George Boyle
White wedding dresses have been popular in Western cultures since Queen Victoria wore a white lace dress to marry Prince Albert in 1840. White dresses became a status symbol, and later came to be associated with purity, innocence, and virginity. In the present day, white is the dominant colour for wedding dresses in Western cultures, though this varies across cultures worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | White |
| Symbolises | Purity, innocence, virginity, youth, new beginnings, status, grace |
| Fashionable since | 1840, after Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress |
| Worn by | Elite brides, young brides, wealthy brides |
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What You'll Learn
White wedding dresses symbolise purity and innocence
The white wedding dress has been a popular choice for brides since Queen Victoria wore a white lace dress to marry Prince Albert in 1840. In the West, the colour white has long been associated with purity and virtue, and this is one reason why brides opt for white dresses.
White wedding dresses also symbolise innocence and virginity. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, white is used as a symbol of purity, innocence, and cleanliness, particularly during religious ceremonies such as weddings. In the 19th century, etiquette books described the white wedding dress as a symbol of status, also carrying "a connotation of innocence and virginal purity".
The white dress was also a way for brides to show that their family was part of the leisure class, as the dress could be easily ruined by any kind of work or spill. In the 19th century, white wedding dresses were mostly worn by young and wealthy brides.
The white wedding dress has not always been fashionable, and other colours were chosen far more frequently than white before the 19th century. In the Middle Ages, brides often wore colourful dresses, and in ancient Athens, red and violet were popular colours for wedding dresses. In 17th-century Spain, black was popular as it was the most expensive and prestigious dye available. In India and China, white is the colour of mourning.
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The tradition of wearing white was popularised by Queen Victoria
The tradition of wearing white at weddings is commonly associated with Queen Victoria, who wore a white gown when she married Prince Albert in 1840. The queen's choice of attire was a departure from the colourful wedding dresses that were common at the time, with red being a particularly popular choice in Western Europe.
Queen Victoria's decision to wear white was influenced by a combination of factors, including practicality, patriotism, and symbolism. As the monarch, she wanted to support and promote Britain's lace industry, which was facing challenges due to the invention of machine textiles. White was the ideal colour to showcase the intricate handmade Honiton lace on her dress.
The colour white also carried symbolic significance. In many societies, white has been associated with purity, virtue, youth, joy, and innocence. Queen Victoria's choice of white was in line with the notion of the bride as an innocent and adoring bride, capturing the public's imagination. Etiquette books and fashion magazines further reinforced the association of white with purity and innocence, solidifying its place in bridal wear.
The rise of print media and commercialisation also played a role in popularising the trend. As accounts of Queen Victoria's wedding spread across Europe and beyond, fashionable and elite brides followed her example. White wedding dresses became a symbol of status and wealth, as they were difficult to keep clean and were favoured by those who could afford elaborate gowns.
While Queen Victoria is credited with popularising the tradition of wearing white, it is important to note that she was not the first royal bride to wear white. Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France, in 1558 or 1559. However, Queen Victoria's influence on bridal fashion left a lasting impact, with white wedding dresses becoming a widespread choice for brides in the following centuries.
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White wedding dresses are a status symbol
White wedding dresses have been a symbol of status since the Victorian era, when Queen Victoria wore a white lace dress to marry Prince Albert in 1840. White was a popular colour for dresses of all kinds in the 1700s, but it was Queen Victoria's wedding that made the white wedding dress popular. As accounts of Victoria's wedding spread, fashionable people followed her lead, and white wedding dresses became a symbol of status and wealth.
Before the Victorian era, brides wore their best dresses, regardless of colour, and they often wore them again after the wedding, even if they were white. However, white dresses were primarily for young and wealthy brides, as laundering techniques at the time meant that a white dress could be ruined by any sort of work or spill. Thus, wearing a white wedding dress became a way for brides to show that their families were so wealthy that they could afford a dress that may only be worn once.
In many societies, white has long been associated with purity, innocence, and virtue, which is another reason why brides choose to wear white, especially in the West. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, white is used as a symbol of purity, innocence, and cleanliness, particularly in religious ceremonies, including weddings. In Western cultures, white wedding gowns have symbolised purity and grace since the 19th century. Fashion historian Kimberley Chrisman-Campbell notes that white has endured as a wedding dress colour because it is an "all-purpose symbol of innocence, purity, virginity, youth, and new beginnings".
In contrast, in some cultures, white is a colour of mourning. In India and China, brides traditionally wear red, which is seen as more auspicious and celebratory.
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White wedding dresses are a symbol of new beginnings
The white wedding dress has been a tradition in Western culture since Queen Victoria wore a white dress for her wedding in 1840. White wedding dresses have since come to symbolise purity, innocence, and virginity. However, the tradition of wearing white on one's wedding day is not universal, and the colour white can carry different meanings in different cultures. For instance, in India and China, white is worn at funerals.
The white wedding dress was popularised by Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. Debutantes had long been required to wear white court dresses and long white gloves for their first presentation at court, and Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress set a new trend. As accounts of Victoria's wedding spread across the Atlantic and throughout Europe, fashionable people followed her lead.
In many societies, the colour white has long been associated with purity and virtue, which is why some brides choose to wear white, especially in the West. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, white is used as a symbol of purity, innocence, and cleanliness, particularly in religious ceremonies, including weddings. In Western cultures, white wedding gowns have symbolised purity and grace since the 19th century, and white dresses are often chosen to symbolise new beginnings.
The white wedding dress trend was further boosted in 1981 when 750 million people watched the wedding of Diana Spencer and Charles, Prince of Wales, where Diana wore an elaborate white taffeta dress with an 8-metre train. Today, the white wedding dress is often more about tradition than any specific symbolism. It represents a deep respect for the customs and values passed down through the family and a way for the bride to blend the new chapter she is starting with her family history.
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White wedding dresses are a symbol of respect for family traditions
Following Queen Victoria's wedding, white wedding dresses became a popular symbol of status among the elite. They were favoured as a way to demonstrate that the bride's family was wealthy and could afford an elaborate dress that would be ruined by any kind of work or spill. In many societies, the colour white has long been associated with purity, innocence, youth, and new beginnings. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, white is used as a symbol of purity, innocence, and cleanliness, particularly in religious ceremonies, including weddings.
The white wedding dress tradition varies from culture to culture. In some cultures, white is the colour of mourning, while in others, it may be considered impractical due to the difficulty of keeping it clean. In Western cultures, white wedding gowns have symbolised purity and grace since the 19th century, while Eastern cultures often feature elaborate, colourful garments imbued with symbolic meanings unique to each region. For example, in Indian and Chinese weddings, brides traditionally wear red, which is considered more auspicious and celebratory.
Today, the choice to wear a white wedding dress is often more about tradition than any other factor. It is a way for the bride to blend the new chapter she is starting with her family history, creating a powerful and emotional connection to the past.
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Frequently asked questions
In Western culture, white wedding dresses have symbolised purity and grace since the 19th century. White has long been associated with purity and virtue in many societies, and white dresses were also a symbol of status, as they showed that the bride's family was wealthy enough that she would not need to wear the dress for work.
The trend of wearing white wedding dresses is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840.
In non-Western cultures, white is not always the colour of choice for wedding dresses. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, white symbolises purity, innocence, and cleanliness. In Indian and Chinese weddings, white is the colour of mourning, and brides traditionally wear red, which symbolises prosperity and fertility.
