If you attended a wedding to find the bride wearing a bright red wedding gown, you might be shocked, inspired or even jealous to see her in such a bold-colored gown, especially when everyone is expecting a traditional white dress. However, you may not know this, but red wedding gowns are traditions in other cultures like Chinese and Indians.

Cultural infusion

In China, red is considered to bring in joy and good fortune, so most weddings focus around red décor, flowers, favors and most importantly, a red wedding gown. For most Chinese, red brings prosperity to one’s marriage, so white is definitely out of the question as they use white in mourning for their loved ones. However, if you’re worried wearing a bright red dress in your wedding, a traditional gold or yellow embroideries usually give contrast to the dress.

In India, brides wear saris, Ghagra choli or shalwar kameez to promote happiness and good luck to the future. These red wedding dresses are usually made of chiffon, silk or satin to reflect light more effectively. Since Indian wedding customarily hold colorful and extravagant weddings, their wedding dresses don’t fall short of their tradition; Indian red wedding gowns often include intricate patterns, lavish embroidery and plenty of beadwork.

A western Chinese wedding

The common thing about Chinese and Indian red weddings is that brides often change clothes after the ceremony. Some dress up in their traditional red wedding gown during the ceremony and then change into something more casual during the reception, others do it the other way around.

If wearing a red wedding gown is playing on your mind, why not make it real and have a wedding gown inspired by Chinese or Indian red gowns?

You don’t have to be Chinese or Indian to pull it off. Just see pinup model Masuimi Max as she wore a Chinese-inspired red dress during her wedding. To keep it under a more conventional feel, the low-cut dress has a spaghetti-strap matched with red gloves. See how those intricate, golden-yellow embroideries give life to the entire outfit? Just like the Indians and Chinese, Masuimi Max kept it all red – her makeup, dress, flowers and husband-to-be that sports a red Mohawk.

Beautiful red

If you’re still thinking twice of using red for your wedding dress, but you want a gown with intricate embellishments same as Indians and Chinese brides, you can go a few shades softer or blend in light colors like white. If you’re parents are suggesting a traditional white dress, but you desperately want to wear something red for your wedding, you can always meet them halfway by wearing a red-hued white wedding dress, similar to Gwen Stefani’s pink-hued bridal dress. This can make a white dress more dramatic and eye-catching.

“Ao Dai” or Long Dress is a Vietnamese’s traditional dress.

You see, you don’t have to be Chinese or Indian to wear a red wedding dress; all you need is the desire to do so. As long as you’re comfortable wearing a dress colored in red, which signifies passionate love, prosperity, respect, strength, energy and excitement, then do so. Besides, it was only since 1840 did white gowns became the ‘norm’ of wedding dresses; before that, a bride wore the best dress she has, regardless of color. Go back to your roots and start your new life with color.