I’ve mentioned this many times before, dear reader, but one very exciting thing that couples I’ve worked with love doing is making their wedding truly their own and go for something unique.
And that said, one interesting consistency I’ve noticed is how many brides still vote for a white bridal gown. There isn’t anything bad about that of course.
The bridal gown is, probably at this point, the most definitive part of a wedding. It’s the first thing we think of when we think, “wedding.” It’s what we look for and anticipate when we arrive as wedding guests.
“What is she wearing?”
“Will she make her fiance cry?”
“Oh, isn’t she STUNNING.”
This is typically the general flow of conversation. And we love to see it!
But why do we expect the bridal gown? Sure there are alternates out there, but unlike the ease of deciding on a pizza truck or donut bar, the choice to move away from the classic white gown is less desired.
When did it come to become such a staple in the first place? Why white? And how did it get such lasting power?
Welp. That’s why I’m here. Let’s discuss!
The History of the Bridal Gown
Dressing Pretty Ain’t New!
So right off the bat we can all agree that wearing more formal garb, or at least something more expensive and ornate, is not a new tradition in the slightest.
Wearing something of significance can be for religious purposes, cultural, or even more of what we do now. It’s a beautiful occasion and you want to wear something to commemorate the importance of the day.
The White Gown Makes A Royal Debut
It’s within Western culture and history that you’re going to find the evolution into the white gown that we know of today. In ancient Rome, brides would wear white robes in honor of Hymen, the god of marriage (technically a mythic Greek god, but that’s how it worked for the Romans back then).
But if you jump forward a couple of millennia, you arrive at Queen Victoria! For her marriage to Albert of Saxe-Coburg, the Queen requested a dress made of the finest lace which, at the time, was available only in white. This also meant that maintenance would be incredibly difficult (you try keeping it a completely white garment clean in the 1800’s!), and as such the dress was only worn once.
A Tradition Found Across The World
As the trend caught on, the color white also was growing to symbolize purity and virginity, something the church stated was important when going into the sacrament of holy matrimony.
But white was also carried on as a tradition in other countries like Japan! It’s here that we also see the tradition of the bride wearing a white garment for her wedding (in this case a kimono) and changing into a new outfit for the reception (in the case of Japan, the bride changed into red as it symbolized good luck).
And On And On And On
And so thanks to oral tradition, familial traditions, and the influence of the media, the white gown stuck.
It wasn’t always like this of course, so don’t necessarily feel like you have to stay connected to this idea! In the end, this is your day. Do what makes you happiest, and wear what makes you happiest on what’s assured to be one of the happiest days of your life. Make it yours.
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the bridal gown, I found most of my research from an extensive deep dive found here. Check it out!
