Rhiannon Hendricks
Royal wedding dresses have traditionally had sleeves due to the expectation of modesty in royal bridal fashion. Royal brides are expected to maintain a certain level of modesty when it comes to their wedding gowns, and long sleeves have become a tradition. Royal brides never bare their shoulders and avoid showing too much cleavage. For example, Princess Diana wore a gown with dramatic, puffy sleeves, and Kate Middleton's dress featured intricate lace sleeves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason | Modesty |
| Tradition | Yes |
| Examples | Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton |
| Exceptions | Lady Helen of Windsor |
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What You'll Learn
Royal wedding dresses have sleeves for modesty
Royal wedding dresses are often long-sleeved, a style that has been worn by many royal brides over the years, including Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, and Kate Middleton. This tradition stems from the expectation that royal brides maintain a certain level of modesty when it comes to their wedding attire.
While the bride chooses her wedding gown and collaborates with a designer on the style, the Queen must approve the dress before the royal bride walks down the aisle. Royal brides typically opt for dresses that provide more coverage, with long sleeves and modest necklines. This tradition of modesty in royal wedding dresses dates back to Queen Victoria, who sparked the trend for brides to wear white wedding dresses, which were considered modest at the time.
Princess Diana's iconic puffy sleeves and 25-foot train set a trend for royal wedding dresses, with her dress featuring approximately 10,000 pearls. Similarly, Kate Middleton's long-sleeved Alexander McQueen gown designed by Sarah Burton elegantly combined tradition and modernity, inspiring bridal gown designers worldwide.
Although royal wedding dresses are known for their modesty, there have been exceptions. For instance, Kate Middleton's gown featured a low-cut neckline, and Princess Margaret, the Queen's sister, wore a gown with a slender V-neck. Nonetheless, these dresses still adhered to the general principle of modesty, showcasing how royal wedding dress styles can evolve while respecting traditions.
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Queen Victoria sparked the tradition for brides to wear white
Royal wedding dresses have long been associated with modesty and tradition. While the bride chooses her wedding gown and collaborates with a designer on the style, the Queen must approve it before the wedding. Royal brides are expected to maintain a certain level of modesty, and long sleeves have become a tradition in royal wedding dresses. This tradition of modesty may be why royal wedding dresses often have sleeves.
Queen Victoria, who married Prince Albert in 1840, is credited with starting the tradition of brides wearing white wedding dresses. At the time, it was considered an unusual choice, but it eventually became the norm. Queen Victoria's dress was made of white silk-satin and trimmed with orange-blossom flowers, which symbolised fertility. The tradition of wearing white was further popularised by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Victoria, who wore a white wedding dress when she married in 1858.
The white wedding dress has become a symbol of purity and innocence, and it is now the most popular colour choice for brides worldwide. In addition to starting the tradition of wearing white, Queen Victoria also began the custom of carrying a sprig of myrtle in the bridal bouquet. Myrtle is a symbol of fertility and love, and Queen Victoria was given a myrtle plant by Prince Albert's grandmother before their wedding. The myrtle plant was later moved to the garden of Queen Victoria's home on the Isle of Wight, and a sprig from this plant was carried by Princess Victoria in her bouquet when she married in 1858.
Since then, many royal brides have carried myrtle in their bouquets, including Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Meghan Markle. In recent years, lace has also become a popular fabric choice for royal wedding dresses, with many British royal brides opting for lace gowns or dresses that incorporate lace. While the specific styles and designers may vary, the traditions of modesty and the influence of Queen Victoria continue to play a significant role in shaping the choices of royal brides.
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Royal brides never bare their shoulders
Royal wedding dresses have long been a source of fascination for people all over the world. The gowns are often a blend of tradition and changing fashions, with certain rules and guidelines that royal brides are expected to follow. One notable tradition is that royal brides typically do not bare their shoulders, adhering to a standard of modesty in their wedding attire.
Royal brides are expected to maintain a certain level of modesty in their choice of wedding gown. This has resulted in a tradition, albeit an unofficial one, for royal wedding dresses to feature long sleeves. While there have been exceptions, such as Lady Helen of Windsor, who chose to showcase her arms, the majority of royal brides opt for a more classic, long-sleeved look. This tradition can be observed in the wedding dresses of prominent royal brides throughout history, including Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, and Kate Middleton.
The modesty exhibited in royal wedding dresses extends beyond the presence of sleeves, as royal brides are also expected to avoid revealing their cleavage. This tradition of modesty is further exemplified by Princess Margaret, the queen's sister, who wore a gown with an exceptionally slender V-neckline in 1960, and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, who chose a lace gown with a turtleneck for her wedding in 1995. These choices demonstrate a conscious adherence to the expectation of modesty in royal wedding attire.
The royal dress code, which includes guidelines for wedding gowns, is influenced by decades of royal tradition. While some members of the royal family may be more rebellious in their fashion choices, the bride's wedding dress is subject to the approval of the reigning monarch. This ensures that the attire aligns with the expected standards of modesty and tradition associated with royal weddings.
The tradition of long sleeves in royal wedding dresses is not merely a stylistic choice but a reflection of the royal family's adherence to modesty and tradition. While royal brides have some freedom in working with designers to create their dream gowns, the presence of sleeves is a subtle yet significant detail that sets royal wedding dresses apart, contributing to their unique appeal and influence on the bridal fashion industry.
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The Queen must approve the dress
Royal wedding dresses have long been a source of fascination for people around the world, with the public eagerly awaiting a glimpse of the bride's chosen gown. While the royal bride selects her wedding dress and collaborates with a designer on the style, the final say belongs to the Queen, who must approve the dress before the big day. This tradition adds an extra layer of intrigue, as the Queen's private sneak peek fuels speculation and anticipation leading up to the wedding.
The Queen's approval of the royal wedding dress is a longstanding tradition that underscores the importance of maintaining a certain level of modesty and adherence to royal protocol. Royal brides are expected to choose dresses that provide ample coverage, avoiding bare shoulders and excessive cleavage. This tradition has been consistently upheld, with notable examples including Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth, and Kate Middleton, who all wore dresses with sleeves on their wedding day.
Kate Middleton's gown, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, elegantly balanced tradition and modernity. While it featured a low-cut neckline, it still maintained the royal standard of modesty. The Queen's approval of this dress demonstrates her role in guiding and preserving the delicate balance between embracing changing fashions and upholding royal traditions.
The Queen's input on the wedding dress extends beyond mere approval; she also lends her expertise and guidance to ensure the dress aligns with royal customs. For instance, the tradition of including myrtle in the bridal bouquet originated with Queen Victoria, who received a myrtle plant from Prince Albert's grandmother. The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, carried a multicoloured bouquet with myrtle flowers at her wedding in 1923, continuing a tradition that has endured for generations.
The Queen's role in approving the royal wedding dress is a testament to the enduring significance of royal traditions and the influence they wield over bridal fashion trends. The anticipation surrounding the Queen's decision adds to the allure and fascination associated with royal weddings, captivating audiences worldwide. As the final arbiter of the royal wedding dress, the Queen's approval transforms the gown into more than just a fashion statement—it becomes a symbol of the enduring legacy of royal traditions.
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Royal wedding dresses are an evolution of tradition and changing fashion
Royal wedding dresses have always been a subject of fascination for people around the world. They are a unique blend of tradition and changing fashion trends, with each royal bride putting her spin on the dress while adhering to certain royal protocols.
One of the most notable traditions in royal wedding dresses is the presence of sleeves. Royal brides are expected to maintain a certain level of modesty, and long sleeves have become an unofficial tradition. This was seen in the wedding gowns of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, and Kate Middleton. Princess Diana's iconic dress, designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, featured large puffy sleeves with approximately 10,000 pearls sewn on. Kate Middleton's dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, also had intricate lace sleeves.
Another tradition is the inclusion of myrtle in the bridal bouquet. This tradition was started by Queen Victoria, who was given a myrtle plant by Prince Albert's grandmother. Since then, royal brides have carried a sprig of myrtle in their bouquets, often sourced from Queen Victoria's original garden on the Isle of Wight.
Royal wedding dresses also tend to feature lace, specifically Honiton lace, a type of bobbin lace made in Honiton, Devon. Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, wore a dress decorated with three flounces of Honiton lace when she married Prince Frederick of Prussia in 1858.
While royal wedding dresses follow certain traditions, they also reflect the changing fashion trends of the time. For example, Princess Diana's dress in 1981 had a 25-foot train, the longest in royal history, made of pure British silk. Kate Middleton's dress, on the other hand, was praised for its flawless unity of tradition and modernity, inspiring bridal gown designers worldwide.
In conclusion, royal wedding dresses are a fascinating blend of time-honored traditions and evolving fashion trends. Each royal bride brings her personality and style to the dress while respecting the protocols and customs associated with royal weddings.
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Frequently asked questions
Royal wedding dresses traditionally have sleeves to maintain a certain level of modesty. Royal brides never bare their shoulders and avoid showing too much cleavage.
Yes, royal wedding dresses are expected to be either white or cream. The bride chooses her wedding gown and works with a designer on the style, but the Queen must approve it before the wedding.
Notable royal wedding dresses with sleeves include Princess Diana's gown by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, which featured dramatic, puffy sleeves; Queen Elizabeth's dress by Norman Hartnell, which had long tight sleeves; and Kate Middleton's dress by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, which had intricate lace sleeves.
Yes, royal brides from other countries have also opted for long-sleeved wedding dresses. For example, in 2013, Princess Claire of Luxembourg wore a long-sleeved lace gown, and in 2015, Princess Sofia of Sweden did the same.
