The History of Wedding Dresses
Wedding dresses are steeped in tradition. And while history lessons are normally boring, we feel it's better if you understand where wedding dresses came from, and how their role has developed over time.
Now, you wont be surprised to hear that white is definitely the traditional colour of wedding dresses, going right back to ancient times. It was at Roman weddings where brides donned softly pleated white robes as a tribute to Hymen, the gold of fertility and marriage, who was said to have particularly admired the colour white.
In ancient Egypt, for example, brides were traditionally draped in layers of pleated white linen. And in Greece, white was the colour of celebration and therefore generally worn for weddings as an emblem of joy.
Royal Tradition
Moving forward to the 1500's to 1600's - one of the first officially documented white-wearing brides was Anne of Brittany, who married Louis XII of France in 1499. Since only royalty and the affluent could afford the luxury of a specially made wedding gown, however, most commoners simply donned their 'Sunday best' dress to get married as wedding dresses were far beyond their means.
Luxury
Throughout the eighteenth century, royal brides (for the most part) remained true to luxurious fabrics in tones of silver and red. Then, in 1840, along came Queen Victoria in her all-white bridal ensemble: her rich white satin gown was adorned with orange blossoms and had an eighteen foot train, which she carried over her arm. She was immediately heralded for her grace and beauty, and was ultimately responsible for establishing the white, worn-only-once gown as the Western wedding day ideal.
Twentieth Century
It was an innovative time in the 1920's. It was during this time that Coco Chanel rose to prominence. The designer introduced the first official knee-length wedding gown, though it was done up in traditional bridal fabrics and accompanied with a full veil and a court train.
The next landmark decade was the post-war 1950's - it was a time of celebration and prosperity. As such wedding dresses became bigger and more elaborate than ever. An expressive style continued throughout much of the 1970's, as newly liberated women emphatically broke with the demure traditions of the past. For the first time modern brides embraced their sexuality, so much so that a white suit with an open jacket revealing bare skin became acceptable bridal attire.
The eighties then saw Princess Diana kick-start the fairy-tale revolution. Big white princess gowns were back in style and making brides feel sexy. Wedding dresses in the nineties were characterised by their sensual, uncomplicated shapes and styles. Sleek and simple was definitely in, while big and brash was left alone.
Present
These days wedding dresses can only be described as an exciting blend of old and new, of classic design and daring detail. There's something for everyone and the choices are endless. Even the most cutting-edge gown is steeped in tradition - as long as you're wearing white, you're contributing to the continuity of custom.
You are now in the lucky position where there aren't as many rules. Brides can wear what they want, where they want, when they want - you really are spoilt for choice!
Of course this means white is no longer the only colour deemed usable for bridal attire. Ivory coloured wedding dresses are almost as popular, while red and gold are not unheard of either. White is still the traditional colour for a wedding dress, but ivory has fast developed into an alternative that still retains the purity of white. Materials can also dictate the colour of your wedding dress, so the options are endless.
While designs of wedding dresses have changed so much over the centuries, one this has remained true - wedding dresses are every bride's opportunity to express their true self and help make their dreams come true.
Click on the link to start looking through all the stunning wedding dresses on OneWedding.
Click here to go back to the wedding dresses homepage - where you can find all our other articles on wedding dresses.
