Tying the Knot: What Traditional Weddings Look Like Around the World

Weddings are a celebration of love between people who are committed to building a future together, and should be made special and memorable. Adding some personal touches to your wedding will make it unforgettable and meaningful for you and your partner. Picking a wedding venue that is close to your heart, making a custom diamond ring, putting up a photo wall full of your memories together are just some ways you can shake up your special day.

Wedding dress codes are slowly evolving to match the personalities of the happy couple. While most people still opt for a traditional western white gown and/or black suit, many others are choosing to mix things up a little bit. Some couples prefer a destination wedding, for which the special couple arrives in colorful tropical clothing. Others may choose to host a beach or garden wedding where the dress code is more casual.

Wedding outfits are by no means limited to these few options. Wedding customs and attire vary across countries, and are a beautiful celebration of one’s culture and heritage.

Bold and Beautiful Prints: Ghananian Weddings

Expect vibrant colors and bold patterns in a traditional Ghanian wedding, where the happy couple will be dressed like royalty. The traditional wedding attire typically consists of fun, bright colors made from a type of silk and cotton fabric called kente that originated from Ghana. Kente design and colors are tailored specifically to the new couple to reflect their personal style combined with the beautiful Ghanian culture and heritage. The wedded couple usually matches their wedding attires using the custom kente pattern, and the lively print is bound to draw everyone’s attention and breath away!

Celebrating the National Costume: Korean Weddings

Korea’s national costume, the hanbok, was worn daily by its people up till a hundred years ago. Nowadays Koreans put on their hanboks for formal occasions, such as festivals and ceremonies, including weddings. The attire consists of several pieces and has a distinct shape, one that is fitted on top and wide at the bottom. Similar to the Ghanian kente fabric, hanboks come in a myriad of colours, patterns, and even embroidery. Traditionally, brides wear red hanboks and grooms wear blue hanboks as the two colors are meant to represent the balance of energy between the two (something that is also symbolized on the South Korean flag). Brides will wear a headgear, and have two red circles painted on the apple of their cheeks to protect them from evil spirits.

Striking in White: Shinto Weddings in Japan

The Japanese have a few different types of wedding style, with western-style weddings gaining popularity. Shinto weddings were popular back in the 20th century and relied heavily on the theme of purification, something that is reflected in the wedding attire. Shinto grooms and brides typically wear a form of kimono, the national costume of Japan, during their wedding. The bride presents a striking image by dressing in a kimono that is pure white or white with red accents, symbolizing purity, cleanliness and harmony. The outfit is completed with a white headdress or hood. The groom usually has his family’s symbol embroidered on his kimono. However, Shinto weddings have drastically declined since the 1990s due to its lack of popularity.

Being One with Nature: Andean Weddings in Peru

Many Peruvians now embrace the western white gown and black suit for their weddings, but traditional wedding attires are still worn by the Andean people who live in mountain towns. These traditional attires are adorned with colorful hems and sequins, decorated with patterns of flowers and animals. Brides put on a pollera, a type of skirt that is worn daily by women, that has been embellished for the wedding. They may also wear several skirts to give it more volume. The couple would also each wear a large hat decorated with tassels and beaded straps called the montera. The Andean people typically host their wedding reception outdoors to celebrate the upcoming matrimony in the presence of gods.

Family Tartan: Scottish Weddings

Tartans are the star of the show at a Scottish wedding. Grooms wear a shirt and jacket with a kilt, a knee-length dress skirt with pleats at the back, of his clan. A pouch known as the sporran is positioned in front of the kilt. Brides usually wear a long, white wedding gown and may choose to pair it with a tartan bridal shawl or sash with her partner’s clan colors. Wearing tartan of one’s partner’s clan colors signifies the transition into the family of one’s partner.

Wedding customs and celebrations differ across cultures. Wedding attires and what they symbolize vary greatly as well, and often honor important values and traditions in the specific culture. Each style is unique and beautiful in its own way, and may serve to give you some ideas about what you might like to see at your wedding or how you could shake things up a little bit.