Franklin Dean
The white wedding, a formal or semi-formal occasion where the bride wears a white dress, is a tradition that originated in the Victorian era. Queen Victoria, who wore white when she married Prince Albert in 1840, is widely credited with starting the trend. Before this, brides wore a variety of colours, including red, a particularly popular choice in Western Europe. The white wedding gained further traction in the 20th century, with Hollywood portrayals of weddings, particularly after World War II, solidifying the idea of a white wedding as the norm.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time era | Victorian era, 1840 |
| Started by | Queen Victoria |
| Dress colour | White |
| Dress fabric | Spitalfields cream silk-satin with a flounce of Honiton lace at the neck and sleeves |
| Accessories | Flower crown instead of a tiara |
| Wedding type | Formal or semi-formal occasion |
| Wedding location | Church |
| Wedding party | Groomsmen or ushers, best man, honour attendant (matron of honour in the UK), junior groomsmen |
| Wedding cake | Large cake with white icing |
| Colour significance | Light, goodness, innocence, purity, virginity, perfection, new beginnings |
| Other cultures | Many Eastern cultures consider white to be an unlucky colour |
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What You'll Learn
- The Victorian era: Queen Victoria wore white in 1840, starting a new bridal trend
- Post-WWII: Hollywood movies and increased prosperity popularised white weddings
- Modern times: White remains the most popular colour for wedding dresses in Western cultures
- Ancient history: In Biblical times, brides did not traditionally wear white
- Non-Western cultures: Many cultures consider white an unlucky wedding colour
The Victorian era: Queen Victoria wore white in 1840, starting a new bridal trend
The white wedding dress is a tradition that is commonly associated with the Victorian era. In 1840, Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress when she married Prince Albert, and this choice set a new trend for bridal fashion. While white had been a colour for wedding gowns before this, it was not a common choice, and brides typically wore a variety of colours, including blue, yellow, black, brown, and grey. Royal brides, in particular, favoured opulent gowns embroidered with silver and gold thread, with red being a popular choice in Western Europe.
Queen Victoria's wedding dress was made of white satin and featured a deep flounce of Honiton lace, a type of English lace. She accessorised with a flower crown instead of a tiara and her choice of jewellery included a Turkish diamond necklace and earrings, and her husband-to-be's sapphire brooch. The dress was constructed entirely from British materials, supporting industries that were in decline. This was also one of the first heavily photographed royal weddings, and the images were shared widely, allowing people across the world to see the Queen's dress.
The white dress was a surprising choice at the time, as white was associated with mourning and was considered impractical for a wedding. However, Queen Victoria's decision is thought to have been influenced by several factors. One theory suggests that she chose white to be seen as her husband's wife rather than a queen, with the colour symbolising innocence and purity. Another idea is that white was chosen to showcase the delicate lace on the dress, and it has also been suggested that she wanted to support the struggling factory that produced the fabric.
Following Queen Victoria's wedding, wealthy brides began to wear grand white gowns, as they had the means to have their dresses professionally cleaned. Over time, the white wedding dress became a symbol of purity and innocence in Western bridal culture, and it gradually gained popularity. By the mid-20th century, it had become the customary choice for brides, with Hollywood movies and television further cementing this trend. Today, white remains the most popular colour for wedding gowns, although some brides choose to break with tradition and opt for a non-white dress.
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Post-WWII: Hollywood movies and increased prosperity popularised white weddings
The white wedding, though largely a product of the Victorian era, became increasingly popularised in the post-WWII era. This was due in large part to Hollywood movies, which often featured weddings, as well as increased prosperity, which made single-use white wedding dresses more accessible.
During the Victorian era, white wedding dresses were largely a novelty. Though Queen Victoria is credited with starting the trend when she wore a white dress for her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840, white dresses were still relatively uncommon for several decades. In the 19th century, laundering clothing was a challenge, and white dresses were particularly difficult to maintain. As such, wedding gowns were often worn several times throughout a woman's life, and were usually the nicest dress she owned.
However, in the post-WWII era, increased prosperity meant that clothing became cheaper to produce, and single-use wedding dresses became more accessible. White dresses, in particular, gained popularity, in part because they were well-suited to early black-and-white or sepia-toned photography. Hollywood movies of the time also often featured weddings, further cementing the notion that marriage demanded a white dress.
The portrayal of weddings in Hollywood movies, particularly immediately after World War II, helped to crystallise and homogenise the white wedding into a normative form. The speed and ease with which people could see images of celebrity weddings also contributed to the idealisation of the white wedding. For example, in 1956, film footage and photographs of Grace Kelly in her wedding gown quickly made their way across the globe. Similarly, in 1981, 750 million people watched Charles, Prince of Wales, marry Lady Diana Spencer in her iconic ivory silk taffeta and lace gown.
Today, white is still the most widely-worn colour for wedding gowns, particularly in Western cultures. According to the WeddingWire Newlywed Report, 82% of US brides wear white. However, this tradition is not universal, and many Eastern cultures consider white to be an unlucky hue for brides. In India, China, Pakistan, and Vietnam, among other countries, red is the most popular colour for brides.
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Modern times: White remains the most popular colour for wedding dresses in Western cultures
The white wedding dress remains the most popular choice for brides in Western cultures. This tradition began with Queen Victoria, who wore a white wedding dress in 1840 when she married Prince Albert. The wedding was one of the first to be heavily photographed, and images of the Queen in her white dress were shared around the world. Wealthier brides began to follow the Queen's lead, wearing grand white gowns that they could afford to have professionally cleaned.
However, it was not until after World War II that the white wedding dress became truly democratized. In the aftermath of the war, society became more prosperous, and clothing became cheaper to produce. As a result, the white, single-use wedding dress became a distinctive part of weddings in Western cultures. Hollywood movies, particularly those released immediately after World War II, helped to crystallize and homogenize the white wedding into a normative form. The portrayal of weddings in Hollywood and the ease with which people could see images of celebrity weddings, such as Grace Kelly's in 1956, further cemented the notion that marriage demanded a white dress.
The global spectacle of Princess Diana and Prince Charles's wedding in 1981 further exacerbated the idea of a white wedding. Broadcast to 750 million people, it was the most-viewed wedding of all time. Diana's choice of a white dress with an 8-meter train made the wedding look like a real-life fairytale, imprinting on the world and solidifying the white wedding dress's place in history.
Today, white remains the most popular colour for wedding dresses in Western cultures, with 82% of US brides choosing to wear white. While the style of wedding dresses may change from season to season, the colour white has remained a constant choice for brides. The colour is often associated with purity, innocence, and new beginnings, making it a popular choice for brides looking to make a fresh start.
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Ancient history: In Biblical times, brides did not traditionally wear white
The white wedding tradition, including the bride wearing a white dress, is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress to her wedding with Prince Albert in 1840. Debutantes were required to wear white court dresses and long white gloves for their first presentation at court. However, before this, brides typically wore dresses in a variety of colours, including blue, yellow, black, brown, and grey. Royal brides opted for "heavy brocaded gowns embroidered with white and silver thread," with red being a popular choice in Western Europe.
In Biblical times, brides did not traditionally wear white. A white dress was seen as impractical and financially unwise, as it could not be worn again and was difficult to keep clean. Instead, practicality and affordability dictated the colour of the wedding dress.
The white wedding tradition was further popularised by Princess Diana, whose 1981 wedding to Prince Charles was broadcast to 750 million people. Her choice of a white dress with an 8-metre train contributed to the idealised image of a fairytale wedding. Hollywood movies and TV shows have also played a significant role in promoting the idea of a white wedding, influencing brides to aspire to a similar look for their own nuptials.
Over time, the colour white has become associated with purity, innocence, and new beginnings in Western culture. In colour psychology, white symbolises a blank canvas, representing a fresh start and the wiping away of past transgressions. This notion aligns with religious interpretations, where white signifies a high level of religious commitment and purity. For some, the white wedding dress represents a spiritual rebirth and a new life as a Christian.
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Non-Western cultures: Many cultures consider white an unlucky wedding colour
The white wedding, a wedding in which the bride wears a white dress, is a tradition that originated in the Victorian era in Great Britain. In 1840, Queen Victoria wore a white dress when she married Prince Albert in one of the first heavily-photographed royal weddings. The popularity of the white wedding dress grew as images of Queen Victoria's wedding spread worldwide, and white became associated with purity and innocence. However, this association was not universal, and in many non-Western cultures, white is considered an unlucky colour for a wedding.
In India, China, Pakistan, and Vietnam, among other countries, red is the most popular colour for brides, and white is often avoided as it is considered unlucky. Similarly, in many African cultures, the white wedding is seen as a relic of colonialism, and traditional weddings are being embraced as a way to reclaim and celebrate their heritage. Some consider the prevalence of white weddings in Africa to be a form of neo-colonialism, where Western influences are favoured over traditional practices.
The normalisation of Western influences is also observed in other aspects of African life, such as the adoption of English names alongside native ones and the perception of Western attire as formal and traditional outfits as informal. Eurocentric ideals have contributed to the view of traditional African weddings as performative, while white weddings are seen as necessary. However, there is a growing cultural shift towards embracing African heritage and rejecting the notion that Western culture is superior.
While the white wedding remains popular in Western cultures, with 82% of US brides wearing white according to the WeddingWire Newlywed Report, it is important to recognise that this tradition may not be universally positive. In non-Western cultures, the colour white may carry different connotations, and the adoption of white weddings can be linked to complex issues of colonialism and cultural imperialism.
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Frequently asked questions
A white wedding is a formal or semi-formal occasion where the bride wears a white dress. The term now also refers to the entire Western wedding routine, especially in the Christian tradition, which includes a church service and a reception.
White weddings gained popularity in the mid-19th century after Queen Victoria wore a white dress for her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840.
Queen Victoria chose to wear a white dress to support the struggling factory where the fabric was created. She also wanted to make a statement and express her personality as a fashion-loving Queen.
White weddings symbolise purity, innocence, and new beginnings. White is also often considered the colour of perfection.
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress was started by Queen Victoria in 1840. White weddings gained popularity in the mid-19th century and became customary in the mid-20th century. The portrayal of weddings in Hollywood movies, particularly after World War II, helped to solidify the idea of a white wedding.
