During the wedding day, the bride and groom may change their clothes

Ao Dai means "long dress".Early versions comprised of 4 to 5 panels of silky, flowing fabric, layered over loose-fitting trousers of the same material; the number of layers usually signified the wealth of the person wearing it - the more panels or layers, the wealthier the person.Some of the very wealthy would even wear more than one ao dai at the same time.Currently, most ao dai consist of only two pieces: a dress which is worn over a pair of loose silk pants; the dress can vary in length from just below the knee all the way to the ground.The dress consists of two to four panels, has a well-fitted bodice, and is split on the sides from the waist down; early versions had buttons up the front or on the side.The necklines usually vary between two styles, the "boat" style or the "mandarin" style.The "boat" style is more open, off the neck and preferred in warmer climates.The "mandarin" style is a high stiff collar - the length of the collar depending on the person wearing it.Sometimes, the collar is formed by the many layers (or colors) of the ao dai - as many as seven at once. Occasionally, a low-scooped neck style will be worn, but these are less common.

Most ao dai are custom tailored, fitted to the individual's body. Some lesser quality ao dai's are now being mass produced, but, of course, they're less fitted and of standard designs.For her wedding, the bride wears an outer robe (the ao choang) over the ao dai to create a more formal look.Red is considered the marriage gown color, although bright pink may also be used. At times, gold silk trims the ao dai and/or the ao choang.Unique trimmings are often painted or embroidered on the garment and the couple's names, in Korean, or beautiful images are used as trimmings along the collar, cuff or back.The bride's head is adorned with a matching headpiece; either the non la (a cone-shaped hat made from dried, woven leaves) or the khanh vanh which many people say resembles a flying saucer!During the wedding day, the bride and groom may change their clothes as many as three or four times - from a western-style wedding gown and white tuxedo, to the ao dai for both the bride and groom, to formal evening gown and black tuxedo.Overall, the ao dai is a graceful, stately costume, flattering to almost any figure.

Reference materials:
summer wedding dresses
discount wedding dress
short wedding dress