The History of the Western Wedding Dress
In the Western World, it may seem blushing brides have been wearing white forever. But that is actually not accurate. White wedding dresses didn't become the rage until Victorian times when it was a sign of social status to be able to wear a fine white dress.
Most clothing had to be darker colors and only the wealthiest of people lighter colors because of the expense of getting their clothing cleaned. Previous to those times, brides got hitched in all makes and manners of clothing, but bridges always dressed to the hilt on their wedding days. In ancient times, brides wore bright colors and sometimes small bells were attached to their garments to help repel negative spirits. Fast forward to the Middle Ages and a wedding was a celebration and a marriage between two families and in royal circles, often two countries. Brides in these marriages were dressed to the 9s and often represented not only their family but their countries as well.
When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in the mid-1800's, she ushered in the white wedding dress. The dress itself was a mark of the bride's wealth and social standing. The more material that was used in her wedding dress, the more prosperous the bride's family was viewed to be. Prior to Victoria's choice of white, most women chose blue as the color of their dress to be betrothed in, as it was considered to be the color of purity. Previous to that, white was considered to be a color of financial prosperity.
Within a few years, white was the only color most brides would even get married in and even today it is the number one choice of dress color for brides-to-be.
Most clothing had to be darker colors and only the wealthiest of people lighter colors because of the expense of getting their clothing cleaned. Previous to those times, brides got hitched in all makes and manners of clothing, but bridges always dressed to the hilt on their wedding days. In ancient times, brides wore bright colors and sometimes small bells were attached to their garments to help repel negative spirits. Fast forward to the Middle Ages and a wedding was a celebration and a marriage between two families and in royal circles, often two countries. Brides in these marriages were dressed to the 9s and often represented not only their family but their countries as well.
When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in the mid-1800's, she ushered in the white wedding dress. The dress itself was a mark of the bride's wealth and social standing. The more material that was used in her wedding dress, the more prosperous the bride's family was viewed to be. Prior to Victoria's choice of white, most women chose blue as the color of their dress to be betrothed in, as it was considered to be the color of purity. Previous to that, white was considered to be a color of financial prosperity.
Within a few years, white was the only color most brides would even get married in and even today it is the number one choice of dress color for brides-to-be.
