Rhiannon Hendricks
The wedding dress has evolved significantly over the years, shaped by cultural traditions, societal values, and aesthetic preferences. The concept of wearing a unique garment on one's wedding day is believed to have originated from Chinese folklore, with princesses wearing phoenix dresses and crowns to bring good luck and strength in marriage. In Western cultures, the tradition of wearing white wedding dresses became popular after Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840, symbolizing purity and virginity. However, the colour and style of wedding gowns have varied over time, influenced by factors such as economic status, cultural traditions, and fashion trends. Today, wedding dresses continue to evolve, reflecting a blend of heritage and contemporary trends.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for wearing a unique garment | Chinese folklore is the earliest known origin, with princesses wearing a phoenix dress and crown to bring good luck and strength in marriage |
| Colour | White symbolises purity and grace in Western cultures, while Eastern cultures often feature elaborate, colourful garments |
| History of the colour white | The tradition of wearing white gained popularity during the Victorian era and was associated with purity and virginity |
| Other colours | Red symbolises auspiciousness in Eastern cultures, while blue was a popular colour in Western Europe before the Victorian era due to its association with purity |
| Fashion trends | Wedding dresses have evolved following fashion trends, the economy, and shifts in aesthetic preferences |
| Social status | Wedding dresses were a way to display the wealth and social standing of the bride's family, with more extravagant gowns indicating higher status |
| War influence | During World War II, wedding fashion was limited by rationing, and brides had to settle for practical dresses or altered versions of their husband's suits |
| Post-war trends | After World War II, the prosperity and culture of plenty influenced a shift towards more extravagant weddings and the single-use wedding dress |
| Modern trends | Sleeveless and strapless wedding gowns gained popularity due to their cost-effectiveness, while the classic long-sleeved lace gown remains a staple |
| Individual expression | Wedding dresses symbolise personal expression, cultural traditions, and societal values, allowing brides to make a statement on their special day |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding dresses as a status symbol
The wedding dress has evolved over the centuries, shaped by cultural traditions, societal values, and aesthetic preferences. The colour, style, and ceremonial importance of the wedding dress vary across different religions and cultures.
In Western culture, the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is often attributed to Queen Victoria, who wore a white lace gown at her wedding to Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. White was a status symbol at expensive British weddings in the 1400s and 1500s, and Queen Victoria's choice of a white dress symbolised purity, innocence, and extravagance, as white fabric was difficult to maintain and thus indicated wealth. This tradition was further solidified in the 20th century, with the rise of consumerism and the association of white with purity and virginity.
In Eastern cultures, red is a popular choice for wedding dresses, symbolising love, passion, good luck, and prosperity. Red is a bold and confident choice, reflecting the bride's strength and deep love. In some cultures, such as India, China, and traditional Kurdish weddings, red is believed to bring good luck and is a symbol of respect for ancestral customs.
Other colours also carry significant meaning and can be chosen to reflect the bride's personality, values, and desires for the future. For example, purple symbolises royalty, luxury, and high social status, while orange represents optimism, enthusiasm, and a bold sense of self. Yellow embodies new beginnings, growth, warmth, happiness, and vitality, and blue symbolises tranquility, stability, and trust.
The choice of wedding dress colour and style is not just a fashion statement but often carries symbolic value, reflecting the bride's cultural traditions, personal expression, and societal status.
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The influence of Chinese folklore
In the Han Dynasty, around 200 B.C., brides and grooms typically wore black, adhering to strict clothing laws that dictated attire based on profession, social caste, gender, and occasion. However, by the seventh century, during the Tang Dynasty, brides often wore green, a colour associated with blessings, while grooms usually wore red. The Tang Dynasty was known for its openness and diversity, reflected in both clothing and folklore.
During the Ming Dynasty, red became the predominant colour for wedding dresses, symbolising good fortune and strength. The traditional Feng Guan and Xia Pei attire, once reserved for royalty or noble wives, became accessible to civilians during this period. The Qing Dynasty introduced the Qungua, a set of attire composed of a jacket and a long skirt, which could be red or green and embroidered with dragons and phoenixes. This dynasty also saw the emergence of the Xiuhefu, a wedding dress style that gained popularity in modern times due to its association with a television drama.
In the 20th century, Chinese wedding dress culture underwent a "westernisation" process, with suits and western-style wedding dresses becoming prevalent. The fusion of Eastern and Western influences was particularly favoured by rural brides in the 1990s, showcasing the unique blend of traditional Chinese culture and modern global trends.
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The impact of Queen Victoria
The wedding dress of Queen Victoria, who married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on 10 February 1840, had a significant impact on the subsequent norms of wedding dresses in the Western world.
Victoria wore a white wedding dress made from heavy silk satin, sourced from Spitalfields in London, and Honiton lace from Devon. She was not the first person to wear white at her wedding, but her choice popularised the colour for bridal gowns, which became associated with purity and virginity. White had previously been a status symbol at weddings, indicating that the bride's family was wealthy enough to keep the dress clean. Victoria's decision to wear white was also influenced by the colour's ability to highlight the delicate lace on her gown. The lace was designed by William Dyce, head of the then Government School of Design (later known as the Royal College of Art), and the dress was made by Mary Bettans.
The wedding was a highly publicised event, with Victoria seizing the opportunity to improve the monarchy's image and present herself as both a queen and a wife. This heavy publicity, including newspaper reports, paintings, and souvenir artwork, helped spread the idea of wearing white at weddings. Victoria's dress set a new standard for modern bridal fashion, with wealthy and fashionable brides quickly adopting the colour white.
Queen Victoria's wedding dress also had a significant impact on the lace-making industry in Devon. The Honiton lace used for her gown boosted the region's lace-making industry, with the intricate lace pattern reportedly being destroyed after the work was completed to prevent copying.
In summary, Queen Victoria's choice to wear a white wedding dress popularised the colour for bridal gowns in the Western world. Her decision was influenced by various factors, including the association of white with purity and the ability of the colour to highlight delicate lace. The highly publicised nature of her wedding and the subsequent adoption of white by wealthy brides further solidified the norm. Additionally, Victoria's dress had a positive impact on the lace-making industry in Devon.
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How weddings became romantic
The history of the wedding dress is shorter than the history of marriage, and the idea of weddings as romantic affairs is a relatively recent development. Marriage has historically been a transactional affair, involving the transfer of property, the creation and support of children, the tracking of bloodlines, and the control of women.
The concept of wearing a unique garment for weddings appears to originate in Chinese folklore, with brides in China still wearing red phoenix dresses with mythical roots. In ancient Sumer, Babylon, and Assyria, romantic and erotic love were celebrated in art and poetry, but marriage was a transactional affair. Women would dress in draped white or cream garments to be auctioned off in a market-like setting.
The Zhou rulers instituted strict clothing laws that dictated what could be worn based on profession, social caste, gender, and occasion. During the Han Dynasty around 200 B.C., brides and bridegrooms wore black, and by the seventh century during the Tang Dynasty, brides typically wore green while grooms wore red.
In the Western world, the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is often attributed to Queen Victoria, who wore a white wedding dress when she married Prince Albert in 1840. White wedding dresses were already a status symbol at expensive British weddings in the 1400s and 1500s, and Queen Victoria's choice of a white gown popularized the colour in the Western world, where it came to symbolize purity and virginity.
The Edwardian era saw a shift towards more loose and delicate gowns, with high necks, ruffles, and long sleeves, and a focus on comfort and confidence. The 1920s brought lighter, straight lace and silk dresses, and by the 1930s and 1940s, synthetic fabrics made white wedding gowns accessible to women of all classes.
Today, weddings have become associated with romance, and romantic weddings can take many forms, from fairy-tale themes to vintage designs, soft colour palettes, candlelight, flowers, and personal touches.
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The evolution of white dresses
The wedding dress has evolved significantly over time, shaped by cultural traditions, societal values, and aesthetic preferences. The idea of wearing a unique garment for weddings is said to originate from Chinese folklore, with princesses wearing a phoenix dress and crown to bring good luck and strength in marriage. In Eastern cultures, red is often chosen to symbolise auspiciousness and has roots in ancient Chinese mythology.
In Western cultures, the wedding dress is predominantly white, a fashion made popular by Queen Victoria when she married in 1840. White dresses were already a status symbol at expensive British weddings in the 1400s and 1500s, but Queen Victoria's wedding solidified white as the go-to colour in the Western world, symbolising purity, innocence, and virginity. Prior to this, brides would often wear their best dress, which could be a multitude of colours, including red, yellow, green, and burgundy. The colour and style of the dress also reflected the status of the bride's family, with wealthy brides wearing rich colours and exclusive fabrics like velvet, silk, and fur.
During the Edwardian era, wedding dresses became more relaxed, with loose, delicate gowns made from light fabrics. High necks, ruffles, and long sleeves were common, but there was also an emphasis on feeling confident and comfortable, moving away from the rigid ideal of the "perfect" bride.
In the early 20th century, wedding dresses followed contemporary fashion trends, incorporating decorations like lace and frills. The 1920s saw a shift towards lighter, straight lace and silk dresses, coinciding with women's rights advancements. The first specially advertised single-use white wedding dress appeared in 1927, and with the rise of synthetic fabrics in the 1930s and 1940s, it became more affordable for women of all classes to wear a pristine white gown.
During World War II, wedding fashion was influenced by rationing, with brides opting for practical dresses or altered versions of their husband's suits. Queen Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Phillip in 1947 inspired romantic brides with its ivory silk and pearl dress, featuring delicate touches like embroidered flowers.
Today, wedding dresses continue to evolve, incorporating vintage elements with modern trends. Sleeveless and strapless styles have gained popularity, while the classic long-sleeved lace gown remains a favourite. Celebrities have also popularised alternatives to the traditional white gown, with touches of colour or variations of pink.
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Frequently asked questions
Wedding dresses were invented as a way to symbolise the wealth and status of the bride's family. The more expensive the fabric and the more extravagant the design, the wealthier the family was perceived to be.
White wedding dresses became popular in the Western world after Queen Victoria wore a white gown when she married in 1840. White symbolised purity, virginity, and innocence. However, white wedding dresses are not universal, and in some cultures, brides wear red or other colours.
Before the white wedding dress became popular in the mid-19th century, brides would wear the best dress they owned, which could be in a multitude of colours, including red, yellow, green, and burgundy. Wealthier brides would wear rich colours and exclusive fabrics such as velvet, silk, and fur.
Wedding dresses have evolved over time, influenced by shifts in aesthetic preferences, technological advancements, cultural trends, and economic factors. For example, during World War II, wedding fashion was limited by rationing, and brides had to make do with practical dresses or alter their husband's suits. In the 1920s, with women's right to vote, gowns shifted from heavy ballgowns to lighter, straight lace and silk dresses. Today, wedding dresses continue to evolve, with some brides opting for non-traditional colours or silhouettes.
