Weddings are a part of every culture, and people celebrate it according to their cultural traditions. One aspect that makes this event different in every area is the choice of colors, especially brides’ dresses, used in weddings. The first thing that comes to mind after hearing the word bridal dress or wedding dress is a white gown in Western countries because of Queen Victoria’s white lace wedding dress or red dress in the Eastern hemisphere, as most countries use different variants of these dresses in the same colors. However, bridal gowns in other countries have bright hues and different silhouettes.
Wedding dress colors carry deep meaning and often reflect the traditions and beliefs of a country. Let’s take a simple look at wedding dress colors from different cultures and how brides around the world choose what to wear on their special day. We’ll also see how these colors are slowly changing with the modern bridal palette.
Wedding Dress Colors Around the World According to Cultural Traditions
There are various types of wedding dresses that make the bride’s special day even more exciting and enjoyable. Colored wedding dresses enhance the bride’s beauty and make her look completely different from other girls attending the wedding. If you love to know about bridal dress colors from different cultural traditions, keep reading.
White – Western Countries
Brides often wear white color dresses in the United States, Canada, the UK, and much of Europe because it’s a symbol of purity and simplicity. This trend became popular after 1840 when Queen Victoria of England wore a white lace gown on her wedding day. In the 20th century, white became quite necessary for brides in Western weddings.
Brides love to add modern touches by picking shades like ivory, champagne, or even light blush to match the modern bridal palette. Wearing colorful shoes or accessories further brightens the look of brides.
Red – China and India
Red is important and common in Chinese and Indian weddings, as the color stands for good luck and love. It wishes happiness and enjoyment in the coming years of the bride and groom’s marriage.
China
Chinese brides often wear red qipaos or cheongsams with gold or silver embroidery. This is a silk dress comes with a mandarin collar. They prefer red in Chinese tradition as they believe it keeps away evil spirits and brings a strong and happy marriage. Brides may also pick some other colors like green, blue, and other light colors.
India
Indian brides wear red color bridal sarees or lehengas, which show strength and passion. Henna on hand and feet also bring a further traditional touch to the bride’s look. Although red is still popular, many Indian brides today choose maroon, pink, or even pastel shades to suit their own taste while still respecting tradition.
Green – Middle East and Some African Countries
Green has a strong association with growth and peace. It’s also considered a sacred and prosperous color in Islamic culture. Brides wear green or sometimes red at weddings in the Middle Eastern world. White is also a popular color, but the traditional color is still green at weddings and other celebrations.
Some African cultures also include green in wedding outfits, especially when the event is held in nature or when the couple wants to show a connection to the earth and their roots.
Gold – Southeast Asia
Gold is a popular traditional color for bridal dress in Southeast Asian countries. It represents wealth and success for the people of Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Brides love to wear gold-colored dresses with fine embroidery and detailed patterns as they believe gold color brings a bright future.
Black – Some Parts of Spain and Scandinavia
People think that black is unusual for a wedding, but there are countries in the world like Spain where brides wear the color on their wedding. Brides wear black to show their lifelong commitment and love to their husbands, as it’s a symbol of strength and deep love. In modern weddings, black has made a small comeback in Western countries as part of the modern bridal palette. Some brides choose black gowns or black-and-white designs to look bold and different.
Blue – Ancient Traditions in Europe
White is popular, but before it, brides in Europe wore blue as it represented loyalty and faithfulness and made marriage strong by preventing bad luck. Even in these years, brides use blue ribbons and jewelry to add a traditional touch. Some brides now go for light blue or dusty blue dresses to add this calm and cool shade to the modern bridal palette.
Colorful Patterns – Africa
African brides have the most different kinds of dresses because of their multicolor selection. Brides often wear dresses made from traditional fabrics like kente, Ankara, or dashiki. These fabrics are full of bright patterns and strong colors with different meanings. They choose orange for energy and fertility, purple for royalty, and green for growth and family life.
White and Gold Mix – Japan
Shiro-Muku is a white kimono that Japanese brides wear for their wedding ceremony. White shows purity and a fresh start. Later, they may change into a bright red or gold kimono for the party part of the wedding. Brides also pick soft pink and pastel kimono shades from the modern bridal palette.
In the modern bridal palette, some of the best colors are soft pink, champagne, lavender, dusty blue, silver, peach, and even grey. These colors give brides the chance to show their personal style while still nodding to tradition.
Conclusion
White and red are some common bridal dress colors in different traditions. There is no limit on colors for brides; they can choose any color of their choice to look best on their special days.
The modern bridal palette is not about rules. It’s about what feels and looks good for the bride. Whether it’s a bold red saree in Delhi, a gold dress in Bangkok, a white gown in Paris, or a colorful pattern in Lagos, the most important thing is that the dress reflects the heart of the bride.
