| |
African Wedding Dresses
-- African Wedding Dresses --
For brides with an African heritage, choosing to wear one of the amazing traditional African dresses available is a natural choice. Maybe your ancestors are from an African nation, and you wish to honor them. Maybe you’re getting married in Africa, or maybe you or your fiancé is from the continent.
Whatever your reasons for choosing to wear an African wedding gown, you’re in for a treat! African wedding dresses are known to be stunning, exotic, and unique!
Strong African InfluenceIf you want to express your African roots in a strong style, choose a gown that’s unparalleled in style and grace. Check out Therez Fleetwood, a dress designer that specializes in wedding gowns inspired from countries all over the world, like India, Africa, and Asia. Her gowns are absolutely stunning and channel the queens of days gone by! For example, the Nobushe gown is said to be “inspired by the colorful beadwork created by the Ndbele and Maasai peoples of Southern Africa.” The stunning silk gown features a front panel made of stunning beadwork, with dangling gold trinkets. Then there’s the “Layla,” which Fleetwood describes as “my interpretation of Egyptian royalty.” And royal it is! The silk satin sheath featured hand-sewn pyramid-shaped embroidery, complete with embroidered hieroglyphs! Add a decorative headpiece, a hip sash, and small pearl detailing, and these dresses are sure to pack a major “wow” factor. Other dress designers include Adele Wechsler, TeKay, and Cassandra Bromfield. Visiting a seamstress is another way to get the dress of your dreams. Consider having your gown custom made from an African patterned fabric, such as Kente class. Headpieces, corwy shells, wrap skirts and shawls are all traditional parts of a bride’s attire. Advice From The ProsI highly recommend reading the book "Afrocentric Bride: A Style Guide" by Therez Fleetwood. It covers pretty much everything a bride of color could want to know about putting on a wedding, and the author is a world renowned wedding dress designer to boot! It includes styling tips and advice to help every bride look and feel her best.
Light African InfluenceSome brides prefer to have just a little something to remind them of Africa, rather than an entire gown. If you prefer to wear a traditional white wedding gown, there may be small things you can do to let your cultural history shine through. Consider choosing a wedding gown designer who has an African heritage. If you’re buying off the rack, you may find a gown that has some intricate detailing which is African inspired. Not finding what you’re looking for? Consider taking matters into your own hands – literally! Save money by purchasing a simple, unadorned gown. Then add the exact embroidery you want on your own – or with the help of a talented seamstress. Consider wearing a gold wedding gown, rather than a pure white gown, which looks amazing on darker skin. Rich brocades, gold detailing, and metallic threads will all add to the overall style of your gown. Pair your American gown with beautiful African-inspired jewelry, and consider wrapping your bouquets with an African-inspired cloth. Or, pair a stunning strapless white dress with a beautiful African scarf for a casual, contemporary look (perfect for a beach wedding!). Choosing to wear an African wedding dress on your big day is the perfect way to include your culture and heritage in your big day. Look to the past for inspiration, as you and your partner look toward a future together! Whether your wedding is in a church, on the beach, or in a backyard, you can look every part the African Queen when you walk towards your groom wearing a stunning African wedding dress! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding day, and have fun finding that perfect wedding gown!
Here are some African American themed wedding items from our favorite online retailers!
Return from
African Wedding Dresses
to
Wedding Ideas
|