George Boyle
The wedding dress has become a symbol of the wedding ceremony itself, with white being the preferred choice for brides in the West and red being the traditional colour for brides in the East. However, this has not always been the case. The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is often attributed to Queen Victoria, who wore a white gown when she married Prince Albert in 1840. White wedding dresses were already a status symbol at expensive British weddings in the 1400s and 1500s, but Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress set the standard for modern bridal fashion.
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What You'll Learn
The influence of Queen Victoria
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is often attributed to Queen Victoria, who wore a white gown when she married Prince Albert in 1840. This was a significant departure from the colourful wedding dresses that were more common at the time, and it is believed that Queen Victoria chose white to symbolise purity and virginity.
Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress set a new standard for bridal fashion in the Western world. White became the default colour for wedding dresses in Europe and European-dominant countries, and it has remained the most popular choice for brides in the West ever since. The style and colour of wedding dresses have certainly evolved over time, but the influence of Queen Victoria's choice is still felt today.
Before Queen Victoria, brides in the Western world wore a variety of colours, including gold, blue, and red. The colour and style of their dresses often reflected their social status, with wealthy brides wearing expensive fabrics and bold colours to showcase their families' wealth and social standing. The length of the train was also an indicator of status, with longer trains denoting a higher position in the court hierarchy.
Queen Victoria's wedding dress was a voluminous white gown, and while white dresses had been worn by brides before, particularly those from wealthy families, her choice is credited with making white the standard colour for bridal gowns in Western cultures. The association of white with purity and new beginnings became more strongly linked to bridal gowns after Queen Victoria, and this symbolism continues to be ascribed to the colour today.
In the centuries that followed, wedding dresses continued to evolve, influenced by societal shifts, industrialisation, and the media. During the Great Depression and leading up to World War II, wedding dresses became more understated, with longer hemlines and flowing trains. After World War II, society became more prosperous, and the bridal industry promoted expensive floor-length gowns as the ideal. In the 1950s, full skirts and playful styles became popular, and by the 1960s, the strapless trend emerged as a rebellion against more conservative styles.
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White as a symbol of purity
The colour and style of wedding gowns have traditionally followed fashion trends, and while white is a lovely tradition, it has never been a requirement. Weddings in the 18th and 19th centuries were more about politics and promoting the family bloodline than they were about love.
The white wedding dress is thought to have originated in the Victorian era, when it was associated with purity and virginity. White dresses were a status symbol at expensive British weddings in the 1400s and 1500s, but it wasn't until Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 that white wedding gowns became the norm in the Western world. The white wedding dress was popularised by Queen Victoria, who wore a white gown during her marriage to Prince Albert in 1840. The white dress symbolised purity and virginity, and it became the standard for bridal fashion.
In the Western world, white is often chosen for bridal gowns to symbolise purity and new beginnings. In Eastern cultures, on the other hand, wedding attire is typically more elaborate and colourful, with red being a common choice to signify life, luck, and celebration. In some cultures, such as traditional Korean and Japanese weddings, silk wedding robes in various colours are worn depending on the season and dynasty.
The white wedding dress has been promoted by the bridal industry and popular media, with magazines and advertisements featuring floor-length white gowns as the ideal. In the 1950s, the Bridal Apparel Association even commissioned studies that attempted to link the wearing of a white wedding dress to a more stable marriage. In addition, runway designers and celebrities have influenced bridal fashion, with famous figures such as Gwen Stefani, Reese Witherspoon, and Anne Hathaway opting for non-traditional pink wedding dresses.
Today, the white wedding dress is a well-established tradition in Western cultures, with brides from all over the world, from Brisbane to Bangkok, adopting some variation of the white gown on their wedding day.
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The length of the train
The train has been a feature of wedding dresses for centuries, with the bridal industry attempting to maximise profits by promoting more expensive floor-length gowns. This promotion of the ideal wedding dress was disseminated through wedding magazines and advertisements.
The pressure to choose a white wedding dress has also diminished, with celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Reese Witherspoon, and Anne Hathaway opting for variations of pink. Today, the variety of choices for wedding dress styles has broadened, with runway designers adding colour and textured fabrics to their collections.
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The colour and style of wedding dresses in other cultures
The tradition of wearing white wedding dresses is often attributed to Queen Victoria, who wore a white gown when she married Prince Albert in 1840. White was already associated with wealth and purity, and Queen Victoria's choice set the standard for modern bridal fashion. However, the colour and style of wedding dresses vary across different cultures and have evolved over time.
Chinese Wedding Dresses:
In Chinese culture, red is traditionally worn by brides as it symbolises luck, fertility, happiness, good fortune, and joy. Chinese wedding dresses are often made of silk or brocade fabric and may feature a phoenix, a dragon, or both. These symbols represent the bride and groom and signify a harmonious marriage. Brides may also wear a phoenix crown to bring good luck and strength to their marriage.
Korean and Japanese Wedding Dresses:
Brides in Korea and Japan traditionally wore silk wedding robes in various colours, with styles depending on the dynasty and season.
Indian Wedding Dresses:
Indian brides often wear sarees or lehengas made of lightweight silk or cotton. These dresses feature intricate embroidery and embellishments such as sequins, beads, and stones. Jewellery is also an important part of the Indian bridal look, with each piece holding cultural or spiritual significance. Additionally, Indian brides traditionally have their hands and feet adorned with mehndi (henna).
African Wedding Dresses:
In some African cultures, brides wore all the jewellery they owned to denote their status. Longer trains and flowy sleeves indicated wealth. In modern times, some African countries like Kenya have adopted Western-style wedding dresses, while others mix Western styles with traditional African prints and embellishments. Nigerian weddings, for example, often include a "white wedding" where Western attire is worn, in addition to a traditional ceremony with traditional garb.
Western Variations:
While white is the standard colour for wedding dresses in Western cultures, this has not always been the case. In pre-Victorian times, blue was a popular choice as it symbolised purity. Brides also wore other colours like red, yellow, and green, with burgundy being a favoured option. Additionally, during the Great Depression and the era leading up to World War II, brides often opted for more understated dresses that could be dyed and worn again. In the 1950s and 1960s, wedding dresses became more playful and flirtatious, with fuller skirts and strapless styles.
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How wedding dresses have changed over time
The wedding dress tradition has evolved over the years, with brides now focusing on colours and styles that reflect their personalities. The evolution of the wedding dress has mirrored the ever-changing fashion world. Here is how wedding dresses have changed over time:
Ancient Times
In ancient times, Roman brides wore yellow veils to symbolise warmth, while brides in Athens wore long red or violet robes. In Korea and Japan, silk wedding robes were the norm, styled differently based on the dynasty and season, but always brightly coloured.
1400s and 1500s
In the 1400s and 1500s, white dresses were a status symbol at expensive weddings in Britain. However, brides also wore other colours like gold, blue, or the best dress they owned, regardless of its colour.
1840s
The wedding dress tradition changed drastically in the 1840s when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. She wore an opulent pale dress with a tight bodice, a slim waist, lace, and a voluminous full skirt over petticoats and crinolines. This style, though simply in keeping with the fashion of the day, became the most recognisable "wedding" silhouette, setting the standard for modern bridal fashion.
1930s and 1940s
During the Great Depression and World War II, wedding dresses became more understated, with longer hemlines and flowing trains. Brides chose dresses that could be dyed and worn later, and if they couldn't afford a new dress, they wore their nicest one.
1950s
In the 1950s, ball gowns with huge skirts dominated bridal fashion. The strapless trend emerged as a rebellion against conservative styles, though some brides still preferred the traditional look with longer, fuller dresses and off-the-shoulder or strapless styles.
1990s
In the 1990s, brides grew tired of strapless dresses and began requesting sleeves. American designer Lazaro introduced a modern, flirty silhouette with a tight-fitting, asymmetrical ruffle design.
Today
Today, wedding dresses come in various styles, from romantic and whimsical to modern and glamorous. While white is still the standard in many parts of the world, some brides opt for colourful options or incorporate traditional elements from their cultures.
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Frequently asked questions
The tradition of the train dates back to the Middle Ages when the length of the train indicated your place in the court hierarchy. The longer the train, the higher the position of the bride and her family in society.
There are several theories about why wedding dresses are white. One is that the tradition was started by Queen Victoria when she wore a white dress to marry Prince Albert in 1840. White dresses were already a status symbol at expensive weddings in medieval Britain, but Queen Victoria's choice of a white dress popularised them as the norm in the Western world. Another theory is that the colour white symbolises purity and virginity, which is why it is also worn by all participants in temple weddings to symbolise unity and equality before God.
Before white wedding dresses became popular in the Western world, brides wore a variety of colours. In Western Europe, up until the Victorian Age, blue was a popular choice as it was associated with purity. Brides also wore red, yellow and green, with burgundy being a popular choice. In Korea and Japan, brides wore silk wedding robes in different colours depending on the dynasty and season. In Athens, brides wore long red or violet robes, while in Rome, brides wore yellow veils.
Wedding dresses have changed over time to reflect contemporary fashion trends. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression and with the looming shadow of World War II, dresses became more understated, with longer hemlines and flowing trains. In the 1950s, wedding dresses became more playful and flirtatious, with big, poofy skirts and strapless styles. In the 1960s, sleeveless and strapless gowns became popular as they were easier to adjust and therefore cost less in the way of traditional alterations. In the early 21st century, many wedding dresses were sleeveless and strapless, while other brides preferred styles with sleeves, higher necklines and covered backs.
The wedding dress is often a unique garment, with the colour and style chosen to reflect the bride's personal expression. In many cultures, the dress also demonstrates the bride's status, with longer trains and flowy sleeves indicating a wealthier family.
