The White Wedding Dress: From Royalty to Modern Tradition

When we think of weddings today, the image of a bride in a white gown often comes to mind. But the white wedding dress we know now wasn’t always the norm. Its story is a fascinating mix of history, culture, and symbolism that spans centuries.

 A Colorful History of Bridal Fashion

Before white became the standard, brides wore dresses in all colors, often chosen based on social status, symbolism, and practicality. Buying a dress specifically for a wedding was uncommon; brides simply wore their best available attire.

• Blue: Once considered the color of the Virgin Mary, blue symbolized purity, loyalty, and fidelity, giving rise to the tradition of carrying “something blue.”
• Red: In medieval Europe, red was a symbol of wealth and nobility, while in Eastern cultures it represents love, happiness, and prosperity, still popular in modern Chinese and Indian weddings.
• Green: Despite representing growth and hope today, green was historically considered unlucky in Europe because of its association with fairies.
• Pink and Yellow: Often chosen for aesthetic reasons or seasonal trends, these colors had varied superstitions attached to them, from luck to impropriety.
  

The Birth of the White Wedding Dress

White gowns didn’t originally symbolize virginity. Instead, wealth and social status were the key indicators. The color white was expensive to maintain, making it impractical for daily wear but perfect for royalty and the upper classes.

The turning point came in 1840 when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in a white gown. Her choice sparked a trend across Europe and North America, and white gradually became associated with elegance, sophistication, and celebration.

 

White Through the 20th Century

• Great Depression: Economic hardship led many brides to wear darker dresses again, as purchasing a white gown was seen as extravagant.
• Post-WWII Boom: The rise of consumer culture and accessible fabrics helped white regain its dominance in Western weddings.
• Modern Interpretation: Today, white is widely seen as a symbol of purity, new beginnings, and romance, though personal choice and style often drive color selection.

 

Modern Brides and Historical Colors

Interestingly, many brides today are embracing colors that were popular before white took over, including blues, reds, and even greens and black. This revival allows couples to honor history, culture, and personal expression, blending centuries of bridal tradition with modern aesthetics.

Why Understanding History Matters

Exploring the history of the white wedding dress shows that traditions are fluid, influenced by culture, economics, and symbolism. Every choice, from color to fabric, tells a story about the bride, her family, and the era in which she lived. Whether white or boldly colored, a wedding gown carries a rich legacy that connects past and present.

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History of black wedding dresses

While many in the West today see the black wedding dress as a modern gothic statement or a way to buck tradition, its history is far richer and far older. Black wedding dresses have been worn for thousands of years across cultures, often symbolizing solemnity, practicality, or devotion.

Black wedding dress in Chinese history

The origins of the black wedding dress can be traced back over 3,000 years to the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC) in China. Brides at the time wore modest, solemn black gowns over light red undergarments. Their hair was styled up and secured with a band and hairpin, reflecting both elegance and formality.

 

Today, traditional Chinese bridal dresses vary by region. Northern brides usually wear a mostly red dress decorated with intricate gold and silver designs, while southern brides prefer a two-piece red gown adorned with gold dragons and phoenixes. Modern couples, however, often opt for simplified, contemporary wedding dresses rather than following strict regional traditions.

Spanish brides wore black

In Spain, Roman Catholic brides historically wore black lace gowns with a black lace veil, or mantilla, draped over the head and shoulders. The veil symbolized the bride’s vow to love her husband until death, highlighting black as a color of solemn commitment rather than rebellion.

 

History of the black wedding dress in the West

White wedding gowns became popular in the Victorian era, following Queen Victoria’s wedding. Before the white dress, most brides in Western Europe wore a variety of colors, but black wedding dresses were a popular choice. Not because it was the most fashionable, but because they were most practical. Wedding dresses were expensive and most women couldn’t afford a special dress to where one time. Instead, they selected a black dress because the dark color didn’t show stains, and the dress could be worn following the wedding.

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Today, some brides choose black thinking they are defying tradition—but in reality, they are returning to it. As the saying goes, there’s nothing new under the sun. Whether for style, symbolism, or practicality, the black wedding dress remains a fascinating and versatile choice that spans cultures and centuries.

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Photo credits: Photo by Murat IŞIK Photo by Bormann Chen