It goes without saying that an Asian bride traditionally weds in an ornately decorated rich red outfit. But if you’re British Asian, you most likely grew up looking at (and dreaming of) a western wedding too - complete with a stunning white dress, veil and bouquets.
There’s no reason you can’t have both. As these pictures will show, lots of Asian brides are choosing to honour both their cultures on their Big Day. Some have opted for a traditional wedding dress for their registry, while others have worn a beautiful cream or white sari or lehenga for the religious ceremony.
And as these real brides show, the results can be stunning
This Sabyasachi bride in Orange County, USA
Image by Duke Photography
Nirali Shah married Avinash Sharma on 16th April 2016 in Orange County, California. She bought her outfit from Sabyasachi in Mumbai. She says: “I tried to get an appointment with the designer himself but I know he travels often. But when I walked into the Sabyasachi flagship boutique to look at my top choices, Sabyasachi himself was standing right there!
He ended up styling my bridal look, head-to-toe, and even suggested a coordinated look for Avi. It was the most unreal, unplanned experience that I will never forget.”
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This bride who married in Goa, India
Image by Zurihsia Studios
Sonu married Rajeev Shah at the Grand Hyatt Goa on 16th November 2015. She wore a traditional Sabyasachi for the ceremony before changing into an embroidered gown for the reception, accessoried with her traditional bridal bangles.
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A bride who wore a customised traditional outfit in white
Images by Dash Photography
Darshika Devi married Sandeep Kumar in a religious ceremony on 28th April 2017 before flying to Hawaii for their civil on 2nd May 2017. She says: “I didn’t want to wear red, but still wanted that regal bridal look, so I had a lehenga designed in white. I also wore Creed Love in White, jewels from Red Dot and Jimmy Choo.”
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A romantic destination wedding bride in Tuscany
Images by Ondrej Kaftan
Kavita Patel married Ravin Visavadia in a Tuscan farmhouse from 1st - 3rd September 2015. She wore a full-length gown with net and stone embroidery.
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This boho babe who married in Mexico
Images by Hong Photography
Persian Sharon Sharifikhah married Sikh Ronnie Jagday in Mexico in April 2015. She says: “The Persian ceremony was something I’d been looking forward to my whole life and it was better than I ever could have hoped.
I arrived on a fairytale white carriage pulled by a chestnut brown horse in a gorgeous embroidered white gown with fresh flowers in my hair. The ceremony was all the more beautiful because my grandfather married us. He spoke beautifully and by the time we walked out of the venue there wasn’t a dry eye in the house."
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This radiant bride who mixed up her colours
Images by Rima Darwash
When Sonia married Shiv, she chose to invert traditional colours in her outfit. She wore a cream outfit with red details and traditional finishings to honour both her Asian and British heritage.
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This bride who chose to match her classic country settings
Images by Aparat Photography
Fatima Qureshi met Zaraf Singh through a dating website. They married at Poundon House in July 2015. She wore a floral print skirt and beaded top with a pink dupatta for the nuptials.
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This girl who went for an English heritage look
Images by Didar Virdi
Preet Bal married Paul Dhillon on 14th September 2014 at Blenheim Palace. She says: “The Palace won us over immediately. We knew within moments that this was where we would make our vows. The ceremony was scheduled for 1pm and I knew I was walking far too quickly, grinning as I raced up to aisle to Paul’s side. I remember how elated I felt and how I kept asking my bridesmaids "Is it normal that I'm not nervous?" One of the reasons I felt so at ease was because our guest list was 70 family and friends. I knew every single person there.”
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This elegant Lake Como stunner
Images by Didar Virdi
Sherelle Singh married Rajveer Singh Sehangera on 25th June 2017 by the shores of Lake Como. She says: “Our civil ceremony followed by a reception had a classic dreamy look to it, making the most of our gorgeous surroundings. I designed my gown with full sleeves and a high neck for a timeless elegant look. All my jewellery came from Red Dot Jewels in Pinner.”
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This Vera Wang-wearing beauty
Image by Aiya Media
Dilveen Maini married Govindan Thathal in August 2015. She says: “Govi and I wanted something timelessly elegant for our civil ceremony, and discovered a brilliant venue in Ealing Town Hall which was perfect. Full of character and illuminated with gorgeous chandeliers, it was exactly what we pictured. I wore a Vera Wang gown while Govi chose a grey Ted Baker suit, which was dotted with confetti by the time we left!”
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And this smiley bride
Image by Eye Jogia
Shreena Ravaliya married Rajiv Bathia in May 2015 after a proposal in Iceland. She says: “My registry dress was from Confetti and Lace in Lakeside and bought quite luckily on a random trip with my parents. I wanted something comfortable and classic, which is what I found in the first shop I went to. Simple pearls with a hint of sparkle beautifully complemented my white dress.”
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