Junior Rasmussen
The white wedding dress has become a staple in Western wedding traditions. The colour white is often associated with purity and innocence, and white dresses were worn by debutantes for their first presentation at court. However, this tradition is relatively new, with Queen Victoria being the first royal bride to wear a white wedding dress in 1840. The white wedding dress was popularised by Victorian era elites, and it quickly became a status symbol. Today, the tradition of wearing white on one's wedding day is a personal choice, with some brides choosing to wear different hues or even jumpsuits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | White symbolised purity, youth, joy, and innocence |
| History | White wedding dresses were not standard in the West until the 1800s, when Queen Victoria wore a white dress at her wedding in 1840. |
| Symbolism | Wealth, status, and conspicuous consumption |
| Fashion | In the 1960s, the Bridal Apparel Association commissioned studies to prove that a white wedding dress made for a more stable marriage. |
| Culture | In some cultures, such as China and India, red is considered the most auspicious colour for a wedding. |
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What You'll Learn
White wedding dresses were popularised by Queen Victoria in 1840
The white wedding dress, now a common tradition in the Western world, was popularised by Queen Victoria in 1840. Before this, brides simply wore their best dress, often in colours like blue, yellow, black, brown, or grey. Gold and silver were also considered especially opulent.
Queen Victoria's wedding dress was made from white silk satin adorned with intricate Honiton lace. She was the first royal to wear white, and due to the cost of materials, only the very wealthy could afford to wear a similar style. White dresses provided an opportunity for conspicuous consumption, with brides choosing an elaborate dress that could be easily ruined by work or a spill. This made them a popular symbol of status.
As accounts of Victoria's wedding spread across the Atlantic and throughout Europe, fashionable people followed her lead. By the end of the 19th century, the white dress was the garment of choice for elite brides on both sides of the Atlantic. However, middle-class British and American brides did not adopt the trend fully until after World War II.
Today, white wedding dresses are a mixture of both fashion and tradition, with styles influenced by red carpets and runway shows. They continue to be a popular choice for brides, with many designers using ivory, which flatters a wide range of skin tones and photographs beautifully.
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White symbolises purity, youth, joy, and innocence
The colour white has long been associated with purity, youth, and joy (Greeks), and innocence. In Western culture, white wedding dresses have been popular since the 1800s when Queen Victoria wore a white silk-spun gown at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. This sparked an enduring trend, with white becoming the classic choice for brides.
Before Queen Victoria, brides typically wore their best dress or a colourful gown, with red being a particularly popular choice in Western Europe. The colour white was not always practical due to the limitations of laundering techniques, but it offered an opportunity for conspicuous consumption. Wealthy brides could choose an elaborate white dress that would be ruined by any sort of work or spill, showcasing their social status.
The white wedding dress also carried symbolic meaning. In ancient Greece, white robes symbolised youth, joy, and purity. In Western culture, the colour white has been associated with purity and virginity, and it was believed to ward off evil spirits. The white wedding dress thus came to symbolise the bride's innocence and purity.
Today, the choice to wear a white wedding dress is often influenced by both fashion and tradition. While some brides still view the colour as a symbol of purity and innocence, others may simply appreciate its beauty and simplicity or wish to follow the traditional custom. Ultimately, the decision to wear white on one's wedding day is a personal choice, and modern brides are free to choose any colour or style that makes them feel special.
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White dresses were a way for brides' families to display wealth
The white wedding dress is a relatively modern development in Western wedding culture. Before the 1800s, brides wore colourful dresses, with red being a particularly popular choice in Western Europe. Gold and silver were also considered especially opulent.
The white wedding dress was popularised by Queen Victoria, who wore a white silk-spun gown at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. White dresses were difficult to launder before the later part of the 20th century, so they were primarily a way for brides' families to display wealth and firmly establish themselves as part of the leisure class. Only the very wealthy could afford a dress that could be ruined by any sort of work or spill.
The white wedding dress was given another significant boost in popularity in 1981, when 750 million people watched the wedding of Diana Spencer to Charles, Prince of Wales, where she wore an elaborate white taffeta dress with an 8-metre train. By the end of the 19th century, the white dress was the garment of choice for elite brides on both sides of the Atlantic. However, middle-class British and American brides did not fully adopt the trend until after World War II.
Today, the white wedding dress is a mixture of fashion and tradition, with styles influenced by red carpets and runway shows. The custom of wearing the dress only once remains relatively firm, with many brides choosing to preserve the garment as an heirloom for future generations.
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White wedding dresses were not the norm until relatively recently
The white wedding dress tradition is thought to have originated with Anne of Brittany on the occasion of her marriage to Louis XII of France in 1499. However, it was Queen Victoria who popularised the white wedding dress in 1840. She wore a white silk-spun gown at her wedding to Prince Albert, and this look soon took root.
White wedding dresses became a status symbol, evolving to symbolise purity and innocence. They were favoured as a way to show that the bride's family was wealthy and firmly part of the leisure class. The dress could be easily ruined by any sort of work or spill.
White wedding dresses did not become the norm for middle-class British and American brides until after World War II. With increased prosperity in the 20th century, the tradition also grew to include the practice of wearing the dress only once.
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White dresses are now a mixture of fashion and tradition
White wedding dresses have become a mixture of fashion and tradition. The white wedding dress is now a classic tradition in the Western world, but it wasn't always so. In the past, brides simply wore their best dress, and this could be of any colour. In Western Europe, red was a particularly popular choice. Brides of higher social status would wear heavy brocaded gowns embroidered with white and silver thread.
The white wedding dress was popularised by Queen Victoria, who wore a white silk satin dress adorned with intricate Honiton lace to her wedding with Prince Albert in 1840. As a result, white wedding dresses quickly became a status symbol, evolving to symbolise purity and innocence. However, it is worth noting that the colour white has not always been associated with weddings. In the past, green was considered unlucky, while blue represented purity.
Today, the white wedding dress is a blend of fashion and tradition. While the custom of wearing a white wedding dress persists, styles are influenced by red carpets and runway shows. Additionally, while the practice of wearing the dress only once remains, some brides choose to preserve their gowns as heirlooms. The colour white continues to be a popular choice for wedding dresses, with ivory being a favoured shade due to its ability to flatter a wide range of skin tones and photograph beautifully.
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Frequently asked questions
The colour white has been associated with weddings since the 1800s when Queen Victoria wore a white silk-spun gown at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. White symbolises purity, youth, joy, and innocence.
Before Queen Victoria, brides wore the most opulent dresses they could afford, with gold and silver embroidery being the most popular. However, Victoria was truly in love with her betrothed and wanted to put his masculine ego first. So, she opted for a simple white dress.
Wedding dresses today are a mixture of fashion and tradition. While some brides choose to wear dresses of other colours, the white dress remains a symbol of status and a nod to older customs.
