Rhiannon Hendricks
The white wedding dress has become a symbol of purity and innocence in Western culture. The tradition is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. Only the wealthy could afford a white silk gown, as they were wed in clean, elegant places, removed from the grime of life during the mid-19th-century Industrial Age. The white dress also provided an opportunity for conspicuous consumption, signalling to the world that the bride's family was part of the leisure class. The veil, too, has symbolised virginity, modesty, and purity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Color | White |
| Symbolism | Purity, innocence, virginity, youth, new beginnings, status, wealth |
| History | Popularized by Queen Victoria in 1840, when she wore a white silk satin dress adorned with Honiton lace |
| Veil | Symbol of youth, virginity, modesty, humility, respect, and protection against evil spirits |
| Cultural Differences | In Middle Eastern, African, and South American countries, traditional bridal dresses are often brightly colored; in India and China, white is a color of mourning |
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What You'll Learn
White wedding dresses as a status symbol
The white wedding dress has long been a symbol of purity and innocence. In Western culture, the colour white is often associated with new beginnings and is commonly used to express high religious commitment and purity. However, the colour has also been linked to social status and wealth.
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is commonly attributed to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress to her wedding with Prince Albert in 1840. Due to the high cost of materials, only the wealthy could afford to wear similar styles. Thus, wearing a white wedding dress became a sign of wealth and status.
The white wedding dress was further popularised by department store bridal salons in the late 1920s, who marketed expensive, floor-length gowns that women would only wear once. This trend was picked up by wedding magazines and advertisements, which promoted the ideal of a luxurious, white wedding.
The association between white wedding dresses and wealth continued well into the 20th century. Due to limitations in laundering techniques, a white dress could easily be ruined by any sort of work or spill. Thus, a bride wearing a white dress was signalling that her family was so wealthy that she did not need to worry about manual labour or stains.
In conclusion, while the white wedding dress is often associated with purity and innocence, it has also served as a status symbol. Wearing white signalled that a bride's family was wealthy enough to afford expensive, delicate fabrics and that they were firmly part of the leisure class. Today, the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is more about adhering to custom than displaying social status.
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White as a symbol of purity and innocence
The colour white has long been associated with purity and innocence in Western culture. In the context of weddings, the tradition of wearing a white dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. The choice of white was likely due to the cost and rarity of the materials used, such as silk satin and intricate Honiton lace, which only the wealthy could afford.
As a result, wearing a white wedding dress became a status symbol, indicating that the bride's family was part of the leisure class. Etiquette books of the time further promoted the idea of the white dress as a symbol of "innocence and virginal purity", as well as modesty and respectability. This symbolism was reinforced by the practice of wearing a veil, which was also associated with youth, virginity, and modesty.
The white wedding style received another significant boost in 1981 when Princess Diana wore an elaborate white taffeta dress with an 8-metre train, which was watched by 750 million people worldwide. Today, the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is often more about adhering to tradition than any specific symbolism. However, the colour white still carries connotations of purity, innocence, and new beginnings, as well as respect for family customs and values.
It is important to note that the white wedding dress tradition varies across cultures. While it is common in Western culture, the traditional bridal dress in many Middle Eastern, African, and South American countries is brightly coloured, and in India and China, white is associated with mourning rather than purity.
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White wedding dresses and virginity
The white wedding dress has long been a symbol of purity and virginity in Western culture. The tradition is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. Only the wealthy could afford a white silk gown, as they were wed in clean, elegant places that were removed from the grime of daily life during the mid-19th century Industrial Age.
The white wedding dress became a status symbol, with the weight, length, and quality of the veil indicating the bride's position in society. Royal brides had the longest veils and trains. The veil, too, has symbolised virginity, along with youth, modesty, humility, and respect.
The white wedding style was further popularised in 1981 when 750 million people watched the wedding of Diana Spencer and Charles, Prince of Wales, with Diana wearing an elaborate white taffeta dress with an 8-metre train.
In recent times, the choice to wear white on one's wedding day is more about tradition than anything else. In 2018, about 83% of brides wore white dresses, according to a survey by Brides Magazine. However, the tradition varies from culture to culture. In Middle Eastern, African, and South American countries, the traditional bridal dress is often brightly coloured, and in India and China, white is the colour of mourning, with red being the traditional colour for wedding dresses.
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White wedding dresses and new beginnings
The white wedding dress has long been a symbol of purity and innocence. In Western culture, the colour white is often associated with new beginnings. In fact, in colour psychology, white symbolises "a blank canvas, just waiting to be written on".
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress to her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. However, Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown in 1559 when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France.
Before the 1930s, wedding dresses typically followed the fashion hemlines of the moment, and brides often got married in dresses they already owned or bought new, reusable dresses in darker colours that wouldn't stain. White wedding dresses were primarily for young and wealthy brides, as only those with a high social status could afford to wear a white silk gown, removed from the muck and grime of daily life during the mid-19th century Industrial Age.
The white wedding style was further popularised in 1981, when 750 million people watched the wedding of Diana Spencer and Charles, Prince of Wales, with Diana wearing an elaborate white taffeta dress with an 8-metre train.
Today, the white wedding dress is more about tradition than anything else. While it still symbolises purity and new beginnings, it also represents a deep respect for the customs and values passed down through the family.
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White wedding dresses in non-Western cultures
The white wedding dress is a tradition that is predominantly followed in Western cultures, especially Christian nations. The earliest recorded instance of a white wedding dress in Western culture is that of English Princess Philippa, who wore a white tunic at her wedding to Scandinavian King Eric in 1406. Mary, Queen of Scots, also wore a white wedding gown in 1559 when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France. However, white was a colour of mourning for French queens at the time.
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. The white dress was chosen because she liked it, it showcaseed her wealth, and it complemented the lace she adored. The colour white was also associated with purity and virginity, and the Catholic Church used it to symbolise moral purity. The white dress also represented conspicuous consumption, as it could be easily ruined and was difficult to keep clean, further emphasising the bride's family's wealth and status.
The white wedding style gained further popularity when 750 million people watched Diana Spencer, later Princess of Wales, wear a white taffeta dress with an 8-metre train during her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981.
While the white wedding dress is a widely accepted tradition in Western cultures, it is not the only option. Brides who choose to wear a coloured wedding dress should not be afraid to do so, as it can be a beautiful and unique choice.
In non-Western cultures, the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress may vary. For example, Chinese brides may participate in an elaborate wedding photo shoot while wearing a Western white dress, combining Western and traditional Chinese wedding elements. This showcases the influence of Western wedding traditions, including the white dress, in non-Western cultures.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, a white wedding dress symbolizes purity and innocence.
Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress when she married Prince Albert in 1840, and the trend caught on.
White was a symbol of wealth and status, as only the very wealthy could afford to wear a white silk gown.
The veil was originally believed to protect brides from evil spirits. Over time, it came to symbolize youth, virginity, modesty, humility, and respect. In Victorian times, it became a status symbol.
In many Middle Eastern, African, and South American countries, brides traditionally wear brightly coloured dresses. In India and China, white is a mourning colour, and brides wear red.
