Deborah Chan
The white wedding dress is a matrimonial classic started by Queen Victoria when she married Prince Albert in 1840. White wedding dresses only came into fashion in the mid-19th century and became customary in the mid-20th century. In Western culture, the wedding dress is most commonly white, though it is not the universal colour of wedding dresses. In Western cultures, white wedding gowns have symbolised purity and grace since the 19th century, whereas Eastern cultures often feature elaborate, colourful garments imbued with symbolic meanings unique to each region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who started the trend of wearing a white wedding dress? | Queen Victoria |
| When did Queen Victoria wear a white wedding dress? | 1840 |
| Who else wore a white wedding dress before Queen Victoria? | Mary, Queen of Scots in 1559 |
| When did white wedding dresses become popular? | In the mid-20th century |
| Why did white wedding dresses become popular? | The rise of mass media, fashion magazines, Hollywood films, and the association of white with new beginnings, purity, and innocence |
| When did middle-class British and Americans adopt the trend? | After World War II |
| When did wearing the dress only once become common? | In the 20th century |
| What other colours were popular before white? | Red, blue, yellow, black, brown, and grey |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Victoria's influence
Queen Victoria's wedding dress is commonly credited with starting the tradition of white wedding dresses. On her wedding day in 1840, Victoria wore a white gown made of Spitalfields silk and Honiton lace. She described her dress in her journal:
> "I wore a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design. My jewels were my Turkish diamond necklace & earrings & dear Albert's beautiful sapphire brooch."
While Victoria was not the first royal bride to wear white, her wedding dress attracted a great deal of press attention, as the royal wedding was highly publicised. Victoria's choice of a white dress was therefore widely publicised and emulated, with fashionable people following her lead.
There are several theories as to why Victoria chose to wear white. One theory suggests that she chose white because it was the perfect colour to highlight the delicate lace on her dress. Victoria was a supporter of the English lace industry, and she later revisited the lace-makers to create the royal christening gown worn by her children. She also wore her wedding lace on several other occasions, including the weddings of two of her children. Another theory suggests that Victoria chose to wear white because she wanted to be seen as Albert's wife, rather than as a queen. In this interpretation, the white dress symbolised "innocence and romance".
Although Queen Victoria is credited with starting the tradition of white wedding dresses, it was not until after World War II that middle-class British and American brides fully adopted the trend. In the 20th century, increased prosperity also led to the tradition of wearing the dress only once.
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White symbolising purity
The colour white has long been associated with purity and innocence. In Western culture, it is the colour most associated with new beginnings. In the context of weddings, white symbolises a new chapter in a couple's life together.
The tradition of wearing white at weddings is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress to her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. Before this, royal brides did not typically wear white, opting for heavy brocaded gowns embroidered with white and silver thread. Red was a particularly popular colour in Western Europe. However, Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France, in 1559.
White wedding dresses also symbolise wealth and status. Before the later part of the 20th century, laundering techniques were limited, and white dresses could be easily ruined by any kind of work or spill. Therefore, wearing white was a way for brides to show that their families were so wealthy that they could afford for the bride to wear a dress that would be ruined by any sort of work.
White wedding dresses also carry religious significance, particularly within Christianity. In colour psychology, white symbolises a blank canvas, just waiting to be written on. It is often used to express high religious commitment and purity.
In the 20th century, the rise of mass media, fashion magazines, and Hollywood films further cemented the association between white dresses and weddings, reinforcing the idea of the "storybook wedding".
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White as a status symbol
White wedding dresses became popular in the mid-19th century after Queen Victoria wore a white gown when she married Prince Albert in 1840. This was one of the first heavily photographed royal weddings, and the images were shared around the world. Brides took note and followed suit, and white dresses have been customary for weddings in Western cultures since the mid-20th century.
White was seen as a colour for the rich, as it was costly and harder to keep clean, thus communicating the status and wealth of the wearer. Brides from wealthy families often wore rich colours and exclusive fabrics, with bold colours and layers of furs, velvet, and silk. The attire of the bride was a testament to the wealth and social standing of her family. White dresses were reserved for women being presented at court, and debutantes were required to wear white court dresses and long white gloves for their first presentation at court.
In the context of weddings, white is often associated with purity, innocence, and virginity. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, white is used as a symbol of purity, innocence, and cleanliness in religious ceremonies, including weddings. However, this association with purity and virginity is not universal and is a more recent development. In fact, blue was originally representative of purity, piety, and fidelity and was associated with the Virgin Mary.
In Eastern cultures, white is often considered an unlucky hue for weddings, and brides opt for other colours like red, which symbolises auspiciousness, life, luck, and celebration.
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White wedding dresses in non-Western cultures
The white wedding dress is a widely accepted form of wedding attire in Western culture. The tradition is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white dress when she married Prince Albert in 1840. However, white wedding dresses were recorded earlier than that, with Princess Philippa wearing a white tunic during her wedding to King Eric of Scandinavia in 1406, and Mary, Queen of Scots wearing white during her wedding to the Dauphin of France in 1558 or 1559.
In non-Western cultures, the wedding dress traditions vary. In Africa, for example, there are many different tribal wedding dresses. In Ghana, the traditional wedding dress is made from Kente fabric, which is usually a mixture of silk and cotton. In West Africa, especially Nigeria, brides wear shimmering Gele head wraps along with matching coloured dresses or cultural patterned print dresses. In China, some brides wear sleek red phoenix dresses with mythical roots, while others wear white Western-style dresses for wedding photo shoots.
In Eastern cultures, red is often considered the more appropriate colour for brides, symbolising life, luck, and celebration. This tradition is found in countries such as South Sudan and Singapore. However, with the spread of mass media, fashion magazines, and Hollywood films, the association between white dresses and weddings has become more globalised, even outside of predominantly Christian nations where the colour white holds Catholic symbolism.
While the white wedding dress has become a symbol of purity and virginity in Western culture, this is not the only interpretation. In colour psychology, white symbolises new beginnings and a blank canvas. It is also associated with light, goodness, and innocence. In non-Western cultures, the colour white may hold different meanings, and the choice of a white wedding dress may be influenced by a combination of traditional and modern influences.
Overall, the wedding dress traditions vary greatly across different cultures and countries, and the choice of dress colour may be influenced by a variety of factors, including personal preference, cultural traditions, and global trends.
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White wedding dresses today
The white wedding dress is a tradition that is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. Before Queen Victoria, brides simply wore their best dress, which could be of any colour, including blue, yellow, black, brown, or grey.
Today, white remains a popular colour for wedding dresses, particularly in Western cultures, where it is the default colour for a wedding dress for a first marriage. Ivory is also a common choice, and pastel shades and stronger colours are becoming more popular.
The white wedding dress is often associated with purity and innocence, and it can also symbolise new beginnings. In the 1960s, the Bridal Apparel Association even commissioned studies that attempted to prove that a white wedding dress contributed to a more stable marriage.
The wedding dress industry today offers a wide range of white wedding dresses, from casual and comfortable styles to luxurious and glamorous designs. The cost of a wedding dress can vary significantly, with some retailers offering budget-friendly options under $200, while others sell designer gowns at higher price points.
For those who prefer a non-traditional approach, alternative options such as wedding jumpsuits, pantsuits, or sundresses are also available in various colours and prints. Additionally, the practice of wearing the wedding dress only once, which became popular in the 20th century, is still prevalent today.
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Frequently asked questions
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress when she married Prince Albert in 1840.
Queen Victoria was a fashion-lover and was intent on making a statement. She chose a non-traditional dress and flower crown for her wedding, and the colour white was associated with new beginnings and purity.
White wedding dresses became popular in the mid-20th century. This was due to several factors, including the rise of mass media, fashion magazines, and Hollywood films, as well as the post-World War II economic boom which allowed middle-class people to copy the look of the wealthy.
No, before Queen Victoria, brides wore a variety of colours, including blue, yellow, black, brown, and grey. They often wore their best dress, regardless of the colour.
