekransekage A towering almond ring cake central to Scandinavian wedding and holiday traditions.Feast custom · Reception, dance and gifts

🇪🇹 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and 1 moreZuria The ankle-length dress with woven hem bands worn by Tigrinya and Amhara women for weddings and holidays.Attire · The weeks before

🇨🇱 Santiago, Chile and 3 moreCueca A courtship dance from Chile and the Andes where couples trace circles with handkerchiefs to reenact a rooster and hen.Performance · The eve

🇮🇪 Ireland and 1 moreHandfastingceangal na lámh (Irish); pòsadh-bliadhna (Scottish Gaelic) A pledge ceremony where a couple joins hands to make a binding marriage contract or engagement.Rite · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreAnand Karajਅਨੰਦ ਕਾਰਜ The Sikh wedding rite where the couple circles the Guru Granth Sahib to four hymns of union.Rite · Procession and arrival

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreMangalsutraमङ्गलसूत्रम् (maṅgalasūtram) The sacred necklace tied around the bride's neck to mark her marriage.Adornment · The ceremony

🇮🇳 Kanchipuram, India and 1 moreWedding sari The traditional draped garment worn by brides in South Asia for their marriage ceremony.Attire · The ceremony 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreLeirum Pheeꯂꯩꯔꯨꯝ ꯐꯤ A traditional Meitei shawl given as a wedding gift from parents to daughtersAttire · Engagement and betrothal

🇰🇷 South KoreaDangui당의 A long upper garment worn by Korean brides over a chima and jeogori during the Joseon period.Attire · The ceremony

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreToporটোপর The fragile white conical crown worn by the Bengali Hindu groom for luck.Attire · The weeks before

🇩🇪 Germany and 5 morePolterabend The evening before the wedding when guests break porcelain to bring luck and test the couple's teamwork.Blessing · The eve 🇮🇶 Mosul, IraqWedding traditions in Iraq The arranged courtship, religious rites and multi-day celebrations that mark marriage in Iraqi society.Betrothal · Finding a match

🇮🇳 IndiaOdia Hindu weddingBahaghara (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ବାହାଘର) The traditional Hindu marriage ceremony of the Odia people in Odisha, India.Rite · Engagement and betrothal

🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 1 moreBengali Muslim weddingবাঙালি মুসলিম বিয়ে A multi-day Bengali Muslim marriage blending Islamic rites with local folk traditions.Rite · The weeks before

🇯🇵 Tokyo, JapanShinto wedding神前結婚 (Shinzen kekkon) A Shinto purification ritual featuring sake sharing and kimono attire held at a shrine or venue.Rite · The ceremony

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreCare cloth A linen or silk cloth held over the heads of a bride and groom during a Christian wedding blessing.Attire · The ceremony

🇮🇳 IndiaMehndi The henna body art applied to brides and guests before a South Asian wedding ceremony.Adornment · The weeks before

🇯🇵 JapanShūgi-bukuro祝儀袋 The decorative envelope used to present monetary gifts at Japanese weddings and celebrations.Gift custom · Reception, dance and gifts

🇪🇸 Spain and 2 moreWedding cord A satin loop placed around the couple to symbolize their lifelong union in Catholic weddings.Rite · The ceremony

🇮🇳 Mumbai, India and 3 moreDowry system in Indiaदहेज (Hindi), ज़ेहर (Urdu) The transfer of cash and goods from the bride's family to the groom that has become a source of financial strain and vioGift custom · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreChuraचूरा (Hindi) The red and white bangles that mark a bride's new status in Indian Hindu weddingsAttire · The weeks before

🇮🇳 IndiaVaramalaवरमाला (Varamālā) The exchange of flower garlands that marks mutual acceptance in a Hindu wedding.Rite · The ceremony

🇹🇴 Tonga and 2 moreTaʻovala The woven pandanus mat worn around the waist for formal occasions and weddings in Tonga.Attire · The weeks before

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreWedding dress The ceremonial garment worn by the bride during her marriage rite.Attire · The ceremony

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreWhite wedding A formal Western ceremony marked by a white bridal gown and traditional Christian rituals.Attire · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇬 NigeriaIgbo traditional marriageIgba Nkwu The multi-stage Igbo marriage process that formalizes a union through family negotiations and the wine-carrying ceremonyRite · Finding a match

🇺🇦 Chernivtsi, Ukraine and 1 moreVyshyvanka DayДень вишиванки The annual celebration where people wear embroidered shirts to show national unity and identitySetting

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Polterabend: 4028mdk09, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Odia Hindu wedding: Aditya Mahar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Bengali Muslim wedding: NahidSultan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Shinto wedding: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Care cloth: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Mehndi: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Shūgi-bukuro: Nesnad, CC BY 4.0, source
Mantilla: Museu Valencià d'Etnologia, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Wedding cord: Phil! Gold, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Dowry system in India: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Baju Kurung: Ministry of Information official photographer, Public domain, source
Weddings in Mali: HawaG, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Shankha: Salil Kumar Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Guérewol: Dan Lundberg, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Baci: Dalbera, CC BY 2.0, source
Tabua: Hannes Grobe /AWI, CC BY 3.0, source
Interfaith marriage in Christianity: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0, source
Kente cloth: ZSM, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Laavaan: Ashish 100, CC BY 2.0, source
Mizuhiki: User:FA2010, Public domain, source
Aso oke: Wolf D., Public domain, source
Tulasi Vivah: Unknown author, CC BY 3.0, source
Ulos: Boy Lawson, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Kransekake: Kjetil Ree, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Zuria: Kurt Bauschardt, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Ahidus: Fotograaf / photographer: Drs. F.M. (Frits) Cowan (1931 - 2010), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Weddings in ancient Rome: Meister der Aldobrandinischen Hochzeit, Public domain, source
Handfasting: Sander van der Wel, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Huipil: Gift in memory of Elizabeth Ege Freudenheim, No restrictions, source
Csárdás: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Varamala: Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Taʻovala: James Foster, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Wedding dress: Statens historiska museer, CC BY 2.5, source
Igbo traditional marriage: Olugold, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Vyshyvanka Day: Vasily Andreevich Tropinin, Public domain, source
Topor: Sumit Paul-Choudhury, CC BY 2.0, source
Mangalsutra: Ackroydman, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Wedding sari: Tarquin Binary, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Dangui: derivative work: Caspian blue ( talk ) Korean_royal_costumes-06.jpg :, CC BY 2.0, source
Tamagushi: Urashimataro, Public domain, source
Cueca: Manuel Antonio Caro, Public domain, source