Franklin Dean
Wedding dresses are no longer limited to shades of white, ivory, or champagne. Brides are increasingly stepping away from tradition and choosing dresses in colours that reflect their personalities and styles. The colour of a wedding dress can carry symbolic meaning: for instance, red symbolises love, passion, and strength, while pink represents innocence and femininity. Ultimately, there are no rules for choosing a wedding dress colour, and the most important thing is to wear what makes you feel beautiful.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Red | Love, infatuation, strong emotions, excitement, energy, strength, passion |
| Pink | Innocence, childlike personality, freshness, purity, love, good health, flirtatiousness |
| Blue | Calmness, peacefulness, femininity, life, purity, stability, security, lifelong loyalty |
| Black | Making a statement, standing out from the crowd |
| White | Royalty, wealth, prestige, especially complementary to darker skin tones and yellow undertones |
| Ivory | Romantic, versatile, complementary to lace, especially complementary to lighter skin tones |
| Champagne | Gold undertones |
| Blush | |
| Mauve |
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What You'll Learn
Red symbolises love, passion, energy, and strength
While the colour white has been the traditional choice for wedding dresses in Western countries for the last 100 years or so, brides today have a variety of colours to choose from. There are no rules when it comes to choosing a wedding dress colour, and many brides are stepping away from tradition and opting for a dress that reflects their personality and how they feel.
Red is one such colour that has gained popularity among brides. In Chinese culture, red symbolises happiness, fortune, success, and new beginnings. Brides who get married during the Lunar New Year often wear red wedding dresses to celebrate the joy of their marriage and the start of a new year. Red is also a popular choice for brides who want to make a statement and stand out.
In addition to its cultural significance, red symbolises love, passion, energy, and strength. It is a bold and vibrant colour that exudes excitement and strong emotions. For brides who want to showcase their unique personality and make a memorable statement on their wedding day, a red wedding dress can be a perfect choice.
While some may associate red with love and passion, there are also some negative connotations. In certain regions, such as Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, wearing a solid red dress to a wedding is believed to indicate that the woman has slept with the groom. Similarly, in Norway, it is considered that the person wearing red is the groom's mistress. However, these beliefs are considered outdated and are not widely practised today.
Ultimately, the choice of wedding dress colour is a personal decision. While red may hold symbolic meanings, the most important consideration is that the bride feels happy and confident in their chosen attire.
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Pink represents innocence, femininity, and good health
While there are no rules when it comes to choosing a wedding dress colour, the colour pink is often chosen to represent innocence, femininity, and good health.
Pink is a pale tint of red, the colour of pink flowers. The term "pink" was coined in the 17th century by a Greek botanist, inspired by the ruffled edges of carnations. The colour pink has been recognised since 800 B.C., when it appeared in Homer's Odyssey. In the mid-18th century, pink was a fashionable colour among aristocrats of all genders, a symbol of class and luxury.
In the 1920s, a light red, similar to pink, was seen as a masculine colour. However, by the 1950s, pink had become strongly associated with femininity. This association was partly due to a postwar effort to remove women from the workforce and reestablish their traditional homemaker roles. In the 21st century, pink is still seen as a symbol of femininity, though this association is less rigid than it once was.
In Western countries, pink is often associated with so-called feminine traits such as softness, kindness, nurturing, and compassion. It is also associated with childhood, romance, and innocence. In art, pink has been used to represent innocence, as seen in Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1835 short story, Young Goodman Brown, where a character wears a pink ribbon in her hair, symbolising her innocence. In Catholicism, pink (called rose) symbolises joy and happiness.
Pink is also a sign of good health, as reflected in the phrase "in the pink". It symbolises success, as in the expression "everything is rosy", and happiness, as in "tickled pink".
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Blue symbolises calmness, stability, and loyalty
While there are no rules when it comes to choosing a wedding dress colour, understanding the symbolism behind different colours can help guide your decision.
Blue is also seen as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly. It is often described as a spiritual colour, as the sky is representative of heaven and the ocean holds spiritual significance for many people. Blue can also represent depth, trust, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, and intelligence. It is a versatile colour that conveys authority and integrity.
In terms of colour psychology, blue can affect a person's physiological functions. Research has found that the colour blue can reduce a person's heart rate and body temperature, creating a "sleepy effect". It is a colour that is widely favoured, especially among men, and is often viewed as non-threatening, conservative, and traditional.
In Western culture, blue is associated with positive qualities such as confidence, stability, unity, and conservatism. However, in Iran, blue is the colour of mourning.
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Black is a statement choice, often seen as taboo
While weddings are a beautiful occasion, couples today are increasingly personalising their special day, from the venue to the bridal party and, of course, the wedding dress.
Black wedding dresses are a statement choice and a bold departure from the traditional white gown. They are often seen as taboo, with black considered an eerie colour choice for a bride. However, black wedding dresses are becoming more popular, with some brides choosing them to express their personal style and individuality. Black dresses can be elegant, dramatic, and sophisticated, and they have a long history, dating back over 200 years.
In some cultures, such as Spanish, Scottish, and Finnish, black wedding dresses were once the traditional choice. The shift towards white wedding dresses in Western culture began around 1840 with Queen Victoria, who chose white to showcase delicate Honiton lace or, according to some, to symbolise purity and simplicity. As Queen Victoria's influence spread, white became synonymous with bridal fashion, and black wedding dresses became less common.
Today, black wedding dresses are making a comeback, favoured by non-traditional couples, artists, secular couples, and those with a gothic aesthetic. They can be a fun and sexy way to break with tradition, and they are also slimming and sensual, creating a unique silhouette. Black dresses can also be easier to match with the wedding decor, such as jewel-tone flowers, black suits, and obsidian jewellery.
Ultimately, the choice of wedding dress colour is a personal one, and there are no rules that need to be followed. Couples today are embracing their individuality and creating unforgettable looks that reflect their unique style and vision for their wedding day.
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Ivory is romantic, versatile, and suits most skin tones
While white is the quintessential wedding dress colour, ivory has emerged as a modern classic, imbued with the values of white but with a more contemporary meaning of love and commitment. Ivory is a versatile choice, flattering a wide range of skin tones, from fair complexions with pink undertones to darker skin tones.
Ivory is a richer, creamier hue that exudes a vintage feel. Its warm undertones complement rosy colouring, and its subtle shimmer adds a luxurious glow to the fabric. For this reason, brides seeking a softer, vintage-inspired aesthetic often opt for ivory.
The choice between white and ivory is a highly personal one, with each colour carrying nuanced symbolism and aesthetic appeal. However, ivory's versatility and romantic allure make it a popular choice for brides who want to embrace tradition with a modern twist.
When deciding between white and ivory, it is essential to consider your skin tone and the lighting at your wedding venue. Stark white, for example, can appear washed out on fair skin and may picture with a light blue tint in photographs. Ivory, on the other hand, is a universally flattering shade that adapts to various lighting conditions, ensuring your dress looks exquisite in person and in photographs.
Ultimately, the decision to choose an ivory wedding dress is a declaration of your style and personality. Ivory's romantic and ethereal qualities make it an ideal choice for brides who want to embody love, commitment, and a softer, vintage-inspired aesthetic on their special day.
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Frequently asked questions
Red symbolises love, infatuation, strong emotions, excitement, energy, strength, and passion. It is a popular choice for culturally-based weddings, but can also be chosen by brides who want to stand out.
Pink represents innocence, a childlike personality, freshness, purity, love, good health, and a good life. It can also suggest a more flirtatious personality.
Blue symbolises calmness and peacefulness. It also conveys femininity, life, purity, stability, security, and lifelong loyalty.
Black is often seen as an unusual choice for a wedding dress, and some may consider it eerie. However, black wedding dresses are becoming more common.
White wedding dresses, popularised by Queen Victoria to demonstrate wealth and prestige, look excellent on darker skin tones and those with yellow or olive undertones. Ivory, considered the most romantic and versatile shade, flatters almost everyone, especially those with lighter skin tones.
