Wedding day is a crucial milestone in the love journey of every couple, so choosing the wedding attire must be done carefully and hold special significance for this important day. Ao Dai has long been a traditional costume in our wedding ceremonies, and perhaps each of us has wondered at some point: Why is Ao Dai the symbol of the Vietnamese people and what does it represent? Especially for brides who have been away from their homeland for a long time, wearing the traditional Ao Dai on their significant day carries even more meaning and brings about special emotions. They may have heard about the memories of the Ao Dai wedding attire from their grandmothers and mothers, but they truly understand the excitement and pride until they themselves experience it. The indescribable emotions when they touch the meticulously tailored Ao Dai, or perhaps it is hand-embroidered, made from materials that are unique to Vietnam, it reignites the sense of familiarity and memories of the place they call home. It further allows the bride to truly appreciate the profound meaning and importance of the traditional attire on their special day.
Wedding Ao Dai is often divided into two main types: traditional and modernized Ao Dai, which are transformed in terms of materials, styles, and patterns to best suit the body shape of the wearer. Brides can choose to don the traditional Ao Dai to gracefully accentuate the delicate and sensual characteristics of Vietnamese women. For brides who wish to cleverly conceal their imperfections, they can opt for the traditional Nhat Binh Ao Dai or modernized designs with a more comfortable fit.
In traditional wedding ceremonies, the Ao Dai typically features longer sleeves, collar, and hemline than usual. Especially, the Ao Dai is intricately embellished with details such as pearl embroidery on the chest or embroidered patterns on the hemline, showcasing cultural symbols such as lotus flowers, bronze drums, phoenixes, and herons. Couples can freely choose the dominant color tone that is vibrant yet still ensures the elegance of the ceremony, creating a vivid backdrop for their own emotions. White symbolizes purity and the pristine nature of love between the couple. Red, the color of luck and prosperity, represents blessings for a joyous union. Soft pink expresses romance and gentleness, while sky blue and green evoke a sense of tranquility and harmony. The choice of colors on the Ao Dai’s hemline becomes a poetic expression, interweaving dreams and deep desires of the couples.
The Ao Dai encapsulates the essence of Vietnamese weddings, as it not only represents tradition but also symbolizes the love and commitment between the bride and groom. Moreover, the image of the couple performing ancestral rites together in the traditional Ao Dai evokes special emotions for both families and even those who happen to witness the wedding photos.
