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 colour 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 colour (whites were not easy to clean in those days as they are today!).

Of course, women still continued to be married in various colours 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 Colours: A bit of folklore

As with many other things in life, there is much folklore and legend surrounding the various other colours 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 colour 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 colour, 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 colour 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 colours 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 colour, 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 colour, 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
• Coloured 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.

About The Author:
Reno Charlton is an award-winning author and freelance writer from the West Midlands, England. She has written many articles providing consumer information on such topics as designer wedding dresses, and designer wedding gowns.