While large parts of the western world thinks of white weddins’ as a tradition, the rest of the globe has different, more colorful customs.
Scroll through these 10 gorgeous examples to see what wedding couples wear when white gowns and black tuxes aren’t in the picture.
1. India
India is not just one culture. It’s a mix of color and materials with customs as varied as its cities, villages and neighborhoods.
2. Ghana
Many couples wear matching kente– a hand-woven cloth–ceremonial clothing.
3. Indonesia
It’s a tradition for some in Indonesia to wear opulent jewels and clothing to look like kings and queens for their weddings.
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Aessan Gede dan Aesan Paksangko Pakaian adat Sumatra Selatan sangat terkenal dengan sebutan Aesan gede yang melambangkan kebesaran, dan pakaian Aesan paksangko yang melambangkan keanggunan masyarakat Sumatera Selatan. Pakaian adat ini biasanya hanya digunakan saat upacara adat perkawinan. Dengan pemahaman bahwa upacara perkawinan ini merupakan upacara besar. Maka dengan menggunakan Aesan Gede atau Aesan Paksangko sebagai kostum pengantin memiliki makna sesuatu yang sangat anggun, karena kedua pengantin bagaikan raja dan ratu. Pembeda antara corak Aesan Gede dan Aesan Paksongko, jika dirinci sebagai berikut; gaya Aesan Gede berwarna merah jambu dipadu dengan warna keemasan. Kedua warna tersebut diyakini sebagai cerminan keagungan para bangsawan Sriwijaya. Apalagi dengan gemerlap perhiasan pelengkap serta mahkota Aesan Gede, bungo cempako, kembang goyang, dan kelapo standan. Lalu dipadukan dengan baju dodot serta kain songket lepus bermotif napan perak. Pada Aesan Paksangkong. Bagi laki-laki menggunakan songket lepus bersulam emas, jubah motif tabor bunga emas, selempang songket, seluar, serta songkok emeas menghias kepala. Dan bagi perempuan menggunakan teratai penutup dada, baju kurung warna merah ningrat bertabur bunga bintang keemasan, kain songket lepus bersulam emas, serta hiasan kepala berupa mahkota Aesan Paksangkong. Tak ketinggalan pula pernak-pernik penghias baju seperti perhiasan bercitrakan keemasan, kelapo standan, kembang goyang, serta kembang kenango. #paradesignphotography #jakartaphotography #weddingphotography #jakartawedding #vendorwedding #tradisional #java #wedding #solo #adat #instaphoto #instanusantara #indonesia #geonusantara #traditionalweddingphotography #adatpalembang Photo by: @paradesignphotography In frame: Wendrata+Desy
A post shared by Syaeful Bachri (@monkeymillenial) on Sep 17, 2015 at 9:28pm PDT
4. Estonia
Some brides get to wear colorful head-wreaths to match their folk dresses.
5. Scotland
It’s a custom for some that grooms to wear kilts for their formal wedding attire.
6. Norway
Some brides prefer to wear folk dresses instead of a modern white bride gown.
7. Mongolia
In traditional weddings, bridal couples wear clothes called deel.
8. Poland
A special cap for the bride gets its own ceremony called oczepiny, in a central Poland town called Łowicz.
9. China
Red is a traditional color for weddings as it symbolizes luck, love and prosperity.
10. Sri Lanka
Brides wear saris and Nalapata headpieces, while grooms wear 4-cornered hats, velvet jackets, and a mul anduma , a long, white cloth wrapped around the waist. Seriously beautiful.
It’s fascinating to see other country’s wedding fashion customs, isn’t it?
They may be completely different and even unexpected, but when it comes to the ultimate celebration of love, we can all say, “cheers!”