Why Are Wedding Dresses White? (2024)

FAQs

Why Are Wedding Dresses White? ›

The Greeks used white robes to symbolize youth, joy and purity, but the white wedding dress has not always been fashionable. Today, white or ivory are ever-popular colours but pastel shades and stronger colours are beginning to become more popular again.

It noted that it is an "emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one." Thanks to Queen Victoria and Godey's Lady's Book, white has become the go-to choice for brides on their wedding day.

Though Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown in 1559 when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France, the tradition of a white wedding dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria's choice to wear a white court dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840.

The last thing you want is for someone to mistake you for the bride or be in photographs where guests think you're trying to steal the spotlight. All in all, it's respectful and customary not to wear white as a guest to the wedding unless the bride specifically asks you to wear white or she says it's okay to wear it.

Isaiah 1:18 “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be whiter than snow.” The white wedding gown is not a symbol of the bride's purity. It is an emblem of the work Jesus has done on the cross. It is a mark of the work the Holy Spirit continues to do, changing hearts, breathing life, making his people new.

Before 1840, when Queen Victoria wore an influential white dress for her wedding ceremony, it was quite usual for a bride to wear red, pink, blue, brown, or even black, while saying her vows.

Some may be concerned about what it means to wear a black wedding dress. While the traditional white wedding dress was meant to symbolize innocence, a black wedding dress depicts elegance, power, mystery, and individuality.

However, nowadays, the idea that you must be 'pure' in order to wear a white dress is rather outdated. Many brides choose to wear white on their wedding day, even if they aren't a virgin, or even if they have children already. These days, white is merely chosen because it's traditional.

The Wedding Garter tradition dates back to centuries ago, however the main reason Brides continue to choose to wear a wedding garter to symbolize good luck for both the couple and the wedding guests; it's the groom's equivalent of the Bouquet Toss.

Blue. Traditionally the colour of good luck, blue signifies peace and purity. The bride who wears blue is just like calm water, life giving, and stable and endlessly loyal.

Why can't you wear red to a wedding? ›

Turns out, wearing red to a wedding means to some that “you've slept with the groom.” “Old Wives' Tale, but yeah,” Mitchell explained. However, both wedding planners agreed on a more modern reason for not wearing red: It could be seen as a way to grab the attention away from the bride.

Account for Tradition. In some cultures, black is less common for weddings. "Certain cultures, such as Indian and Chinese cultures, tend to stay away from black because it represents being in mourning. You want to take an extra thought if you are attending a more traditional wedding to be respectful," says Avrumson.

The practice of wearing veils dates back to ancient Rome and Greece, where they were believed to protect brides from evil spirits. Over time, veils became emblematic of modesty and purity, evolving as a symbol of innocence and reverence in various cultures.

A large, traditional wedding with the bride outfitted in a princess-style white wedding gown became a symbol of the American dream. From WWII through the end of the 20th century, the white gown symbolized prosperity, virginity and a lifetime commitment to one person. For most people today, those meanings are gone.

Psalms 45:13-15 The Message (MSG)

(Her wedding dress is dazzling, lined with gold by the weavers; All her dresses and robes are woven with gold. She is led to the king, followed by her virgin companions. A procession of joy and laughter! a grand entrance to the king's palace!)

Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians, the veil is a visible sign that the woman is under the authority of a man. These days, the idea of submission to the authority of her husband is frowned upon, to put it mildly.

Traditions are not rules

This is highly different from a rule, therefore do not fall under the pressure of wearing a white dress if you do not want to. It is your wedding day after all, if you wish to marry in a bin bag then do it! Your opinion is all that matters.

Black is a staple color of nearly every modern wardrobe. Scholars of both fashion and color have discovered that the black has an incredibly wide range of symbolic meanings, including austerity, virtue, wealth, sophistication, eroticism, mourning, and evil.

The Unique Elegance of Black Wedding Dresses

They represent the unapologetic embrace of individuality and personal style. Wearing black on your wedding day doesn't signify darkness or pessimism; instead, it symbolizes strength, sophistication, and a flair for the dramatic.