Brides wearing white wedding dresses is a tradition that dates back centuries in Western culture. While the color white has long been associated with purity and new beginnings, the specific tradition of brides wearing white dresses is more complex than many realize.
The History of White Wedding Dresses
Prior to the mid-19th century, brides did not typically wear white wedding dresses. In Western cultures, brides often wore their best dress or a dress in a color that could be worn again, regardless of the color. The specific tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria’s choice to wear a white dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. As Victoria was an influential public figure, her choice kicked off the tradition of white wedding dresses among the Western elite. However, it took several decades for the trend to catch on among the masses, as white dresses were impractical, expensive, and hard to keep clean for working class women. As the Industrial Revolution progressed and mass production made clothing more affordable, white wedding dresses gained popularity by the end of the 19th century.
The Symbolism of White
The color white has long been tied to virginity and purity in Western cultures. Therefore, the white wedding dress came to symbolize a bride’s virginity and purity during Victorian times. A white dress conveyed the bride’s innocence and morality. Only a first-time bride could properly wear white, while second marriages called for a colored dress. Additionally, the white color symbolized the transformative shift occurring as an unmarried woman transitioned into the role of wife. As a blank canvas, white dresses allowed brides to remake themselves into the ideal wife, devoted mother, and proper lady of society.
Religion and White Wedding Dresses
The religious symbolism around the color white also contributed to its popularity for wedding dresses. In the Catholic faith, white represents innocence and virginity. As many weddings occurred between members of the Catholic church, white dresses appealed to the religious symbolism and values. White was also a common color worn for baptisms and first communions. Beyond Catholicism, white clothes appear numerous times throughout the Bible to represent purity, righteousness, and important transitional moments. As marriage united two individuals spiritually, the white dress took on spiritual symbolism for the bride’s journey.
Practical Reasons for White Dresses
In addition to the symbolic meanings behind white wedding dresses, there were some practical benefits as well. First, white photographs better than other colors, allowing brides to preserve memories of their special day. Especially as photography advanced during the late 19th century, brides embraced the white wedding dress to stand out in photos. Second, white helped showcase the intricate decorations on wedding dresses. Lace, beadwork, ribbons, and other ornate embellishments showed up better on white fabric. As brides competed for the most elaborate dresses, white served as the perfect backdrop to display luxury details. Lastly, white dresses provided versatility. A white dress could be dyed later and worn for other formal occasions after the wedding.
Queen Victoria’s Influence
While Queen Victoria was not the first royal bride to wear white, she remains the most influential figure in popularizing the white wedding dress tradition thanks to several key factors:
- Timing – Victoria’s wedding coincided with the rise of mass media like newspapers, allowing details of her dress to spread widely.
- Wealth – Her choice conveyed the luxury of an expensive white satin dress that average women could not afford at the time.
- Popularity – As a well-liked queen, people admired and imitated her style.
- Values – Her conservative Victorian values aligned with the symbolism of white representing purity and virginity.
- Photography – Early photography spread images of her ornate white dress, inspiring copies.
As an admired royal, Victoria made the white wedding dress a must-have tradition among the elite that eventually filtered down to all classes as mass production drove down costs. She remains the most iconic figure associated with the rise of white dresses.
Later Historical Trends
While Queen Victoria kickstarted the white wedding dress tradition in the 1840s, trends in wedding dresses have continued evolving over time:
- 1840s-1860s – White dresses popular among wealthier brides, but average brides still wore Sunday best dresses in darker colors.
- 1860s-1890s – White becomes expected for first-time brides as costs decrease and middle class embraces the tradition.
- 1890s-1900s – Elaborate decorations like lace and beads increase, with some white dresses now becoming keepsakes.
- 1900s-1920s – Shorter, looser wedding gowns gain popularity inspired by clothing shifts around WWI.
- 1930s – Bias cut white satin dresses influenced by Hollywood become trendy.
- 1940s – WWII shortages make simplicity and frugality fashionable, so white dresses are minimal.
- 1950s-1960s – Full skirts, tiny waists, and elegance return as postwar prosperity rises.
Beyond changes in silhouette and style, traditions around wedding dresses also relaxed over time. By the late 20th century, white was no longer seen as an obligatory symbol of virginity. Brides who had been married before could wear white, and white dresses appeared in other variants like ivory, cream, and champagne. Despite shifting attitudes, white remains the most popular wedding dress color in Western culture.
Global Wedding Dress Traditions
While white wedding dresses dominate in Western cultures, other cultures have different traditions surrounding wedding attire. Here are some examples of global wedding dress customs:
| Culture | Traditional Wedding Dress Colors |
|---|---|
| Chinese | Red, gold |
| Japanese | White, colored kimonos |
| Korean | Red, purple hanboks |
| Indian (Hindu) | Red, pink, yellow saris |
| Vietnamese | Red áo dài |
| Nigerian | Colorful aso oke |
Red is a popular wedding dress color tied to culture, luck, and vibrancy in places like China, India, and Vietnam. Traditional ceremonial outfits like Korean hanboks and Japanese kimonos are also common wedding attire. While white dresses have gained popularity in some regions, traditional wedding attire remains widely embraced.
Reasons for Cultural Differences
Certain factors contribute to the regional variations in wedding dress traditions:
- Religious practices – In many faiths like Hinduism and Buddhism, white does not carry the same purity symbolism.
- Cultural traditions – The West does not have a history of ceremonial attire like saris or ao dai.
- Values – Modesty and simplicity are prioritized in some cultures over lavish white dresses.
- Priorities – Renting a dress or wearing a family heirloom may take precedence over buying a dress.
- Climate – Lighter fabrics suit warmer climates while elaborate dresses suit cooler climates.
- Meanings – Colors like red hold cultural significance based on beliefs about luck, vibrancy, fertility, etc.
Overall, the white wedding dress remains predominately a Western tradition rooted in Victorian symbolism and values. Other cultures intertwine local customs, faith practices, values, and attire into their wedding dress choices.
Modern Trends
In recent decades, several factors have influenced white wedding dress trends:
- Non-traditional venues – As weddings embrace non-church locations, rules about dress color and formality have relaxed.
- Second marriages – Renewed acceptance of white dresses regardless of the bride’s previous marital status.
- Individuality – Less adherence to wearing white since it is now more of a personal choice than social expectation.
- Fashion influence – More casual white dresses inspired by non-bridal wear like sundresses.
- Celebrity trends – Iconic celebrity choices spark trends like colored accents (ex: Gwen Stefani) or minimalism (ex: Anne Hathaway).
- Cultural blends – Incorporating customs like Chinese tea ceremonies along with a white dress.
Overall, brides today enjoy much more freedom around their wedding dress choices. However, opting to wear white remains the most popular choice according to bridal industry data:
| Color | Percentage of Brides |
|---|---|
| White/ivory | 75% |
| Light pink | 10% |
| Other palette colors | 15% total |
Reasons Brides Still Choose White
Despite loosening social conventions, most modern brides continue to wear white dresses on their wedding day. Here are some top reasons why white remains the traditional and preferred choice:
- Timeless and elegant aesthetic
- Ties into childhood dreams and fantasy of a white dress
- Flattering on a variety of skin tones
- Photographs beautifully next to colorful flowers and scenery
- Classic look satisfies the bride’s parents or family members
- Allows maximal creativity with add-ons like lace and beadwork
- Makes the bride feel like the center of attention
- Reflects the formality and significance of the occasion
For many Western brides, wearing a white dress fulfills a lifelong fantasy and infuses beauty into the ceremony. The rich meaning behind white dresses continues to resonate even as cultural restrictions have eased over time. Ultimately, a white wedding dress allows the bride to convey the romance and significance of her special day.
Conclusion
The tradition of brides wearing white was kickstarted by Queen Victoria’s iconic wedding look in 1840. Although initially limited to elite and royal brides, the trend gained wider popularity by the early 20th century as mass production made white dresses affordable to the middle class. Beyond convenience and cost, white wedding gowns carry a symbolic meaning related to purity, virginity, spirituality, and new beginnings. Despite cultural shifts and declining religious affiliations in the West, white remains the top choice among modern brides for its timeless elegance and ability to heighten the ceremony’s beauty. For many brides, walking down the aisle in a white dress represents the fantasy fulfillment of a little girl’s dream. Though other options exist today, white wedding gowns continue making a symbolic statement on a bride’s special day.