Once I receive a wedding invitation or an invitation to any event, I start planning what to wear in my head. I mentally go through my entire wardrobe in search of the best outfit to wear. Deciding on a guest outfit for a wedding in the UK can be very tricky. Especially when the bride and groom are from a different part of the world. It pays to get the look right or risk looking out-of-place.
What will the bride be her wearing to her wedding?
British Brides are known for their love for flattering white dresses, with the extra long train and veil. But how do our own bridal traditions compare to India, Japan and China?
India
For brides in India, the wedding dress depends on the part of India that they’re from. In some parts of the country, the bride goes for a saree which is a garment that looks like a long drape, in others she wears a lehenga which is a long skirt. Most times, the Indian bride goes for a red dress with elegant embroidery.
Japan
In Japan, the are usually very elaborate. Some families can spend close to £75,000 on a wedding day and it is usually the couple’s parents that organise the wedding. The Japanese bride usually wears a white kimono or a dress that has some sort of traditional print.
China
Chinese brides are usually dressed in red as it is considered a sign of good luck. that can warn off evil spirits. A bridal crown is also part of the wedding costume for some brides.
What will the groom be wearing to his wedding?
Most grooms usually wear a formal wear – suit, but the style could vary in different countries.
India
Some Indian grooms go for a traditional dress, such as a dhoti which is a rectangular cloth ties around the waist. In other parts of India, some of the grooms wear a sherwani (a long coat), a kurta (loose falling shirt that hangs below the knee), or a Western suit.
Japan
The Japanese groom wears a wedding kimono (montsuk) for the ceremony and then changes into a tuxedo too.
China
The Chinese groom usually goes for a black silk coat over an embroidered robe. He also has to wear a black hat with a red tassel. However, some grooms are not following the traditional dress code and simply wear a tuxedo or a regular suit.
What should the guests wear?
As a wedding guest, it can be hard to decided on the most appropriate outfit to wear to a wedding. The wedding guest outfit laws also vary from culture to culture.
India
In India, it is perfectly acceptable to go for a bold outfit. So think vibrant colours like yellow and the likes. Guests should avoid white or black as these are colours worn for funerals and mourning in India. Red should also be avoided as the bride will probably be wearing a red dress.
Male guests usually go for a tailored kurta.
Japan
Male wedding guests are expected to be dressed formally in a suit and tie with a black suit and white tie. Women often opt for dresses or a coloured kimono.
China
In China, guests usually go for bright colours, avoiding the red colour, just like in India. Black and white should be avoided as they symbolise mourning.
What do you think of these traditions? Have you ever attended a wedding in any of these countries?
*Collaborative post.
I have attended Indian weddings and love the chance to dress up in a sari – it feels so glamorous!
Oh nice.
Great post! Getting the right outfit for the occasion can be so tricky. Some really useful advice here!
Thanks for reading.
This is so interesting – I’ve never been lucky enough to attend a wedding in a different culture, but they all sound amazing. Spending £75,000 on a wedding day in Japan is serious amount!
Yea so pricey.
It’s so interesting to learn about different traditions
Yes it is Lauren.
Such a great post ! I love the idea of red being good luck! Thanks for sharing !
Thank you for reading.
Very informative post. It could be really challenging to dress appropriately to weddings, but your tips are very helpful. I will keep them close to my heart cos I always like to dress right lol. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading Osimeno.
Wow! £75 k is alot. I would hope there divorce rate is low at that cost. No not been to a wedding of anyone from another culture. These are good tips though.
We have a wedding to go to next April of our eldest son and daughter in law who married last year, best man and his fiance. Yes our eldest is reciprocating and is best man. We will also have their baby our 2nd Grandson with us then who was born in August.
Set up a new Pintrest board for it though will be using some of the accessories from our eldest wedding and just getting a new dress
Yes it is a lot. I hope the divorce rate is low too.
It was so interesting to hear about how weddings are celebrated in different cultures. I always thought that Indian Sarees are beautiful x
Yea it is Ana x
Lovely post Stella. I had never thought of what to wear for a wedding before. I have never been invited to one before but I could imagine it being fun planning what to wear 🙂
Thanks Claire.
I would love to go to a wedding abroad. Lovely to know what we would have to wear
Yea it is.
Such an interesting post as so many cultures have different ways to celebrate marriage. I have been to a Chinese one before and that was really interesting.
Laura x
You really wouldn’t want to get this wrong would you. These are great tips for going to weddings in other countries
Yea. Thanks Zena.
I love this article and the fact that you took the time to go into depth about each culture. I’ve never been to a wedding of a different culture but reading this article made me excited for when I get the chance to do so. I’m glad I will have this article to refer back to!
Glad you do Lindsey. Thanks for reading.
Wow amazing👌
Such an informative post! For men, it is quite the usuals and they have to step up their game when it comes to clothing ! Custom groom clothing is becoming the latest fad among grooms as they are able to customize anything and everything.
Thanks.
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