When we think of brides, the iconic picture that springs to mind is the long white or ivory gown with a veil and a floral bouquet, but in many countries around the world wedding dresses are far more colourful and elaborate. Here are pictures of just some of the rather amazing bridal traditions from across the globe:<\/p>\n
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This Taiwanese bride wears a red gown, following the Chinese tradition, for the traditional formal wedding banquet hosted by her family.\u00a0 She also wears a phoenix crown, the traditional headpiece of the Ming Dynasty.<\/p>\n Image: Alex Aguirre Photography\n
This Mexican bride wears the traditional feathered headdress that forms part of the traditional Mexican ceremony called \u201cAmarre de tilmas\u201d. Modern Mexican brides are now more likely to wear western style white dresses.<\/p>\n Image: Bella Naija\n
Nigerian brides wear a beautiful coloured head scarf known as a gele, and tying the gele is almost a ceremony in itself and is certainly a rite of passage for Nigerian brides.<\/p>\n
<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> \n This Polish bride wears a wianek, a flowered headpiece that symbolises innocence. She will take off the headpiece as part of the oczepiny ceremony which is about accepting a new bride into a group of married women<\/p>\n<\/a> Image: Daniel Zain Photography\n This Malay bride wears an embroidered baju kurung, the traditional Malay dress for women. She also wears a tudung, which is a hijab or headscarf to cover her hair, with a selendang, or embroidered and beaded shawl over the top. A crown placed on top of the shawl signifies her importance for the day.<\/p>\n \n Greek brides usually wear western style white wedding dresses, but what sets them apart is the traditional wedding crown that is placed on the head of both the bride and groom during the wedding ceremony. After the exchange of rings the crowns are swapped between the bride and groom\u2019s heads three times. They symbolise the crowns that are waiting in heaven, and the fact that the bride and groom are king and queen of a newly created family.<\/p>\n
\nThis Igbo bride from Nigeria is taking part in the main part of the wedding ceremony where the bride comes out in her best outfit and kneels before her father for his blessing. She is given a glass of palmwine and then has to hunt for her groom and share the palmwine with him when she finds him.<\/p>\n
\nThis Mayto bride is from a small ethnic group in north-eastern Hungary. The wedding outfit reflects the folk costume of the Matyo and features an embroidered shirt and long skirt. The bride also wears a headpiece with pom-pom shaped ornaments that keep the head straight.<\/p>\n
\nPakistani brides will wear a number of outfits in different colours for different parts of their wedding. This bride is taking part in the Baraat or Walima functions, where brides usually wear Lehnga or Gharara outfits in red, maroon and pink, accessorised with heavy jewellery.<\/p>\n