Wedding and Special Occasions
Why is the Wedding Dress White?
On the wedding day, the choice of the dress color is crucial for the bride. To honor tradition, many women still choose to wear white. However, the rules have become more relaxed, leading to the rise of colorful and whimsical wedding dresses. Despite this shift, white remains a highly cherished traditional color. Interestingly, the white wedding dress has not always been the norm in France or elsewhere; it is a fairly recent tradition. In this article, discover why the wedding dress is white.
The White Dress: An Ancient Custom
In ancient times, white dresses were quite common. In Ancient Egypt, white is a color rich with symbolism. It represents light and joy, worn for all sorts of celebrations, from weddings to funerals. During weddings, women adorned themselves in long white or off-white linen tunics. In Ancient Rome, attire was codified: a long white tunic symbolizing purity was the norm. It was secured with a large knot symbolizing chastity, which could only be undone by the groom on the wedding night. However, over time, white would fade from ceremonies and only reappear much later in history.
Colorful Wedding Dresses Until the 19th Century
During the Middle Ages, most families were poor, and the wedding dress was not typically worn just for the big day. Women had few outfits to choose from and often wore their best dress, which was usually their Sunday best. The color white was not widely used because it was difficult to maintain and keep clean. It was also not practical for a woman’s daily work at home or in the fields. Generally, colors like red and black were popular, or sometimes traditional regional outfits were worn. In wealthier classes, luxury was expressed with brightly colored dresses, adorned with gold accents and fine materials, like ermine fur. The first recorded white wedding dress was worn by Mary Stuart I in 1558 for her marriage to Francis II, but this did not establish the current tradition. The bride’s outfit reflected her family’s colors, the De Guise family.
The Tradition of the White Dress Takes Hold in the 19th Century
In 1840, Queen Victoria I married Albert of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha in Great Britain. On this occasion, she surprised everyone by wearing a white dress, which was quite against the norm. She loved the color and wore it frequently at various events, donning an elegantly simple dress enhanced with lace that made a statement. However, it was the Catholic Church that imbued the white dress with symbolism, linking it to purity. In 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary in the cave of Lourdes, she described the Immaculate Conception as being dressed entirely in white. The Church quickly affiliated this color with virginity. Consequently, white became more commonly embraced among affluent families, though it symbolized wealth more than purity at this point. The family demonstrated their social standing by purchasing a dress that would only be worn once. Thus, the white dress became a sign of the bourgeoisie above all else. It was typically fairly 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 design created a market and a fashion that became entrenched in traditions.
Symbols, Traditions, and Elegance
Throughout the 20th century, wearing a white wedding dress became the norm. For traditional Catholic weddings, white came to symbolize the chastity of the bride before marriage. She committed her life to her husband and to God, making white an essential choice. Church weddings and ceremonies naturally supported this tradition. However, starting in the 1980s, the white dress was no longer obligatory. As society evolved and no longer prioritized virginity as a marriage value, the rules began to relax. Still, the tradition of the white dress endures for various reasons.
Honoring Traditions
The wedding dress is an outfit traditionally worn just once. Aware of the symbolism it carries, women take special care in selecting their attire. In the collective imagination, the dress holds symbolic value. White, which is traditionally viewed as the color associated with brides, continues to be appreciated. When the wedding takes place in a church and the family follows Catholic traditions, this style of dress remains common. Additionally, some women enjoy continuing a family tradition, particularly if their mothers and grandmothers were married in white, as a tribute to them. Ultimately, it depends on the family’s history and the bride’s personal vision.
The White Dress: A Sign of Elegance
White, a neutral color, signifies elegance. Very easy to wear, the white dress flatters all women and fits all seasons. Radiant, easy to accessorize, and emblematic of simplicity and elegance, it remains favored for these reasons. Furthermore, a white wedding dress is incredibly photogenic, making it an excellent choice for capturing beautiful memories of this special day. Today, it often comes down to purely aesthetic choice. If you’re looking for a stunning wedding dress, we recommend considering a beautiful bohemian style. The wedding dresses from Boho Via are specially crafted for this exceptional day.
The white wedding dress is thus a relatively recent tradition. While its origins trace back to antiquity and carry a virginal meaning, this is not the form that has persisted in our society. Although the wedding dress was not solely meant for the wedding day in the past, the color white was uncommon. It ultimately became a symbol of purity under the influence of the Catholic Church and began as a religious emblem. Over time, wearing a white wedding dress increasingly became a personal choice, rather than one dictated by others. Women then sought to either honor a tradition or an aesthetic.
