Zimbabwean Traditional Wedding Styles

Zimbabwe is rich in ethnicity with lot of values and diverse culture.

Most Zimbabwean brides are already shying away from the western white dress, which is the choice of incorporating the traditional themes into their outfits instead. The use of traditional colors and fabrics gives Zimbabwean brides more flexibility in their choice of wedding dress and those of their bridal party.

By marriage a family ensures its survival and continuation into the next generation. Culturally, Shona, Ndebele, Shangaan, and Venda are patrilineal societies in which descent is through the male line and a women moves into her husband's home after marriage. The Tonga people are matrilineal, and the husband moves to the home area of his wife.

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Wedding traditions in Zimbabwe often share a common thread in terms of values, views and experiences with other African regions.

However, as influence from West and the Western world becomes prevalent from colonization, the current European and Western set of apparels are able to bleed into the culture and affect the current generations for the future generations with respect to their choice of clothing. Although this sense of style is subjected to change over time, but the changes shape the future culture.

Many young people in Zimbabwe have opted to have modern weddings albeit, but traditional weddings or weddings with some cultural elements in them are still very common. 

In Zimbabwe today, there is no well defined traditional marriage dress, as most of the dressing cultures are borrowed from countries like South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana.

When it comes to most Zimbabwean brides, they are already shying away from the western white dress, choosing to infuse the traditional themes into their outfits instead. The use of traditional colors and fabrics however, gives the brides more flexibility in their choice of wedding dress and those of their bridal party. Nevertheless, Zimbabwe wedding traditions are still very relevant in the present day and is not out of trend.

Generally, it is believed that the traditional dresses Zimbabwean women are decked up with beautiful beads. These large sized ornaments indeed form integral part of the traditional clothing of the women. This is owed to the fact women take much pride in their dress. Their traditional dress is colorful and bright with beautiful art of bead work.

Habesha is the most popular wedding dress for women and it is usually accompanied by Habesha jewelry. 

On the wedding day, brides and grooms dons themselves in an African traditional wedding attire that is hand-woven from pure cotton and beautifully decorated with traditional Oromo prints.

From another angle, Ndebele men often wear an apron made from the skin of a genet or civet cat and beaded in geometric designs. Leather of fur headdresses and a small shoulder cloak too are part of the traditional attire, although the fashion trend is going obsolete. Buffalaa-Uffannaa Gaa elaa is the popular wedding attire for men. 

Idzila is the traditional Ndebele neck ring or choker, which is made of copper and brass, and worn around the arms, legs, and neck. Traditionally, Idzila were believed to have great powers. The wife would receive them as a gift from her husband, as a sign of his wealth.