Franklin Dean
The white wedding dress is a matrimonial classic, popularised by Queen Victoria, who wore a white lace dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. The trend caught on, and by the end of the 19th century, white dresses were the garment of choice for elite brides on both sides of the Atlantic. However, it wasn't until after World War II that middle-class British and American brides fully adopted the trend. So, what about the year 1919?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1919 |
| Colour of wedding dresses | White was the colour of choice for elite brides |
| Wedding dress trends | Wealthier brides wore white because they could afford to have their dresses professionally cleaned |
| Wedding dress trends | Brides wore their best dress on their wedding day |
| Wedding dress trends | White dresses were a symbol of conspicuous consumption |
| Wedding dress trends | White dresses were a symbol of purity and innocence |
| Wedding dress trends | Middle-class British and American brides did not adopt the trend of wearing white dresses until after World War II |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Victoria popularised the white wedding dress in 1840
The white wedding dress is a matrimonial classic started by Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress made of Honiton lace and Spitalfields silk-satin to her wedding with Prince Albert on 10 February 1840. The wedding was one of the first heavily photographed royal weddings, with journalists from all around the world sharing every detail of the event.
Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress was unusual for the time. Before her, royal brides wore a variety of colours, with red being particularly popular in Western Europe. Wedding dresses were often "heavy brocaded gowns embroidered with white and silver thread", with silver and gold being signs of royalty. White dresses were reserved for women being presented at court. Debutantes were required to wear white court dresses and long white gloves for their first presentation at court.
Queen Victoria was a fashion-lover and was intent on making a statement with her wedding dress. She chose a non-traditional dress and flower crown, which she said was "the happiest day of my life". The ensemble was also a statement on how the Queen would rule the country. The lace industry was struggling during this time, and with the help of the Queen, it soon recovered.
The white wedding dress trend did not immediately catch on, as it still took a lot of money to maintain the colour. However, as society became more prosperous in the aftermath of World War II and clothing became cheaper to produce, the white, single-use wedding dress became a distinctive part of getting married. By the end of the 19th century, the white dress was the garment of choice for elite brides on both sides of the Atlantic. However, middle-class British and American brides did not fully adopt the trend until after World War II.
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White wedding dresses became customary in the mid-20th century
The white wedding dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress to her wedding with Prince Albert in 1840. The dress was made from Spitalfields cream silk-satin with a flounce of Honiton lace at the neck and sleeves. It featured a slim waist, a full crinoline petticoat, and lace embellishments, and is still considered the classic wedding dress silhouette in the West today.
Before Queen Victoria's wedding, brides simply wore their best dress on their wedding day. For brides in the lower classes, that often meant wearing a black dress. Wealthier brides wore showy gowns in lush fabrics, featuring gold and silver embroidery, as well as fur. These dresses were often worn again, including by Queen Victoria herself, who had her famous lace wedding dress restyled for later use.
Queen Victoria's wedding was one of the first heavily photographed royal weddings, with journalists from around the world sharing every detail of the event. As such, the trend for white wedding dresses began to spread, but it was still largely limited to wealthy brides who could afford the expensive fabric and the professional cleaning required to maintain it.
In the aftermath of World War II, clothing became cheaper to produce, and the white, single-use wedding dress became more accessible to middle-class brides. The portrayal of weddings in Hollywood, as well as the speed and ease with which people could see images of celebrity weddings, helped cement the notion that marriage demanded a white dress. For example, in 1956, film footage and photographs of Grace Kelly in her wedding gown, made from lace, silk, pearls, and tulle, quickly made their way across the globe.
By the mid-20th century, white wedding dresses had become customary, with the tradition also growing to include the practice of wearing the dress only once.
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White was a colour for the rich, showing wealth
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress to her wedding with Prince Albert in 1840. Before Queen Victoria's wedding, royal brides did not typically wear white, opting for heavy brocaded gowns embroidered with white and silver thread, with red being a particularly popular colour in Western Europe.
In the 18th century, weddings were often political, representing the union of two families, businesses, or countries. Brides were expected to dress in a manner that reflected them positively, so they would usually wear their best dress, regardless of its colour. If a bride could afford a new dress, she would often choose one in her favourite colour. Bright and bold colours were popular among the wealthy, as they represented wealth. They would also choose extravagant fabrics and features such as layered furs, velvets, silks, and embroidered heirloom jewels. The amount of fabric used in the gown was another reflection of social standing and wealth.
Although Queen Victoria popularised the white wedding dress in 1840, it did not become common among middle-class brides in Europe and the US until several decades later. It was only after World War II, with increased prosperity and cheaper clothing, that the white, single-use wedding dress became standard.
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White wedding dresses were marketed as a one-time purchase
The tradition of wearing white wedding dresses was popularised by Queen Victoria, who wore a white lace dress to her wedding with Prince Albert in 1840. The white wedding style was further popularised in 1981 when Diana Spencer wore a white dress for her wedding with Charles, Prince of Wales, which was watched by 750 million people.
Before Queen Victoria, royal brides wore wedding dresses in a variety of colours, with red being one of the most popular. During this time, European and American brides wore a variety of colours, including blue, yellow, and practical colours like black, brown, or grey. Brides traditionally wore their best dress on their wedding day, regardless of the colour. If they could afford it, they would buy a new dress in their favourite colour.
In the early 19th century, white was seen as an impractical colour choice for a wedding dress, as it was difficult to maintain the colour. However, Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress set a precedent for elite brides on both sides of the Atlantic by the end of the 19th century.
In the 20th century, the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress evolved to include the practice of wearing the dress only once. This was due to increased prosperity, which made it possible for more people to buy a wedding dress specifically for the day of the wedding celebrations. Hollywood also played a role in popularising the idea of the white wedding dress, as brides in movies often wore white gowns.
After World War II, middle-class people in Europe and the US began to copy the look of the wealthy, including the trend of wearing white wedding dresses. This was also influenced by the increased accessibility of photographs and footage of celebrity weddings, such as Grace Kelly's wedding in 1956, which featured the bride in a white wedding gown.
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White wedding dresses became more accessible after World War I
The white wedding dress was popularised by Queen Victoria, who wore a white lace dress to her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. The trend, however, was slow to catch on due to the high cost of maintaining the colour. It was only after World War I that white wedding dresses became more accessible to the general public.
During the 18th century, brides typically wore their best dress on their wedding day, regardless of the colour. Wealthy brides would often wear new gowns in bright and bold colours, while those who could not afford a new dress would wear their best church dress. White dresses, in particular, were reserved for debutantes being presented at court for the first time.
Queen Victoria broke with tradition by wearing a plain white court dress made of Honiton lace to her wedding. She accessorised with a flower crown instead of a tiara, signalling that she would be a more down-to-earth monarch. As one of the first heavily photographed royal weddings, the event was widely publicised, and fashionable people across Europe and America began to follow the Queen's lead.
However, due to the high cost of materials, only the wealthy could afford to wear white wedding dresses. It was not until after World War I that full-scale formal weddings became more common, and the position of the wedding planner emerged to coordinate all the details. The wedding planning industry, along with Hollywood depictions of brides in white gowns, helped to promote the idea of the white wedding dress as the ideal.
With increased prosperity in the 20th century, more people could afford to buy a wedding dress specifically for their wedding day. The white, single-use wedding dress, along with a lavish party to show it off, became a distinctive part of getting married. White wedding dresses also benefited from their association with purity and innocence, further boosting their popularity.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, white wedding dresses were fashionable in 1919, particularly among the wealthy. The trend was started by Queen Victoria in 1840, but it took several decades for white dresses to become popular among middle-class brides in Europe and the US.
White wedding dresses were popular because they were seen as a symbol of wealth and social status. They were also considered to represent purity and innocence, though this association came later.
No, not all women wore white wedding dresses in 1919. Some brides, particularly those from lower classes, would have worn their best dress on their wedding day, which was often a black dress.
