Why is the wedding dress white?

On the wedding day, the choice of dress color is important to the bride. To respect the tradition, some women still wear white. The rules have been relaxed and colorful and fancy wedding dresses have appeared. However, white is still a traditional color that is very popular. However, the white dress has not always been the norm in France, as elsewhere. It is finally a fairly recent tradition. In this article, find out why the wedding dress is white.

The white dress, a custom in Antiquity

In Antiquity, the white dress is common. In Ancient Egypt, white is a color that has many symbols. It represents light and joy. It is worn for any celebration, for a wedding as well as for a mourning. At the time of their nuptials, the women then adorn themselves with a long tunic of white or ecru linen. In Ancient Rome, the dress is codified: it is a white tunic, long which symbolizes of purity. It is closed by a big knot representing the chastity, that only the groom will undo the evening of the wedding. However, the white color will then disappear from the ceremonies and will come back much later in history.

Different colored wedding dresses up to the 19th century.

The dress for the wedding was not worn on this one day of their life. Women had little in the way of toiletries. They wore their best dress, often Sunday best. White was not a very common color. It was difficult to maintain and to bring back. It is also little adapted to the work of the women at the house or in the fields. Generally, red or black was the color of choice. Sometimes, however, traditional regional dress was worn. In the rich circles, the luxury was posted with rather coloured dresses, with touches of gold and noble matters, like the fur of ermine. The first white wedding dress in history was worn by Mary Stuart I in 1558, at her wedding to Francis II. However, this has no connection with the current tradition. The bride's attire reflected the color associated with her family, the De Guises.

The tradition of the white dress was established in the 19th century

Queen Victoria I married Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840, in Great Britain. On this occasion, and to the general surprise, she wears a white dress, which is against the current. She appreciates this color, and frequently wears it at various events. A dress of sober elegance, heightened by lace, which will make sensation. But, it is the Catholic religion which is going to give its symbolism to the white dress, by associating it with the purity. In 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous affirms to meet the Holy Virgin in the cave of Lourdes, she says that the Immaculate Conception is dressed entirely of white. The Church immediately associated this color with virginity. The white is then adopted more frequently in the well-to-do families. But it is more a symbol of wealth than of purity. The family shows that it makes an effort by buying a dress which will be carried only once. The white dress is thus a sign of bourgeoisie above all. It wants to be rather simple, decorated with lace, and provided with a veil. The rise of department stores in the second half of the 19th century and advances in design have created a market and a fashion, which are then rooted in tradition. 

Symbols, traditions and elegance

During the 20th century, wearing a white wedding dress became the norm. For traditional catholic weddings, white became the symbol of the chastity of the bride before the wedding. She pledges before her husband and before God to offer her life to her husband. White is therefore unavoidable. Church marriage and the ceremony naturally imposed it. But the white dress is no longer always appropriate, especially from the 80s. The evolution of society, no longer brandishing virginity as a value of marriage, tends to relax the rules. However, the tradition of the white dress persists for several reasons.

Respecting traditions

The wedding dress is a dress that is worn only once. Conscious of the symbolism it conveys, women take a particular care to choose their dress. In the collective imagination, the dress has a symbolic value. White, traditionally considered the color associated with the bride, remains popular. When the wedding takes place in the church and when the family has a Catholic tradition, this type of dress remains common. In addition, some women like to be part of the family tradition, when their mothers and grandmothers were married in white, it is also a way to pay tribute to them. It all depends on the family history and also on the bride's imagination.

The white dress, a sign of elegance

White, neutral color, is a sign of elegance. Very easy to wear, the white dress goes to all women and harmonizes with all seasons. Bright, easy to accessorize, a guarantee of sobriety and elegance, it remains appreciated for these reasons. Moreover, the white wedding dress is extremely photogenic. This makes it an ally of choice to keep memories of this special day in all beauty. Today, it is often a purely aesthetic choice. If you are looking for a beautiful wedding dress, we recommend you to look for a special bohemian dress. The wedding dresses from Vie De Bohème are specially designed for this exceptional day.

The white wedding dress is a relatively recent tradition. If its origin goes back to Antiquity, as well as its virginal meaning, it is not the one that has persisted in our society.In the past, even though the wedding dress was not only intended for the wedding day, white was not very common. It eventually became a symbol of purity under the impetus of the Catholic Church and began as a religious symbol. Then, with time, wearing a white wedding dress, becomes more a personal choice and not dictated by anyone. Women want to respect a tradition or an aesthetic.