The History of the White Wedding Dress
As
a youngster -- or perhaps even as an adult -- have you ever sat
dreamily imagining yourself in a fairytale wedding dress, about to
marry your very own Prince Charming? And, what color is the wedding
dress? The chances are it's a white one. Millions of girls and women
that dream of the perfect marriage have a vision of the perfect white
wedding dress in their minds. But why white? Where did this tradition
come from?
Women
Haven't Always Been Marrying in White
In fact, in the grand scheme of things, the tradition isn't
even all that old. The white wedding dress of today is deep-seated
tradition, and for many is worn to signify virtue as well as uphold
tradition. Millions -- in fact billions -- of women all over the
world start thinking about the perfect white wedding gown before they
have even found the perfect partner.
Britain is a place that
is rife with traditions and legends, so it is little wonder that the
tradition of the white wedding dress was started by the English
Monarchy. It was the wedding of Queen Victoria that spawned the
interest and popularity of white wedding dresses as we know them
today.
Queen Victoria married Albert of Saxe in 1840, and
wore what would then have been considered a flamboyant white gown. Of
course, this did not start the tradition immediately; however, many
women saw this as a statement of class and style, and copied the
Queen by also getting married in white.
The white wedding
dress in those days had nothing to do with being virtuous -- it was
all about wealth. Getting married in a white, extravagant gown was a
sign that you could afford to buy a dress that you would never be
able to wear again because of its style and color (whites were not
easy to clean in those days as they are today!).
Of course,
women still continued to be married in various colors and styles of
dress -- it was only the vain and the wealthy that insisted on white
to follow in the footsteps of the wealthy Monarch. However, during
Edwardian times, the white wedding dress once more soared to new
heights of popularity, as Coco Chanel unveiled its new knee-length
white wedding dress, complete with extravagant train.
Even
so, with the depression that followed World War I and the approach of
World War II, many women continued to make do with whatever type of
dress they could afford, and this went on for decades. Some women
would marry in a
short
white informal wedding dress,
which could then be dyed and used as an everyday dress. Again, it was
only the fabulously wealthy that could really afford to splurge on an
elaborate gown.
However, from the 1950s onwards, as the world
watched Hollywood stars, royalty and members of high society get wed
in stunning white gowns, the tradition of white became signed and
sealed.
Wedding
Dresses of Different Colors: A bit of folklore
As with many other things in life, there is much folklore and
legend surrounding the various other colors that brides have been
known to wed in. One old rhyme seems to sum up these notions:
Married in white, you have chosen all right.
Married
in green, ashamed to be seen.
Married in red, you will wish
yourself dead.
Married in blue, you will always be true.
Married in yellow, ashamed of your fellow.
Married in
black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in pink, your
spirits will sink
Of course, most people will think nothing
of this poem, apart from the fact that each color has been coupled
with a meaning that just happened to rhyme very well. We all know
that there are plenty of people that have married in pinks, blues and
every other color, and have enjoyed a long and happy marriage. And we
certainly know that there are plenty of people that have married in
white, who have not prospered quite so well.
Ordering
Your Wedding Dress Online
Luckily, legend and folklore has given way to individuality
in recent years, and brides now enjoy getting married in the color of
their choice. Both celebrities and everyday women have injected their
wedding dresses with their own sense of style and personality, and we
have seen women marrying in colors ranging from delicate ivory to
deepest red and even black.
Royalty and high society still
tend to favour the tradition of marrying in white. However, since
simply wearing a white wedding gown can no longer mark their stature
due to the availability of the white wedding dress, they now do this
by infusing the dress with the most expensive silks, pearls and
material possible, making it worth a king's ransom by the time it is
finished.
Luckily, we don't all have to pay a fortune to look
stunning for our wedding day, and there is now so much choice in
color, style, material and design that we can get married looking
just the way we want -- and without having to sell all of our worldly
possessions to do so!
The Internet is a great source for
wedding dresses. You can enjoy excellent value for your money and
unrivalled choice, enabling you to achieve just the look and theme
that you want for your special day. Whether you want a full-on white
gown with all the trimmings, a simple and elegant ivory dress, an
informal yet classy wedding dress or something totally unique in a
rich, vibrant color, the Internet will provide you with access to the
perfect choice.
You will enjoy access to a wide range of
dress styles online, including:
Traditional wedding gowns
Informal wedding dresses
Designer wedding dresses
Colored wedding gowns
Gothic or medieval style
wedding gowns
Short wedding dresses
Long wedding
dresses
You can also select from a wide choice of material,
so you can feel and look as stunning as you dare, and with the great
quality available online you can cherish your special dress for years
to come -- perhaps even pass it down to future generations.
What Wedding Colors Mean Today
The colors you choose for your wedding day set the style and tone for
your event. You can influence the mood of your wedding through your
choices of colors. Color appears in every aspect of the wedding: the
dresses, flowers, table decorations and the invitations.
Carefully
consider the following when choosing your wedding theme colors:
--
The location of your wedding and reception. Choose colors that
complement the setting.
-- The mood you want to create.
Vibrant colors add excitement, while soft colors induce a romantic
ambiance. Also, colors are symbolic. For example, green is the color
of fertility and harmony whereas red represents beauty, strength,
passion, celebration and luck.
-- The time of year. The
season you get married should influence your color scheme. Spring and
summer colors are lighter, while fall and winter weddings lean in
toward darker colors.
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