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The white wedding dress, now a common tradition in the Western world, is often said to symbolise purity and new beginnings. The tradition is thought to have originated with Anne of Brittany, who wore white when she married Louis XII of France in 1499. However, it was Queen Victoria who popularised the white wedding dress when she wore a white lace gown to marry Prince Albert in 1840. The style and colour of her gown were copied by women across the world, and white wedding dresses became a symbol of wealth and status.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, virginity, virtue, new beginnings, and religious commitment. |
| History | The tradition of wearing white at weddings is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white dress when she married Prince Albert in 1840. |
| Symbolism | Wearing white is a symbol of status and wealth, as the colour is difficult to keep clean. It also represents a deep respect for customs and values passed down through families. |
| Culture | The white wedding dress is a tradition in the Western world, but it varies from culture to culture. For example, in India and China, white is worn at funerals. |
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What You'll Learn
White symbolises purity and virginity
The tradition of wearing white wedding dresses is often credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. However, the tradition of wearing white wedding dresses is not solely attributed to Queen Victoria, as there are earlier instances of brides choosing white for their nuptials. For example, Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown in 1559 when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France. Additionally, the earliest recorded instance of a white wedding dress in Western culture was worn by English Princess Philippa at her wedding to Scandinavian King Eric in 1406.
White has long been associated with purity and virginity, and this is one reason why some brides choose to wear white, especially in Western culture. In the Roman Republic (509 B.C. - 27 B.C.), brides wore white tunics, symbolising chastity and their transition to married life. White was also associated with Vesta, the virgin goddess of hearth, home, and family, served by priestesses dressed in white.
The colour white also holds significance in colour psychology, representing a "blank canvas" and new beginnings. In Western culture, white is often associated with beginnings and is used in religious rites to express high religious commitment and purity.
While the colour white symbolises purity and virginity, it is important to note that the choice to wear a white wedding dress may hold different meanings for different individuals and cultures. Some may choose to wear white as a symbol of respect for family traditions and values, blending new beginnings with family history. Additionally, white wedding dresses may also signify status and wealth, as they are more challenging to keep clean and were historically worn by those who could afford to have a dress for one-time use.
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White wedding dresses were popularised by Queen Victoria
The white wedding dress is a traditional formal or semi-formal wedding dress that originated in Great Britain. White wedding dresses were popularised by Queen Victoria when she wore a white gown for her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. She chose to wear a white satin court train, bordered with orange blossom, which was a symbol of virtue and fertility, instead of the traditional crimson velvet robe of state.
Queen Victoria's choice of dress was a romantic gesture, and the notion of the Queen as an adoring and innocent bride captivated the public imagination. Victoria herself described her dress as "a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design". She also wore a Turkish diamond necklace and earrings, and her husband-to-be's sapphire brooch.
The visual ideal of the bride clad in pure white spread quickly, largely due to the rise of print media and newspapers, and their vivid descriptions of society weddings. Fashion plates, adverts, valentine cards, and sheet music all sold the image of the white dress and lace veil as a model of romantic propriety and purity. As a result, if a bride was marrying for the first time and could afford it, a white wedding dress became the norm.
White wedding dresses were not popular before Queen Victoria's wedding, and they were not chosen by a majority of brides until decades later. White was not a practical choice in a world without running water and where laundry was hand-washed. However, white dresses provided an opportunity for conspicuous consumption, as they were favoured primarily as a way to show that the bride's family was wealthy enough to ruin an elaborate dress with any sort of work or spill. White was also a rare and expensive colour, so it was also a symbol of wealth.
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White dresses were a sign of wealth
The tradition of wearing white wedding dresses can be traced back to the Victorian era, when Queen Victoria wore a white lace dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. This choice of attire sparked a trend among the elite, as white dresses were considered a symbol of wealth and status.
Before the 19th century, most brides simply wore their best dress or purchased a new gown that could be worn again. White was not a practical choice due to the lack of running water and the challenge of hand-washing laundry. However, with the Industrial Revolution and advancements in technology, such as photography and illustrated magazines, Queen Victoria's wedding dress gained widespread attention.
The white wedding dress became associated with purity, innocence, and virginity, as well as new beginnings and a blank slate. In the context of the time, white dresses were more expensive and challenging to keep clean, making them accessible only to the wealthy. They were seen as a form of conspicuous consumption, signalling that the bride's family was firmly part of the leisure class.
The difficulty of maintaining a pristine white dress meant that only those with financial means could afford to wear one. This exclusivity contributed to the perception of white dresses as a status symbol. The association between white dresses and wealth was further reinforced by the fact that only wealthy brides could afford the elegant and clean settings that complemented the delicate nature of a white silk gown during the mid-19th century Industrial Age.
While the tradition of wearing white wedding dresses has evolved and spread across different cultures, it is important to acknowledge that it originated from a place of privilege and status, where white dresses served as a visible marker of social class and economic prosperity.
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White is associated with new beginnings
The tradition of wearing white at weddings is often said to have begun when Queen Victoria wore a white dress to marry Prince Albert in 1840. However, white wedding dresses were not common until the 1930s, and they did not become popular until after World War II.
The colour white is associated with new beginnings. In Western culture, white is often associated with beginnings and new starts. This is because white represents a blank canvas that is yet to be written on.
White is also associated with purity and virginity. In the past, white wedding dresses were a way for brides to show that they were pure and virginal. This symbolism is still important to some brides today, especially in Western cultures. For example, in Indian culture, brides traditionally wear red, a symbol of prosperity and fertility.
However, the colour white has not always been associated with weddings. In the Middle Ages and up until the mid-19th century, most brides simply wore their best dress or bought a new gown that could be worn again. White was not a practical choice as it was difficult to keep clean.
In some cultures, white is associated with mourning. For example, in India and China, white is the colour of mourning, and brides traditionally wear red.
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White dresses became popular post-WWII
The white wedding dress, now a common tradition in the Western world, was popularised by Queen Victoria, who wore a white lace dress to her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. However, it was only after World War II that white dresses became truly popular.
During WWII, U.S. wartime rations limited the amount of fabric that could be used to create a dress. In 1943, the federal Limitation Order 85 dictated that only one and three-quarters yards of fabric could be used. However, the American Association of Bridal Manufacturers lobbied for an exemption, arguing that it was important to the morale of citizens. They asserted, after a study of 2,000 brides, that “American boys are going off to war and what are they fighting for except the privilege of getting married in a traditional way?".
The portrayal of weddings in Hollywood movies, particularly immediately after WWII, helped to further popularise the white wedding. The first edition of Bride's Magazine was published in 1934, and its rival Modern Bride began publishing in 1949. These magazines, along with Hollywood movies, helped to crystallise and homogenise the white wedding into a normative form.
The colour white has long been associated with purity and virtue in Western culture, and it is often chosen for wedding dresses as a symbol of new beginnings and a deep respect for traditional values. In colour psychology, white represents a blank canvas, a fresh start. It is also associated with light, goodness, and innocence.
White wedding dresses were also a way to show conspicuous consumption and social status. They were favoured as a way to demonstrate that the bride's family was wealthy enough to choose an elaborate dress that could be ruined by any sort of work or spill. White dresses were also harder to keep clean, further emphasising the status and wealth of the wearer.
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Frequently asked questions
White symbolises purity and new beginnings. It is also associated with virginity and innocence. In colour psychology, white represents a clean slate and new beginnings.
The tradition of wearing white at weddings is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress to marry Prince Albert in 1840. However, white dresses did not become popular in Europe and North America until the 1930s.
Queen Victoria chose to wear a fashionable white gown that was featured in newspapers and magazines around the world. The style and colour of her gown were copied across continents as women aspired to emulate the young, attractive queen.
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