Q. My wife and I have been married now for three years, and in the beginning it was wonderful, but now we seem to have grown apart. Part of the problem is that 1 love to be touched; it makes me feel loved So I am always hugging and touching my wife, but she says she doesn’t feel loved by me. Plus, she has stopped touching and hugging me, so consequently, I am beginning to feel unloved by her. Is this relationship over? What can we do to get this changed?

A. Many couples struggle with how to express love. The answer lies in realizing that each of us has our own unique “love language.”

In general, most people need to either see love, hear love or feel love.

Problems can be twofold:

1. We typically don’t know what our partner’s love language is because not only have we not asked, but we also didn’t even know we were supposed to ask.

2. Our natural tendency is to express love in the same way we would most like to receive it That works fine if we have the same love language as our partner.

But guess what?

Most couples have different love languages.

So in this reader’s case, it’s fairly clear that his love language is touch. It’s how he best “gets it” that he is loved.

So naturally, he will communicate love in his own love language – touch. The problem is that his wife’s love language is likely not touch, leading to more and more frustration for both.

The solution is to discover your partner’s love language.

How?

This is gonna be complicated, so hang in there with me:

ASK

I’ll even give you the words:

“In order ‘for you to feel most loved by me, do you need to see it (I do things to show you), hear it (I tell you I love you), or feel it (I hug and touch you)?”

Once you have the answer, you can begin to communicate in that person’s love language.

In this case, I’d be willing to bet that as he learns to communicate more often in his wife’s love language, she will communicate more in his. In other words, he’ll be touched a lot more.

He can thank me later.

Visit secretsofgreatrelationships.com SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e secretsofgreatrelationships.com/eprogram.htm 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

For decades, the label “stalker’ has been tattooed as a gender-specific crime, committed by men. Things have changed drastically. Twelve to 13-percent of all stalkers are female. Although less in statistical number than males, female stalkers are just as predatory and dangerous.

Stalking, for the most part, is about relationships—prior, desired, or imagined. Sixty-percent of stalkers have a personal relationship with their victims before the stalking begins. However, 22% of stalking cases involve complete strangers.

Researchers and psychologists identify three categories of stalking:

·Simple Obsession Stalking – 60% of stalking cases are represented in this category, which includes all previous personal relationships (i.e.,husbands/wives,boyfriends/girlfriends, domestic partners). This category is best defined as, “If I can’t have you, nobody will.’

·Love Obsession Stalking – The make-up of this category involves a stalker and victim who are casual acquaintances or complete strangers. The goal of the stalker is to establish a personal relationship with the object of his or her obsession—in disregard to the victim’s desires.

·Erotomania Stalking – This category consists of deluded individuals who believe a relationship already exists between themselves and their victim.

A recent case of female stalking involved actor Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones as the victims. “When women engage in stalking behavior, they are as tenacious and as intrusive as their male counterparts, and are just as likely to threaten or damage property,’ said Dr. Rosemary Purcell, in the 2003 article “Female stalkers pursue doctors, psychiatrists.’ The FBI estimates that two-percent of all stalking cases conclude in homicide. Twenty-five of female stalking cases have escalated to interpersonal violence. Also revealed in a study is the fact that female stalkers chased their victims to establish intimacy.

As of August 17, 2004, five women in Georgia have been convicted for the crime of aggravated stalking. This level of stalking means an individual has been identified as an assailant in the court system and has violated a court order.

On any given day, you could be one of thousands who feel like they are being stalked.

Won’t Be Denied, a 227-page novel, shines a light into an obsessed, single African American female. In the well-crafted suspense novel, author C.F. Jackson, graduate from Georgia Southern University with a BS degree in Criminal Justice, lays out the story in two sentences: Love won’t be denied. Maré comes to value it more than life. The story is set in Atlanta, Georgia. It is an easy, suspenseful read. The character-driven plot is a page-turner.

For more information, or to purchase Won’t Be Denied (ISBN 0-9762230-0-7), contact the publisher, Organized Thoughts Publishing: Post Office Box 920622, Norcross, GA 30010 or www.cfjackson.us. Bookstores and libraries in the U.S. can order Won’t Be Denied through Baker & Taylor database.

C.F Jackson is an author, poet, and mentor, who obtain a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice. This author has been featured on one Atlanta’s largest radio station, WVEE 103.3 FM. All forms of mass media interest, please contact C.F. Jackson at cfjackson.us cfjackson.us.

It’s important for you to take care of yourself before you try to fix your relationship. The old saying ‘You can’t give away what you don’t have” applies here. Until you are peaceful and happy, you won’t have a peaceful, happy relationship.

If you skip these steps and jump immediately into the murky waters of your troubled relationshp, you are at high risk for going under. That’s why it’s so important to do all you can to stabilize yourself before you get in over your head.

Before you confront core relationship issues, first follow these two steps to increase your chances of success:

1. Commit to being okay no matter what happens.

Make yourself a promise that you’re going to take good care of yourself and be okay no matter what happens in your relationship. If your happiness absolutely depends on your partner being a part of your life, then you’ll feel fearful and powerless. As a result, you’ll be more likely to engage in ineffective behaviors such as begging and pleading. The more this happens, the less your partner is to want to stay in the relationship. Why is this?

One reason is that you will be perceived as emotionally needy and dependent. Whatever someone else does for you will never be enough because you’ll always want more from that person—more time, more love, more concern, more of everything. Your partner can sense this and will be afraid of being consumed by your never-ending demands for attention and care.

Another reason is that it’s too heavy of a burden to feel totally responsible for another person’s happiness. Most people want to run the other way when that’s the case. A partner who does try to be everything to the other person will eventually feel resentment and anger at being put in such a demanding position. And any sense of playfulness and fun, which is so vital to an enduring relationship, will be snuffed out.

By showing respect for yourself and belief in your ability to thrive whether in a relationship or not, you’ll be coming from a place of empowerment and strength. These attritubes attract others and engender respect, making you a more desirable partner.

2.Commit to putting more fun in your life even when you’re feeling miserable.

Don’t wait until your relationship is perfect to plan fun activities for yourself. Sign up for a community class to learn about kayaking, gourmet cooking, or drumming. Make a list of places in your town or a nearby one that you’d like to visit. Branch out, learn new skills, and broaden your world.

When you’re active and having fun, you’ll be happier. An extra benefit will be that you’ll also appear more attractive to your partner. Individuals who are happy have a natural sex appeal that makes them desirable and draws others to them. When you’re living life with gusto and a sense of adventure, irregardless of the state of your relationship, your partner is more likely to want to spend time with you.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to wait and see what happens in your relationship before you take steps to create a more satisfying life. After all, would you rather spend time with someone who is miserable and uhappy or with someone who is doing interesting, fun things and enjoying life? Enthusiasm and a sense of fun are powerful aphrodisiacs that attract others like a magnet.

The more centered, balanced, and happy you are, the more you increase the odds that you’ll be able to create a happy, healthy relationship.

Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D., is co-author of Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says “I don’t love you anymore!” This is available as an e-book at KeepYourMarriage.com KeepYourMarriage.com , where you can also sign up for the free Keep Your Marriage Internet Magazine. Nancy can be contacted at mailto:Nancy@KeepYourMarriage.com Nancy@KeepYourMarriage.com.

The best man will normally be the one to handle all of the planning of the bachelor party. Although all of the other groomsmen should help with some of the planning and payment for the party. As the best man make sure that you take into account of what the groom wants to do without fully giving away all of the details of the party.

Traditionally this is the last night that the groom gets to let loose before taking the plunge and becoming a married man. Below I have put together a list of ideas and events for your bachelor party.

Go to a nice comedy club and have a few drinks and a nice dinner

Watch a magician show

Rent a limousine and tour a city and all of its sites

Take a weekend away and go hunting or fishing

Go on a ski trip

Go to a ball game and rent a hotel for the night

Go play paintball with all of your guy’s

Take a nice golf trip

Rent a lakefront cottage for the weekend

Take a road trip and visit all the places you have dreamed of seeing

Take a tour of the White House

Rent go carts for the afternoon

Have a poker night out and a few brews to go along with the poker and cigars

Rent a basketball gym and play basketball

Just remember that this is the grooms party and make sure he is having fun and enjoying his self and please do not humiliate him in any way.

Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas

Soulmate. Once upon a time we wondered if we were ever going to meet our own. We ask if the one we are with right now is the one truly meant for us. There are just too many stories about people finding “the one”, their “match”, their “twin soul”, that at times it almost feels too magical to believe, yet we keep on believing. Love, indeed, moves in mysterious ways. If you want to know if it’s possible, it is. You can find your soulmate.

Soulmates are believed to be our “love match”, the other twin of our soul. If you have episodes of yearning and longing, that’s because you haven’t met yet the special someone who can fill up your loneliness. If you got fears, he definitely has ways to subside them. He can put an end to your uncertainty; he spells happiness. Soulmates rather complement us than complete us.

The first sign in discerning if HE is the one is when your heart and mind tell you that HE is so. You will know it even if you don’t know how. That’s the joy that soulmates bring to everyone.

Knowing each of us has a matched soul is a beautiful thing to think of. The universe is so huge that the journey in finding our soulmates seems like a blanket of overwhelming adventure. The thought seems mysterious but tugs inspiringly at the heartstrings. It makes us want to wake up each day with that burning desire that we might just stumble to them. The scenario can get really delightful, what with a not so perfect world that we have, finding your soulmate in the most strange times is perhaps the most beautiful thing that can happen to any individual.

So, the question is, how do you find your soulmate when you have no place to start and you have no hint at whom to look for? Simple, it only takes affirmation and awareness, and at the right time you will be able to recognize the “one”.

AFFIRMATION

Believe that you will meet him. While it is true that you don’t have to go on searching literally for your soulmate, it takes a positive affirmation to help you attract the energies of the universe that may lead you to him. As with the Christian principle: Ask and you shall receive. Maintain a conscious effort of believing and anticipating that one day soon you will meet. It can be an everyday exercise you can practice that can fuel you to live your life with passion for love.

AWARENESS

It would help a great deal if you can keep your eyes and heart open for possible encounters with a soulmate. Know in your heart that you wish to meet him and imagine in your mind what a dream it would be when that happens. Anyone can pass for a soulmate so try not to discriminate people in advance. Good for you if you have the gift of discernment, but who are the chosen few who have this talent? The strategy is to be in control. Cling on to that aspiration that your soulmate is not too far away. Be aware of signs that surround you because who knows, he could also be looking for you.

Robert Johannsen MA is a psychology and freelance author living in British Columbia. Robert’s articles on Psychology, Relationships and Popular Culture have been published in numerous magazines in Canada, the US and the UK. His popular Ebook, Proven Secrets for Attracting your Soulmate has helped people from all walks of life find that special someone since 2000.

Visit his recently updated website, soulmate-secrets.com soulmate-secrets.com for a free chapter of his powerful book.

“Abstinence is a good thing, but it should always be practiced in moderation.” ~ Anon

“There’s a lot more to being a woman than being a mother, but there’s a hell of a lot more to being a mother than most people suspect.” ~ Roseanne Barr

Children need a mother but a man needs a woman. Here lies the biggest conflict a woman faces, even more so than the conflict between being a mother and a professional. Of course, there are many women who can conciliate both roles with ease. Unfortunately, many cannot.

When my son was very young, and based on my own sexual apathy, I did a “survey” with the women I knew who also had younger children. The result, though sad, was not surprising: not one of them felt like having sex ever again! They were exhausted, wasted, overworked, overwhelmed; they felt unattractive and un-sexy. Well, we all did.

Being as they are, it is not easy for men to live without sex for what seems an eternity, that is, about 2 or 3 months within the birth of a child. Now, the priorities of a mother shift wholly during that time. A baby is all that is required for a woman to trespass the boundaries of womanhood to motherhood. She is now all mother. Sometimes it takes forever for a woman to begin feeling any sexual desire again.

Now, men can accept that for a little while and this is asking already a lot from them; it is pushing, really; though it is an ordeal, they understand and accept their fate bravely. However, it comes a time when a woman needs to recognize that his need for sex is too strong to ignore and before a war is escalated, we need to comply, regardless of our desires. Hey, we may even feel like a woman again “and not like a mother hen” when we have sex.

Now, one may argue that we don’t have the time for this (of course, our inclination is long gone, but a woman does what she must). I answer to that, by paraphrasing a friend of mine: “Time is a matter of preference.” There.

A Word of Advice
Ladies: If this is a big sacrifice, think of it in terms of giving pleasure. Find ways to enjoy yourself. With focus and concentration you will see that you had more fun than you expected and that it was not totally a waste of sleep.

Gents: A lot of tact is needed here. Lavish her with TLC, I mean, really lots of it, and you will be rewarded big time. You need to be patient, though.

© Maria Moratto 2006
Want to have more abundance, health, time, love, fun, and blessings? Visit Prescription For Bliss at

The Internet is certainly a great way to make new friends and find dates in your neighborhood, but what about all over the world? The answer is yes because the Internet is worldwide and you can meet individuals from anywhere simply sitting in your home on your computer. Because of this you need to be careful about beginning online relationships with individuals in foreign countries. This is not because these individuals are wrong to date; it is simply a consideration that when you want to meet your new love you will probably be the one to travel because getting a visa to the US or another industrialized country can often be very difficult.

Another reason that dating an individual in a foreign country should be considered is what will you do if you fall in love? Of course, this seems like a lot to think of before it ever happens to you. However, it is worthwhile to consider because if you do fall in love and want to meet and get married you will have to consider visas or else moving to that country yourself. Are you prepared to live in a foreign country? Are there job opportunities? Do you speak another language? Could you live away from your family? These are all things that should be considered before ever starting an online relationship with someone in another country because all of these topics will come up.

If you do decide to bring your fiance/ee to the US, UK, or other industrialized country you will have to fill out a lot of paperwork, file fees, hire a lawyer, and wait a long time. Even then the visa might not be approved and then where are you left? As a result, sometimes online dating of individuals that are not in your home country can cause a lot of hurt and heartache simply because once you decide you are in love and want to get married the road just extends longer until you can be together.

A great benefit of the Internet and online dating is that you can meet individuals worldwide, experience new cultures, new languages, and the like. However, consider the above questions before beginning a relationship with someone who does not live in your country because more times than not the relationship will not make it through the adversity that is posed. Just keep this in mind and if you are willing to put forth the effort, go ahead, but it is nice to know where you stand before you get involved and get hurt or cause someone else pain.

Jo Robinson writes for drdating.com DrDating.com a site filled with dating advice and tips. Looking for help with dating, love, and relationship issues then visit the forum.drdating.com DrDating Forum.

The brides and grooms exchange wedding rings on the day of matrimony while taking marriage vows. This is because many individuals consider this as a way of expressing love, trust, promise, and companionship. The wedding ring is generally worn on ring finger of the left hand. A wedding ring is different from an engagement ring and may be made of gold, platinum, titanium, and even white gold.

Individuals largely go for gold rings, as this material is known for its durability. Materials like copper and brass are not used very often as they lack durability and have a tendency to deteriorate.

Gold is available in both yellow as well as in form of white gold. Research has indicated that white gold is gaining popularity, because it is a bit cheaper than real gold and is the apt substitute as compared to any other material. The only drawback is that white gold wedding rings are only available in 14 k or 18 k styles.

Couples can also opt for mixture of two or more alloys along with gold to create a special and inexpensive wedding ring. Gold can be combined with platinum and studded with a diamond on the top. Some individuals also prefer stylish engraved wedding rings that are made out of gold. The engravings could be either the family’s name or the name of the bride’s and groom’s. They also may contain certain words articulating the thoughts and feelings of the giver. Such engraved wedding rings often become family heirlooms and are passed on to the future generations, hence, should be carefully handled. Wedding rings should be cleaned regularly with a soap and water solution to keep them sparkling clean all the time.

Many online retailers display beautiful gold design wedding rings for the viewers, so they can have a look at all the varieties available with the seller and determine whether the seller permits made-to-order rings. A small description of the material with its weight, make and name of additional metal, if any, is also mentioned along with its picture.

z-WeddingRings.com Wedding Rings provides detailed information on Wedding Rings, Titanium Wedding Rings, Platinum Wedding Rings, Celtic Wedding Rings and more. Wedding Rings is affiliated with WeddingBands-Web.com Diamond Wedding Bands.

Niagara Falls is famous for its natural beauty as well as an important source of hydroelectric power. Horseshoe Falls, sometimes known as the Canadian Falls, the American Falls, and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls are the three separate waterfalls that make up the Falls. You can view the spectacular Niagara River by climbing over 400 steps of stairs to the top of the Historical Brock Monument. The atmosphere is just the perfect setting for a memorable romantic moment for couples.

Blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, Niagara Falls has been the honeymoon capital of Canada for many years. The 30-mile journey from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake offers honeymooners breathtaking sights as well as fond memories of this amazing structure that nature has made. This is why Sir Winston Churchill had called the Niagara Parkway the most beautiful drive in the world. Shared between the twin cities of New York and Ontario, there is no way you can enjoy your Niagara Falls honeymoon completely within a day.

The key to an enjoyable trip would be to plan your Niagara Falls honeymoon now in order to experience all the beauty and attractions here. In fact, Niagara offers exciting night time activities too, from gourmet dining to dancing in numerous clubs to fabulous shows and gambling at Casino Niagara.

Attractive free admission places that you should visit on your honeymoon are Queenston Heights Park, which features plenty of picnic facilities, outdoor concerts and enchanting gardens. Another place of interest would be the Floral Clock and the Lilac Garden, which is a free admission park located in Queenston. The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens which is open the whole year round and is home to a Horticultural School, is also worth a visit.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy has more articles on honeymoons at weddings-information.com Weddings Information and vacations at vacation-destinations-guide.com Vacation Destinations Guide.

Pakistani / Indian Dresses – Salwar (Shalwar) Kameez, Wedding Dresses

Salwar Kameez

Salwar Kameez is a traditional dress of South Asia. Also termed as “Shalwar Kameez” or “Shalwar Qamis,” Salwar Kameez, is popularly worn in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India. Salwar Kameez is also called “Punjabi suit,” because it is very popular in both Indian and Pakistani Punjabs. Salwar Kameez is commonly worn by Punjabi, Hindu, Muslim women, and Muslim males in India. It is popularly worn by Pakistanis and Afghans.

Salwar is called “salwar” in Punjabi and Hindi, “Shalwaar” in Gujarat, and “Shalwar” (شلوار قمیض) in Urdu. The word “Salwar” has actually come from Persian, and the word “kameez” has come from the Arabic word “Qamis.”

A Salwar is loose pajama like trousers that is wider at waist and thighs, and tapering to the bottom, it is stitched narrow at the bottoms. Salwars are usually pleated at the waist and held up by a drawstring or an elastic belt, or a woven cord called “Naala” or “Naada”. There are different styles prevalent among women, but males usually wear normal Salwars. Usually both men and women salwars are wide like baggies, but some fashionable women wear tight figure hugging salwars called “Pyjamies” or “Churidar” or “Churidar Pyjamies.” “Patiala Shahi Salwars” are very popular in Patiala and Malwa Region of Indian Punjab. These are usually loose salwars that have pleated front and back. Patiala is also famous for woven waist cords (“Naalas” or “Naadas”).

A Kameez is a long shirt or tunic with open side seams. The side seams, known as “chaak,” are left open below the waist-line to give a wearer greater freedom of movement. Traditional kamiz (plural of “kameez”) are cut straight and flat and have traditional side cuts, but a modern kamiz are more likely to have European-inspired set-in sleeves. Traditional kamiz, for both men and women, usually have normal or loose fitting, but some fashionable women do wear tight figure hugging kamiz. Usually, fine tailoring skills are displayed in stitching a kameez. Specifically necklines of kamiz are tailored beautifully. The necklines can be simple, decorative, embroidered, or beaded, etc.

hilalplaza.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=38″ target=”_new Salwar Kameez is very popular among Punjabi and North Indian Women. Women Salwar Kameez is usually accompanied by “Dupatta,” which is a long scarf or shawl like cloth made of light fabric. Women wear salwar-kamiz along with wearing “dupattas’ around their heads or necks. Often the Punjabi and North Indian Hindu women use their “dupattas” to cover their heads at religious places or religious ceremonies. However the Muslim women usually wear the chador or burqa (hijab and purdah).

Modern Salwar Kameez is modernized version of traditional Salwar Kameez. Some Modern feminine Salwar Kamiz have deep cut plunging necklines, short length, tight figure hugging fitting, styled in sleeveless or cap-sleeve designs, and sewn in diaphanous fabrics.

Sometimes women wear kamiz having side seams splited high up to the waistline, or salwars slung low on the hips. Some ultra modern women wear semi-transparent Salwar kamiz mostly in parties, but they do wear a choli or a cropped camisole underneath.

Salwar Kamiz are usually tailored using different types of fabrics. Most common fabrics used to tailor Salwar Kamiz include cotton, chiffon, silk, banarsi fabrics. Cotton is a soft breathable textile used for daily clothing. It is usually used for the salwar kamiz that are meant for general daily use or worn in routine life. Cotton is very preferable summer season fabric. It’s a comfortable to wear fabric and offers easy ventilation of air, and thus minimizes the heat effect of the summer season. Cotton slawar kameez usually costs less. Cotton, being an inexpensive fabric, is commonly preferred for daily use Salwar kamiz.

Chiffon is a lightweight sheer material with a slightly rough feel to it. It can be made from cotton, silk or synthetic fibers, but is usually associated with silk or nylon. The best thing about chiffon is that it can be dyed to almost any shade desired, however if made from polyester it is difficult to dye. Chiffon is sometimes also used for daily use salwar kameez. The fabric is finer that cotton and thus more costly than the latter. Chiffon is also a common summer textile. Chiffon Salwar Kameez may cost little more than the Cotton Salwar Kameez, but looks finer than the latter. Chiffon Salwar Kameez is usually worn by the fashionable lot of men and women.

Silk is a fine quality woven textile. It is a very popular textile all over the world. Silk offers opulent looks to clothing. The fabric is soft, velvety, marked with luxurious looks. Silk is usually available in most of the popular colors. It’s one of the most coveted fabrics for the ornamented Salwar Kameez. Silk is usually preferred for tailoring party wear salwar kameez. Silk Salwar Kamiz are usually worn on parties, and special occasions like weddings, anniversaries. Silk is very popular salwar kameez fabric among the salwar kameez wearing people all over the world. Silk Salwar Kameez is one of the expensive wears.

Salwar Kamiz are also tailored using several other popular textiles including banarsi silk, and several other locally and some imported textiles. Usually fine quality light textiles are preferred for tailoring Salwar Kamiz.

There is a wide rage of styles and designs of Salwar Kamiz ranging from simple to highly ornamental. Ornamental Salwar Kamiz usually have works of fine embroidery at neckline and from front hem of Kamiz. The women kamiz hems may also have beautiful bead work, mirror work, or sparkler work. Silk thread is commonly used for embroidery. Gold and silver fibers are also used for embroidery. The embroidered Salwar Kamiz are usually expensive.

Salwar Kamiz can be got tailored from expert tailors. Traditional women usually prefer women tailors for getting their salwar kamiz tailored. There are a lot of male and female tailors designing and stitching Salwar Kamiz. However ready to wear Salwar Kamiz are also available. Ready made salwar kamiz can be purchased from boutiques and ready to wear Salwar Kamiz stores. Salwar Kamiz can also be purchased online. There are numerous online garment stores selling traditional clothes online. The best idea to buy Salwar Kameez online is, doing some research online to fine a good store online. Research will help to find the store selling cheap salwar kamiz, or discounted salwar kamiz, and thus will help to save a lot of money.

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Indian & hilalplaza.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=86″ target=”_new Pakistani Wedding Dresses For Men & Women

A wedding is an occasion of great importance in all parts and cultures of the world. It is a ceremony to celebrate a marriage or civil union, and it’s always celebrated with great fun and festivity. A wedding ceremony is usually comprised of several wedding traditions and customs that vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes.

A traditional wedding is always a nice expo of culture and customs of a place. It’s always considered incomplete without the typical wedding dresses that reflect the culture & heritage of a place. A wedding dress is traditional clothing that is usually donned by a bride or a groom.

The colors, styles and ceremonial importance of wedding dresses depend on the respective religions and cultures of brides and grooms. Wedding dresses broadly include grooms’ wedding dresses and brides’ wedding dresses or bridal dresses. This article will be broadly focusing on the different wedding dresses including brides’ as well as grooms’ wedding dresses popular in different cultures, and societies of India and Pakistan. Generally the brides and the grooms in both countries wear the dresses that help presenting them in the most favorable light.

Pakistan is a country located in South Asia and the Greater Middle East. The country was part of India before 1947, so there is close cultural affinity in both the countries. The wedding dresses and culture of Indian Punjab is almost similar to that of the Pakistani Punjab. The wedding dresses of Indian Muslims are almost similar to the wedding dresses of Pakistani Muslims. Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs are in meager minority in Pakistan however they follow the same wedding customs and traditions as followed by Indian Hindus and Sikhs.

India is the country of many religions, cultures, and ethnic groups. There are different styles of wedding dresses popular in different parts of India. The North Indian wedding dresses are utterly different from the South Indian, and the East Indian wedding dresses.

Wedding Dresses For Grooms—The South Indian grooms’ traditional wedding dress includes traditional “veshti” or “vetti” (dhoti) and “kurta”. A Dhoti is a traditional garment of men’s wear in India. It is a rectangular piece of unstitched cloth, usually around 5 yards long, wrapped about the waist and the legs, and knotted at the waist. Dhoti is called “Laacha” in Punjabi, “mundu” in Malayalam, “dhuti” in Bangla, “vetti” in Tamil, “pancha” in Telugu, “dhotar” in Marathi and “panche” in Kannada. A kurta is a traditional item of men clothing. It is a loose shirt falling either just above or somewhere below the knees of the wearer. It’s also worn with salwar, and churidar. The South Indian grooms also wear their traditional caps with veils of flowers.

The North Indian grooms’ and the Pakistani grooms’ traditional wedding dress includes traditional “sherwani” with a “churidar pyjama,” a “bandha gala” suit. Sherwani is a long coat-like garment worn in South Asia. It’s very similar to an Achkan or doublet. Sherwani is worn by Punjabi, Hindu, and Muslim grooms. It is worn over the Kurta with Churidar, Khara pajama, or a salwar. “Churidar” is a tight-fitting variant of a salwar. Pajama is a parallel fitting variant of Salwar. A Salwar is loose pajama like trousers that is wider at waist and thighs, and tapering to the bottom, it is stitched narrow at the bottoms. Indian and Pakistani Muslim grooms’ traditional wedding dress includes “Salwar Kamiz” and “Sherwani.”

In fact Salwar Kameez is the males’ national dress of Pakistan. It’s very popular among Pathans, Khans, Balochs, etc. It’s also very popular among Afghanis. “Salwar Kamiz” and “Sherwani” is very popular male wedding dress. Silk or any other similar level textile is the most preferred textile for wedding Salwar Kameez. High quality fabric is used for Sherwani. Indian as well as Pakistani Muslim grooms also wear Mohammedan caps on their heads. Some Hindus wear caps and some wear turbans, but Punjabi grooms wear turbans. The North Indian grooms set forth to their weddings adorned with a “sehera,” a veil of flowers tied to the turban, to screen their faces from the evil eye. The Punjabi dress up like royal kings and sometimes wear plume on their turbans. They also hold swords like princes. The Indian Christian grooms normally wear western style suits.

Under the influence of west most of the Indian and Pakistan males have started wearing western style suits as their wedding dresses. Three-piece suits and western style suits are pretty popular grooms’ wedding dresses in India and Pakistan. Usually Silk or superior quality textile is used to tailor Indian grooms’ wedding dresses.

Wedding Dresses For Brides— Sari is women’s national dress of India. Sari is the most popular bridal dress that is worn by most of the Indian Hindu brides. Sari or Saree is several yards of light textile that is draped around the body. Expensive sarees are worn as bridal dresses by most of the south Indian brides and the North Indian Hindu brides. Mostly Silk sarees or other richly embroidered opulent and expensive sarees are preferred as bridal dresses. Usually, maroon, magenta, pink, and red are popular traditional colors in Saree bridal dresses. The South Indian brides also wear their traditional headdresses or headgears.

“Ghagra Choli” is also worn as bridal dress in some parts of the North India. Ghagra Choli consists of a long skirt and short blouse with a long scarf known as a “dupatta” draped around the bride. It’s known as “Lehenga Choli” in Punjab and Haryana.

Indian Punjabi brides usually wear “Lehnga Choli” or “Ghagra Choli” and “dupatta”. The traditional colors of maroon, burgundy, pink, red or wine shades are generally the popular choices in “Ghagra Choli”. The Punjabi brides also wear “salwar kamiz” that are popular called “Punjabi Suit”. Red shades usually dominate the Punjabi bridal dresses. The Punjabi brides usually wear “Punjabi Juttis.” Punjabi style shoes in their feet. Usually silk or some other very superior quality textile is used for bridal dresses.

“Lehnga Cholis” or “Ghagra Cholis” are popularly worn by the Pakistani brides. Punjabi suits (salwar kamiz) are also worn by many Pakistani Punjabi brides; however some of the traditional Pakistani Punjabi Muslim brides do wear “burkahs” or pardah in place of “dupatta”. Kurti is also worn by some of the traditional Pakistani brides. Kurti is male kurta like traditional piece of clothing worn by women in northern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Indian as well as Pakistani Christian brides usually wear expensive wedding gowns or western style wedding dresses. Traditional color of the western wedding dresses in white. ‘White’ or ‘wedding white’ includes creamy shades such as eggshell, ecru and ivory. The Christian brides in both the countries wear stylish western high heel sandals

Traditionally, Indian and Pakistani Brides are required to keep their faces hidden in veil. In most of the liberal societies in India, just covering head with dupatta or an end of saree is sufficient, but the traditional Pakistani societies just required the brides to keep their faces hidden. Indian and Pakistani Bridal dresses have excellent embroidery works at necklines and front hems. Some expensive bridal dresses carry rich embroidery of gold or silver fibers. Indian and Pakistani Bridal dresses are sometimes nicely embroidered using beads and sparklers. Indian and Pakistani Bridal dresses also include rich expensive jewelry.

You can get Indian and Pakistani wedding dresses tailored from some expert tailors, or you can buy “Ready To Wear” Indian and Pakistani wedding dresses from some fine Indian wedding dress stores and Pakistani wedding dress stores. You can also buy Indian and Pakistani wedding dresses online. There are numerous online wedding dress stores selling fine Indian wedding dresses and Pakistani wedding dresses online. Doing some research on Internet, you can also find cheap wedding dresses, discount wedding dresses, beach wedding dresses, plus size wedding dresses, informal wedding dresses, casual wedding dresses, vintage wedding dresses, and designer wedding dresses.

Waseem works for HilalPlaza.com, a site that provides rich content on
hilalplaza.com/islam Islam and Middle East.