8 Stunning Wedding Dress Styles From Across Africa

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The traditional Nigerian wedding dress is a straight or figure-hugging dress with one very prominent feature: bold long sleeves.  Detailed in lace and beading, the “aso oke” it’s a gown made in vibrant and rich materials, accompanied by an ornate matching headwrap. The full bridal look usually consists of about five pieces: the blouse, skirt, shawl, scarf, and a veil.

The Nigerian Bride

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In church weddings, the Nigerian bride will often wear a white wedding dress.  While traditional ceremonial clothing will vary within each tribe, a common element to Nigerian wedding fashion are the bold and colorful coral beads. Worn as necklaces, earrings, or head adornments, the beads symbolize power, wealth and beauty.

The Nigerian Bride

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A bride in Kenya may wear a gown with earthy tones decorated in beading, a dress fused with ankara print fabric, or a blend of traditional and modern white wedding dress elements. However, a key cultural accessory is a Maasai necklace. It’s commonly worn to celebrate a special relationship or life event, accompanied by other matching beaded jewelry like cuff bracelets. 

The Kenyan Bride

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The stunning necklace from this shoot was made by the people of the Maasai Village, which honors the artisan craft of the tribe, and provides a rainbow of beaded color!

The Kenyan Bride

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For Zulu brides, traditional wedding wear is all about the “isidwaba,” a shorter skirt often decorated in beading. Once made of animal hide, modern brides wear this pleated skirt made of colorful fabrics, and often decorated in animal prints. A long, layered beaded necklace is a staple piece for this look, taking the term “statement necklace” to a place that we’ve only dreamt of. Created by a talented 

The South African Zulu Bride

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South African artisan, the necklace and accessories display an array of colorful beading. For Zulu brides, the colors carry significant literal or symbolic meaning for their family lineage and their social status.

The South African Zulu Bride

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The Ngoni tribe resides in the south-central region of Africa, but have an ancient history of migration as they’ve conquered and integrated into other regions of Africa.  This shoot chose to celebrate the beauty and strength of the Ngoni warrior bride. She is feminine and fierce, carrying beauty alongside battle, and incorporating earthy elements from her journeys.

The Ngoni Bride

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The secret to Ghanaian bridal fashion: gold. Gowns are typically made from traditional kente cloth, a handwoven fabric made with strips of silk and cotton that create bold patterns. Brides are usually spotted wearing yellow and gold tones, and often sporting a headdress made of fabric or beading. This look celebrates the warmth and joy that the Ghanian people radiate, as she is seen wearing a 

The Ghanaian Bride

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headwrap made of handwoven kente cloth and plenty of yellow. She glows!

The Ghanaian Bride

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This entire look was handmade, created by Zambian artists, with much of the inspiration taken from Queen Ramonda from Black Panther.  As explained by Mwai, “Africa’s fashion is very unique and diverse so it is easily adaptable to different cultures or occasions. We get inspiration from so many places and make it our own using the different fabrics that are available in a particular 

The Zambian Bride

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country.” This look reminds us that Africa is all things at once: strong, graceful, fierce, diverse, and unified.

The Zambian Bride

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The bride wears an elaborate white caftan or “takchita” for her entrance to the wedding. It’s embellished with luxurious fabrics and with gold embroidered designs. While there are numerous regional versions of this caftan, it can consist of several pieces, including a base caftan, a golden belt, an open jacket, and a headpiece. It is common for the Moroccan bride to have multiple outfit changes 

The Moroccan Bride

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throughout the night, as each look represents and celebrates the bride and groom’s region of origin. The bride’s hands and feet are also decorated with henna designs a few days before the wedding, as believed to bring them good luck.

The Moroccan Bride

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The Ethiopian bride commonly wears a “habesha kemis,” or ankle-length gown made of handwoven cotton fabric, often with golden sections woven into the fabric, and plenty of color.  Regardless of whether the bride wears a traditional wedding dress or a modern white wedding gown, the “kaba” jacket is the main element to the marriage ceremony. For both the bride and groom this jacket is 

The Ethiopian Bride

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essential. It’s adorned in gold or silver embroidery and can be a cropped length or flow onto the floor in a similar style to a wedding dress train.

The Ethiopian Bride

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