On the wedding day, the choice of dress colour is crucial for the bride. While many women continue to wear white to honour tradition, the rules have become more flexible, allowing for a variety of colourful and whimsical wedding dresses. Nevertheless, white remains a highly cherished traditional colour. Interestingly, the white wedding dress has not always been the norm in France or elsewhere; it's actually a fairly recent tradition. In this article, we explore why the wedding dress is white.
The White Dress: An Ancient Custom
In ancient times, white dresses were quite common. In Ancient Egypt, white represented numerous symbols, including light and joy. It was worn for all celebrations, from weddings to mourning. During their nuptials, women adorned themselves in long tunics made of white or ecru linen. In Ancient Rome, the outfit was formalised: it was a long white tunic representing purity, fastened with a large knot symbolising chastity, which only the groom would untie on the wedding night. However, the colour white would later vanish from wedding ceremonies, only to re-emerge much later in history.
Wedding Dresses of Various Colours Until the 19th Century
During the Middle Ages, most families lived in poverty. The wedding dress was not typically worn just on that one day; women had few outfits and often wore their finest dress, usually their Sunday best. The colour white was not widespread because it was difficult to maintain and keep clean, making it impractical for everyday work at home or in the fields. Generally, red or black were the popular choices, with regional traditional outfits sometimes worn. Among wealthier families, luxury was displayed through vividly coloured dresses, adorned with gold accents and luxurious materials like ermine fur. The first-ever white wedding dress in history was worn by Mary Stuart I in 1558 when she married Francis II; however, this had no connection to the current tradition, as the bride’s outfit reflected the colour associated with her family, the De Guise.
The Tradition of the White Dress Established in the 19th Century
Queen Victoria I married Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840 in Great Britain. To everyone's surprise, she wore a white dress, going against convention. She quite liked this colour and often wore it for various occasions. Her elegantly simple dress, highlighted with lace, created quite a sensation. However, it was the Catholic Church that imbued the white dress with symbolism, associating it with purity. In 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous claimed to encounter the Virgin Mary in the grotto of Lourdes, she stated that the Immaculate Conception was dressed entirely in white. The Church immediately linked this colour to virginity, leading to more frequent adoption of white among wealthy families. Yet, it became more of a symbol of wealth rather than purity. The family demonstrated their social status by purchasing a dress that would only be worn once. Thus, the white dress became a symbol of the bourgeoisie. It was usually quite simple, adorned with lace and accompanied by a veil. The rise of department stores in the latter half of the 19th century and advancements in dressmaking created a market and a fashion that solidified into tradition.
Symbols, Traditions, and Elegance
Throughout the 20th century, wearing a white wedding dress became the norm. For traditional Catholic weddings, white became the symbol of the wife's chastity before the marriage. She commits to dedicating her life to her husband before God. Therefore, white became essential. Church weddings and ceremonies naturally imposed this norm. Yet since the 1980s, white dresses are no longer the exclusive choice due to societal changes that no longer uphold virginity as a marriage value. Despite this, the tradition of the white dress persists for several reasons.
Honouring Traditions
The wedding dress is typically worn only once. Understanding the symbolism behind it, women take great care in choosing their attire. In the collective imagination, the dress holds symbolic value. White, traditionally viewed as the colour associated with brides, remains popular. When a wedding takes place at church, especially in a Catholic family, this type of attire remains common. Additionally, some women enjoy upholding family traditions, paying homage to their mothers and grandmothers who also wore white on their wedding days. Ultimately, it depends on the family history and the bride’s own aspirations.
The White Dress: A Sign of Elegance
White, a neutral colour, is a mark of elegance. Very easy to wear, the white dress suits all women and complements every season. Bright and easy to accessorise, it signifies simplicity and elegance, making it highly regarded for these reasons. Moreover, the white wedding dress is incredibly photogenic, making it a perfect ally for capturing beautiful memories of this special day. Nowadays, it's often a purely aesthetic choice. If you're looking for a stunning wedding dress, we recommend considering a special bohemian gown. The wedding dresses from Boho Via are specifically designed for such an extraordinary day.
The white wedding dress is therefore a relatively recent tradition. While its origins can be traced back to ancient times, along with its virginal significance, this is not the version that has endured in our society. In the past, when the wedding dress was not solely for the wedding day, the colour white was quite rare. It eventually became a symbol of purity under the influence of the Catholic Church, starting as a religious symbol. Over time, wearing a white wedding dress became more of a personal choice, rather than something dictated by others. Women then sought to honour tradition or aesthetics.