These days the colour white is undoubtedly thought to be synonymous with white dresses, but believe it or not this has not always been the case. So, when did the bride wearing white at weddings become a thing and what was the reason for it. In this blog post we are going to take an in depth look at how and why this became one of the 20th centuries best known wedding traditions.
To get a better insight into this age old tradition we need to go back to the 18th century. At this time the wedding ceremonies often had political significance as they symbolised the coming together of two families or even countries. For this reason it was important that the bride dressed in a way that showed them in a positive light. This is why the custom was for the bride to put on her best dress for the ceremony irrespective of its colour.
Brides who could afford to get a new dress for the wedding would normally pick one in her favourite colour. During this period bright and bold colours were a popular choice as they symbolised wealth and affluence. Additionally, brides would choose elaborate fabrics and features such as layered fur, velvets, silks, and embroidered heirloom jewels. The amount of Fabric contained in the dress was another indication of someone’s social standing and wealth.
In cases where a bride could not afford to buy a new dress for the big day she would generally put on her best church dress for the ceremony. These dresses were usually black for the simple reason that it was easier to keep dark colours clean and in good condition. Actually before the early part of the 19th century white was considered to be an impractical colour and anyone buying one was thought of as financially irresponsible. So, what was it that brought about the change?
The Royal Influence
The person really responsible for starting the trend of white wedding dresses was Queen Victoria. When she married Prince Albert in 1840 she donned a plain white court dress that was made from Honiton lace. This was one of the first heavily photographed royal weddings, with journalists from all over the world reporting on every detail of the ceremony at the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace.
Determined to make a bold statement, Queen Victoria broke with the cultural conventions of her era when she emerged from her carriage wearing a simple dress and a floral crown instead of her regal one. Her choice of attire symbolised her vision for leading the nation. At the time, the lace industry was nearing collapse, but thanks to the Queen’s support, it quickly rebounded and regained its footing.
Prior to Queen Victoria choosing white for her wedding dress it was not commonly worn by other royals at weddings. Royal brides in the UK and across Europe generally preferred more vibrant colours with red being one of the most popular as it was associated with fertility.
As we move into the 20th century even though white became more popular brides still didn’t exclusively wear the colour for weddings. This was because many people still couldn’t afford a dress that would only be worn once.
However, soon after the second world war finished things began to change. After many years where things like food and clothing had been rationed, the boom in prosperity meant that middle class people had the chance to copy the fashions worn by more affluent members of society. It was around this time that many people became captivated with buying a wedding dress to wear exclusively on the day of the celebrations.
Furthermore, Hollywood began showcasing brides in white gowns in their films, popularising the image of a picture-perfect chapel wedding. Once audiences saw this idealised version on the big screen, it quickly became something they wanted to replicate on their own big day.
Queen Victoria’s unconventional wedding also introduced several traditions that remain popular today. These included the use of a flower crown, the etiquette of prohibiting guests from wearing white, and the tradition of white dresses for bridesmaids and flower girls—a trend Kate Middleton echoed when she married Prince William in 2011.
The 21st Century
White wedding dresses have now become something of a global phenomenon as most brides because of the traditions attached to it now choose to wear this colour when getting married. As with all vintage fashion trends, history often repeats itself. Recently, there has been a growing number of brides choosing coloured gowns for their wedding day. Shades like blush, gold, and even purple have become popular choices for walking down the aisle.
Wedding traditions, including the colour of wedding dresses, differ widely across cultures and countries. In many Eastern cultures, red is the preferred choice for brides as they exchange their vows, symbolising luck and prosperity, while white is often considered an unlucky color. Similarly, African brides often incorporate vibrant and bold colours into their wedding attire, reflecting the rich diversity of their traditions.
Hopefully the information in this blog post will have given you a clearer insight into why most brides still consider white the go to choice when it comes to their wedding dress. We have a range of weddings dress and also wedding guest dresses we have got you covered going into the wedding season.
