Franklin Dean
Medieval wedding dresses were crafted with opulent materials and elaborate designs meant to showcase wealth and status. Medieval brides embraced bold colours, luxurious fabrics, and meaningful accessories. The choice of colours was influenced by medieval perceptions of each hue. For instance, green was seen as a soothing colour, while blue was neglected for most of the Middle Ages due to the difficulty of recreating it for clothing or painting. Medieval brides often wore long velvet dresses in jewel tones, with gold buttons and intricate embroidery, beading, or lace. The dresses were often decorated with precious stones and paired with elaborate headdresses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colours | Bold colours like red, gold, blue, green, burgundy, black, and white |
| Fabric | Luxurious fabrics like velvet, silk, satin, linen, cotton |
| Accessories | Crowns, circlets, jewellery, capes, cloaks, hand-fasting ribbons, boots, sandals |
| Style | Long, flowy, long-sleeved, high-necklined, corseted bodice, beading, lace, embroidery, precious stones |
| Symbolism | Wealth, status, power, political alliances |
| Headdress | Cone-shaped hennin with wimple, silk toque, calotte with a gold circlet, crownless turret, crown |
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What You'll Learn
- Medieval wedding dresses were crafted with opulent materials and elaborate designs
- Medieval brides embraced bold colours, luxurious fabrics, and meaningful accessories
- Medieval wedding costumes of today closely resemble attire from the Middle Ages
- Medieval grooms wore woollen robes, tunics, or kirtles
- Medieval brides wore chemises, breast bands, and knee-length stockings under their dresses
Medieval wedding dresses were crafted with opulent materials and elaborate designs
Medieval brides of royalty and nobility favoured opulent fabrics such as velvet, satin, and silk. The coveted silk dress was often adorned with elaborate patterns called roundels. Wealthier brides might opt for shades of red or gold, while the colour blue, signifying purity, was the most popular choice among brides of all social strata. Medieval wedding dresses often featured long sleeves, a high neckline, and a corseted bodice embellished with intricate embroidery, beading, or lace. Precious stones and gold accents further embellished the gowns, symbolising power and political alliances.
The length of the dress was also significant, with most gowns featuring a trailing fabric behind the bride as she walked. This feature, known as a "train," added to the grandeur of the ensemble. To complete the medieval bridal look, a variety of accessories were employed. An elaborate headdress, such as the cone-shaped hennin with a wimple, was a staple of medieval wedding attire. Brides of royal blood might further accentuate their ensemble with a jeweled crown. Medieval brides also wore cloaks, which were fastened with jeweled brooches, adding both warmth and opulence to their outfits.
Footwear played a crucial role in the overall aesthetic. Medieval brides often chose boots or intricate sandals that echoed the style of the era. These shoes not only provided comfort but also paid homage to history. For brides seeking an even more regal appearance, a crown or circlet could be incorporated into the ensemble, elevating the bride's royal aura. Delicate jewellery, such as necklaces and bracelets, added a subtle touch of elegance and sophistication.
The "Golden Gown" of Queen Margaret, preserved in Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden, stands as a testament to the grandeur of medieval royal wedding attire. Adorned with silk and linen, the gown reflects the meticulous craftsmanship and rich materials favoured by medieval royalty. Noble brides often took it a step further, coordinating the outfits of their wedding party and guests to create a cohesive and extravagant display.
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Medieval brides embraced bold colours, luxurious fabrics, and meaningful accessories
Medieval wedding dresses were a showcase of bold colours, luxurious fabrics, and meaningful accessories. Medieval brides wore their finest dresses, often in jewel tones like dark blue, the colour of purity, as well as shades of red, gold, green, and burgundy. Royals and nobles favoured opulent materials such as velvet, satin, silk, cloth-of-gold, and ermine. These luxurious fabrics, along with gold accents and fur trims, symbolised power and political alliances. Medieval brides also wore their best jewellery, such as jewelled belts and brooches, and elaborate headdresses.
The "Golden Gown" of Queen Margaret, preserved in Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden, is a rare surviving example of a medieval wedding dress. It is made of silk and linen, with gold accents and fur trims, reflecting the grandeur and symbolism associated with medieval royal wedding attire. Another notable example is a painting of Anne of Bohemia, Queen of Richard II, wearing a long velvet dress with a fitted sleeve and a golden bodice, a style known as a "cotehardie".
Medieval wedding dresses featured long sleeves, high necklines, and corseted bodices. They were often embellished with intricate embroidery, beading, lace, and precious stones. A long piece of fabric, known as a train, trailed behind the dress. To complete the look, medieval brides wore accessories such as crowns or circlets, delicate jewellery, and dramatic capes or cloaks. Hand-fasting ribbons added a traditional touch, while medieval-style boots or sandals provided both comfort and historical accuracy.
The choice of colours in medieval wedding dresses was influenced by the perceptions of different hues. Green, for instance, was considered soothing, while blue was neglected for much of the Middle Ages due to the difficulty of recreating the colour. It wasn't until the 12th century that blue became more widely used and incorporated into wedding fashion. Sumptuary laws, such as those passed in Venice in 1299, regulated what women could wear, but often included exemptions for wedding dresses, allowing brides to wear exceptional outfits on their special day.
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Medieval wedding costumes of today closely resemble attire from the Middle Ages
The "Golden Gown of Queen Margaret", on display in Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden, is a rare surviving example of a medieval wedding dress. It is believed to have been worn by Princess Margaret, daughter of Christian I of Denmark and Dorothea of Brandenburg, when she married King James III of Scotland in 1469. The silk and linen gown, with its rich fabrics and intricate details, exemplifies the grandeur and symbolism of medieval royal wedding attire.
Medieval grooms also wore elaborate ensembles, including woollen robes, tunics, or kirtles, often with metalwork or jewelled belts. They also wore headdresses, such as richly coloured hats with wide brims or velvet birettas with rows of pearls. These outfits, like those of the brides, were chosen to showcase wealth and status.
Today, medieval-inspired wedding costumes remain popular, with couples embracing the rich symbolism, opulence, and historical charm of the Middle Ages. By incorporating elements such as regal crowns, intricate jewellery, dramatic capes, and medieval-style footwear, modern couples can create breathtaking ensembles that seamlessly blend innovation and tradition.
While medieval wedding costumes of today draw inspiration from the past, they also reflect modern interpretations and trends. The diversity of styles and regional customs in the Middle Ages provides a wealth of ideas for couples to create their own unique and memorable wedding attire, paying homage to the elegance and grandeur of medieval fashion.
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Medieval grooms wore woollen robes, tunics, or kirtles
Medieval weddings were a time for bold colours, luxurious fabrics, and meaningful accessories. While there was no single "medieval wedding look", medieval grooms typically wore woollen robes, tunics, or kirtles. These garments could fall anywhere between the groom's calves and knees.
Grooms of all classes wore metalwork belts, sometimes adorned with jewels. These belts were worn low on the hips and served a practical purpose, holding a pouch for currency and a long dagger. The daggers of wealthy grooms were often intricately designed with jewelled hilts and scabbards.
Headwear was also common among medieval grooms. One option was a richly-coloured moire hat with a wide white brim. Alternatively, a groom might wear a velvet biretta with a white linen coif, sometimes featuring a row of pearls. Curling their hair and wearing it with a felt hat and a pleated band and white linen coif was another option.
While it is rare to find physical examples of medieval clothing, one notable exception is the wedding dress of Princess Margaret, known as the "Golden Gown." This dress, kept in Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden, dates back to between 1403 and 1439 and is an example of the opulent materials and elaborate designs that medieval royalty embraced.
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Medieval brides wore chemises, breast bands, and knee-length stockings under their dresses
Medieval wedding dresses were often crafted with opulent materials and elaborate designs meant to showcase wealth and status. Medieval brides typically wore long velvet dresses in beautiful jewel tones, with golden buttons lining the bodice and skirt. These dresses, known as cotehardies, trailed all the way to the ankles and featured fitted sleeves with buttons down the length. Underneath their dresses, medieval brides wore chemises, breast bands, and knee-length stockings.
The choice of colours for medieval wedding dresses was influenced by the perceptions of different hues at the time. For example, green was seen as a soothing colour, being the middle shade between black and white. Blue, on the other hand, was neglected for much of the Middle Ages due to the difficulty of recreating it for clothing or painting. It wasn't until the 12th century that blue began to be incorporated into wedding fashion.
Medieval brides of royal or noble status typically commissioned new outfits for their weddings, choosing materials such as velvet, satin, or silk. Gold accents and fur trims were also common, symbolising power and political alliances. For brides of lower social status, dresses were fashioned from linen or cotton, resembling as closely as possible the dresses worn by ladies of status.
The only surviving example of an intact medieval wedding dress is the Golden Gown of Queen Margaret, kept in Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden. This silk and linen dress dates between 1403 and 1439 and was likely worn by Princess Margaret when she married King James III of Scotland in 1469.
Medieval wedding attire was completed with accessories such as crowns or circlets, delicate jewellery, and dramatic capes or cloaks. Footwear was also important, with brides wearing boots or intricate sandals that echoed the medieval style.
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Frequently asked questions
Medieval brides embraced bold colours, with dark blue being the most popular choice as it was the colour of purity. Wealthier brides often chose shades of red or gold, while green was also seen as a soothing option.
Medieval wedding dresses were crafted with opulent materials like velvet, satin, silk, and ermine. Medieval royalty often wore cloth-of-gold, with gold accents and fur trims symbolising power and political alliances.
Medieval wedding dresses were often long and flowy, with long sleeves, a high neckline, and a corseted bodice. They were often embellished with intricate embroidery, beading, or lace, and could be decorated with precious stones. To complete the look, a long piece of fabric trailed behind the dress.
Medieval brides wore elaborate headdresses, often cone-shaped hennins with a wimple, or a silk toque or calotte with a gold circlet. Royals might wear a jewelled crown. Brides also wore their finest jewellery, including jewelled belts and brooches, and completed the look with a dramatic cape or cloak.
