Amazing Traditional Wedding Costumes of Southeast Asia

Traditional Asian fashion arguably showcases some of the most beautiful, intricate garments in the world, though many aren't aware that these gowns even exist.

Asia, in particular, offers a wide variety of dazzling cultural dresses that continue to be worn for wedding ceremonies today. Many brides throughout Asia wear their country's traditional cultural gowns in addition to the white, more Westernised dress.

That's the beauty of our wedding dresses across the region, don't you think?

Below are series of pictures presenting gorgeous traditional wedding dresses of certain countries in the region including a little bit of information about them.

Who knows, it might give you some ideas of designing and creating your own special attire for the big day!

THAILAND

Most people dream of traveling to Thailand, a lush Southeast Asian country, with its tropical beaches, ancient palaces, and smiling people, but perhaps we should start including their gorgeous, figure-flattering dresses in our wanderlust fantasies.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Queen Sirikit was a major influence on fashion in Thailand and was considered the best-dressed woman in the world by Thai citizens. She is credited with reviving the status of Thai silk, often used in Thai national dress.

The official Thai national dress is known as Chut Thai Phra Ratcha Niyom, and it can come in various styles, depending on the occasion including wedding ceremonies.

MALAYSIA

Songket is a brocade of woven silk or cotton interwoven with either silver or golden threads

Real gold was once used in the past which makes songket become an expensive cloth worn by the well-to-do or royalty.

Songket weaving is another old craft used to produce the intricate fabric that is still popular for wedding events and official ceremonies; it is known as the “king of local textiles.”

Like batik, the best songket is found in the Malaysia's East Coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu.

INDONESIA

As the biggest archipelago country in the world, Indonesia is blessed with a diverse culture -- each region even possesses its own unique wedding customs.

Traditional Indonesian weddings are festive and vibrant, mainly thanks to its beautiful attires. Another spotlight on certain wedding ceremonies would be on several stunning wedding headpieces and crowns that can be found across the country.

One of the heaviest traditional Indonesian headpieces, the sunting or suntiang is worn by Minang brides from West Sumatra.

The traditional suntiang gadang crown is put together from up to 11 layers of flowers, gold, and aluminum, no wonder it can weigh as heavy as 5 kg! These days, however, it can be easily find as lighter, more practical, yet still, beautiful suntiang made of brass.

VIETNAM

Vietnam's past has seen its fair share of outside rulers, from imperial China to the colonial French, but its definitive dynastic era truly shaped the unique culture of this Southeast Asian nation, including its traditional fashion. Vietnamese wedding fashion wonderfully includes, against all traditional bridal logic: pants and a hat.

The distinctive, circular headdress is called the Khan Dong. Symbolically, in both Vietnamese and Chinese culture, a woman is represented by the phoenix while a man is represented by the dragon, which can be reflected in the embroidery.

MYANMAR

Myanmar Traditional Wedding Gowns are usually made using delicate silk materials and decorated with pearls, beads and sequins.

The traditional wedding dress for the bride is a two-piece dress; known as 'longyi' for the skirt and 'anngyi' for the blouse. Instead of veil, Myanmar brides wear a shawl that is hand stitched with rhinestones, crystal beads, pearls and sequins.

Both the gown and the shawl have that extra sparkly effect due to these decorations and they are very important elements of a traditional Myanmar wedding dress. Among popular colors used are white, rose pink (light pink), lavender, yellow/gold and baby blue.

LAOS

On the big day, the bride is dressed with a traditional Lao silk Sinh (Lao skirt), and silk blouse, and has her hair tied up in a special way with gold decoration. This ensemble is finished off with a gold necklace, bracelets, earrings and a bell.

The groom also gets dressed up usually with white or cream coloured silk shirt and a traditional silk Salong (a pair of baggy pants). Sometimes grooms wear normal pants and suits as some find Salongs uncomfortable.

Source : https://www.buzzfeed.com/eugeneyang/wedding-dresses-across-asia?utm_term=.mjwolvZbA#.psgPD3zQX, Wikipedia