Every time you think of an American wedding we automatically think of everything fairytale white. However, when you start to think of weddings outside the West all you see is lots of vibrant colors. This has intrigued me and I started to look further into Indian, Mexican, Korean and other countries’ wedding customs & traditions. If I were to renew my wedding vows I think I would surely celebrate this time around with lots of colors and not just basic white, I especially like the Indian colors and clothing material.
One of the most significant parts of Indian weddings is the vibrant colors found throughout the entire celebration; from the clothing to the decorations not to mention all the gold jewelry that the bride is decorated with, the henna artwork, and even the guest must dress the part.
Did you know that an Indian bride gets to wear two dresses? First, let’s talk about the traditional dress called the sari. An Indian bride normally wears two saris. After the ceremony, if the bride wore the traditional red dress (known for happiness and good luck) she may choose a different color for her reception like green, corals, golds, blues, pinks, tangerines, and purples.
What about their beautiful music, I understand not one word but just love it. A wedding isn’t a wedding without music and I can say that as I’m married to a radio personality. I especially love the group dances that are traditionally performed during the reception, called the Sangeet party. It’s obvious that a lot of work and preparation go into these dances.
Every culture has different wedding traditions. I love to learn about different wedding customs from all around the world. I think it is a great way to understand other cultures. Indian weddings have many unique customs if you ever get invited to one make sure to do your homework and plan so you can truly take part in this special celebration and know what to expect.
Rosa Julia Parra
