Why is the wedding dress white?

On the wedding day, the choice of dress colour is significant for the bride. While some women continue to wear white out of tradition, the rules have relaxed, leading to the emergence of colourful and whimsical wedding dresses. Nevertheless, white remains a highly regarded traditional colour. Interestingly, the white wedding dress has not always been the norm in France or elsewhere; it is actually a relatively recent tradition. In this article, discover why the bridal gown is white.

The White Dress: A Custom in Antiquity

In ancient times, the white dress was common. In Ancient Egypt, white held multiple meanings, symbolising light and joy. It was worn for all celebrations, including weddings and times of mourning. During weddings, women adorned themselves in long white or cream linen tunics. In Ancient Rome, the attire was codified: a long white tunic symbolising purity, fastened with a large knot representing chastity, which only the groom would untie on the wedding night. However, the colour white later fell out of favour during ceremonies and wouldn't re-emerge until much later in history.

Multi-coloured Wedding Dresses Until the 19th Century

During the Middle Ages, most families were poor, and the wedding dress was not reserved for just one day. Women had few garments and would wear their finest dress, often the Sunday best. The colour white was not common as it was difficult to maintain. It also wasn’t practical for the daily work performed by women at home or in the fields. Generally, red or black was worn. At times, traditional regional outfits would be displayed. In wealthier circles, luxury was showcased with colourful dresses, adorned with touches of gold and luxurious materials such as ermine fur. The first recorded white wedding dress was worn by Mary Stuart I in 1558 during her marriage to Francis II. However, this event had no bearing on the current tradition, as the bride’s outfit reflected the colour associated with her family, the De Guise.

The Tradition of the White Dress in the 19th Century

Queen Victoria I married Albert of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha in 1840 in Britain, wearing a white dress to everyone’s surprise, going against the norm. She enjoyed this colour and frequently wore it for various events. A simply elegant dress, enhanced with lace, that made a lasting impression. It was the Catholic Church that bestowed symbolic meaning upon the white dress, associating it with purity. In 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous claimed to encounter the Virgin Mary in the grotto of Lourdes, she noted that the Immaculate Conception was dressed entirely in white. The Church quickly linked this colour to virginity. Subsequently, white became more commonly adopted among affluent families, serving more as a symbol of wealth than of purity. It became a sign that the family was making a sacrifice by purchasing a dress that would only be worn once. The white dress thus signified bourgeois values. It aimed to be relatively simple, adorned with lace, and accompanied by a veil. The rise of department stores in the latter half of the 19th century and advances in design created a market and fashion that then became part of tradition.

Symbols, Traditions, and Elegance

Throughout the 20th century, wearing a white wedding dress became the norm. For traditional Catholic weddings, white has become the symbol of the bride’s chastity before marriage. She commits herself to her husband and to God, agreeing to devote her life to her spouse. White is thus indispensable, naturally imposed by the church wedding and ceremony. However, the white dress is no longer strictly followed, especially from the 1980s onward. Societal evolution, no longer upholding virginity as a marriage value, has modified the rules. Nevertheless, the tradition of the white dress persists for several reasons.

Honouring Traditions

The wedding dress is typically worn once. Aware of the symbolism it carries, women take great care in selecting their attire. In the collective imagination, the dress holds symbolic value. White, traditionally thought of as the colour linked to the bride, remains appreciated. When a wedding occurs in a church and the family has Catholic traditions, this type of dress remains common. Additionally, some women enjoy honouring family traditions, especially if their mothers and grandmothers married in white, as it pays tribute to their lineage. Ultimately, it depends on the family’s history and the bride’s imagination.

The White Dress: A Sign of Elegance

White, being a neutral colour, is a symbol of elegance. Very easy to wear, the white dress suits all women and pairs well with every season. Bright, easy to accessorise, embodying simplicity and elegance, it is cherished for these reasons. Moreover, the white wedding dress is incredibly photogenic, making it an excellent partner for capturing beautiful memories of this special day. Today, the choice often leans towards aesthetic appeal. If you are looking for a stunning wedding dress, we recommend exploring a specially designed bohemian dress. The wedding dresses from Boho Via are crafted to suit this exceptional day.

Chic wedding dresses from Boho Via

Thus, the white wedding dress is a relatively recent tradition. While its origins date back to antiquity, along with its virginal significance, it is not the one that has endured in our society. In the past, when the wedding dress was not exclusively for the wedding day, white was quite rare. It ultimately became a symbol of purity under the influence of the Catholic Church and started out as a religious symbol. Over time, wearing a white wedding dress has become more of a personal choice, rather than one dictated by societal norms. Women then seek to either uphold a tradition or express aesthetic preference.