quicko: asian wedding festivities

I've maybe mentioned similar things before, but I continually find it interesting that in Asian weddings in Australia (and there are a LOT!) the bride and groom get all decked out in their bridal gear at some point a couple weeks before the wedding and run around the city taking pictures in a dress rented simply for this occasion.  It's a wedding dress per se, but not the one the bride will actually get married in.  I'm not sure if the actual dress will also be rented or purchased.  Furthermore, there's also likely to be another dress that comes out for the reception -- probably a color as opposed to white.