Why is the wedding dress white?

On the wedding day, the choice of the dress color is significant for the bride. To honour tradition, some women still opt for white. However, the rules have relaxed, leading to the emergence of colourful and fancy wedding dresses. Despite this, white remains a highly cherished traditional colour. Interestingly, the white wedding dress wasn't always the norm in France, or even elsewhere; it's actually a relatively recent tradition. In this article, find out why the wedding dress is white.

The White Dress: An Ancient Custom

In ancient times, white dresses were quite common. In Ancient Egypt, white light symbolised many things, including light and joy. Women adorned themselves in long white or off-white linen tunics for celebrations, including weddings and mourning. In Ancient Rome, the wedding attire was codified: a long white tunic symbolising purity tied with a large knot, representing chastity, that only the groom would untie on the wedding night. However, the colour white would eventually disappear from ceremonies and only return 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 just worn on this single day; women had very few dresses. They wore their best outfit, often their Sunday best. The colour white was not very common at that time. It was challenging to maintain and keep clean, and it was not practical for the work that women did at home or in the fields. Generally, colours like red or black were more in vogue, though sometimes regional traditional outfits were worn. Among the affluent, luxury was flaunted through rather colourful dresses, adorned with touches of gold and noble materials, such as ermine fur. The first known white wedding dress in history was worn by Mary Stuart I in 1558 at her wedding to Francis II. However, this does not connect to the current tradition, as the bride's attire reflected the colour associated with her family, the De Guise.

The Tradition of the White Dress Establishes Itself in the 19th Century

Queen Victoria I married Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840 in Britain. On this occasion, and to everyone's surprise, she wore a white dress, which was quite unconventional. She loved this colour and often wore it at various events. A simple yet elegant dress, enhanced with lace, that made a significant impact. Nonetheless, it was the Catholic Church that attributed the symbolism of purity to the white dress. In 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous claimed to see the Virgin Mary in the grotto of Lourdes, she stated that the Immaculate Conception was dressed entirely in white. The Church quickly associated this colour with virginity. Following this, white dresses became more common among affluent families, symbolising wealth rather than purity. The family demonstrated their status by purchasing a dress that would only be worn once. The white dress thus became a sign of bourgeoisie above all. It was relatively simple, adorned with lace and accompanied by a veil. The rise of large department stores in the latter half of the 19th century and advances in design created a marketplace and a fashion that established itself firmly in traditions.

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 bride's chastity before the nuptials. She commits her life to her husband in front of God. Thus, white became essential. Church weddings and ceremonies naturally imposed this. However, white dresses are not always the go-to choice, especially from the 1980s onwards. With societal changes no longer placing virginity as a marital value, the rules have relaxed. Yet, the tradition of the white dress persists for several reasons.

Honouring Traditions

The wedding dress is something worn just once. Aware of the symbol it carries, women take special care in choosing their attire. In the collective imagination, the dress holds symbolic value. White, traditionally seen as the colour associated with the bride, remains favoured. When the wedding occurs at a church and the family has a Catholic tradition, this type of attire remains common. Additionally, some women enjoy following family traditions, especially when their mothers and grandmothers married in white, as it pay homage to them. Ultimately, it depends on the family's history and the bride's own imagination.

The White Dress: A Sign of Elegance

White, a neutral colour, signifies elegance. Very easy to wear, the white dress suits all women and harmonises with all seasons. Bright, easy to accessorise, and emblematic of sobriety and elegance, it remains popular for these reasons. Furthermore, the white wedding dress is incredibly photogenic, making it a perfect ally for preserving beautiful memories of this special day. Today, choosing a stunning wedding dress is often purely aesthetic. If you're looking for a magnificent wedding dress, we recommend you explore a special bohemian dress. The wedding dresses at Boho Via are specifically designed for this exceptional day.

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The white wedding dress is thus a relatively recent tradition. While its origins date back to ancient times, along with its virginity symbolism, it is not the tradition that has persisted in our society. In the past, when the wedding dress was not just for the wedding day, white was uncommon. It ultimately became a symbol of purity, influenced by the Catholic Church, and began as a religious symbol. Over time, wearing a white wedding dress evolved into a personal choice, rather than a dictated one. Women then want to respect a tradition or an aesthetic.