Why Roma brides change 3 wedding dresses

...and why the dresses are always the same 3 colors.

Bridal room on the morning of a Roma wedding. Picture by Martina Petkova

Roma weddings are like something out of a fairytale. Lavish, abundant, bright, and colorful. The celebrations last for three days and three nights. Food and drinks abound. People dance under the open sky. The music - performed live by a traditional Roma orchestra - overpowers all other sounds in the vicinity. The entire family, every living relative, is in attendance.

And behind the scenes, countless rituals and customs are being followed with laser-sharp precision. One of these customs dictates that the bride should have three wedding gowns, each one in a specific color and worn at a specific time.

The white dress

On the first day of the wedding, the Roma bride comes closest to what mainstream society considers “traditional,” both in appearance and symbolism. She wears a white gown.