Wedding dress

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For other uses, see Wedding dress (disambiguation) and Gown (disambiguation).
In 1981, Prince of Wales marry Diana Spencer in her elaborate white taffeta dress. This wedding is generally considered the most influential white wedding of the 20th century.
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A wedding dress or bridal gown is the dress worn by the bride during a wedding ceremony. The color, style and ceremonial importance of the gown can depend on the religion and culture of the wedding participants. The influence of religion is particularly significant, and the Western-style wedding dress and wedding styles that are now mainstream around the world are strongly influenced by Christianity.

In Western cultures and Anglo-Saxons cultural spheres, the wedding dress is most commonly white, which fashion was made popular by Queen Victoria when she married in 1840. Of those dresses, sleeveless or strapless dress are typically worn with a opera-length white gloves.

In Eastern cultures, brides often choose red to symbolize auspiciousness.

Western culture[]

The woman to the far right is wearing a typical wedding dress from 1929. Until the late 1960s, wedding dresses reflected the styles of the day. From that time onward, wedding dresses have often been based on Victorian styles.

Weddings performed during and immediately following the Middle Ages were often more than just a union between two people. They could be a union between two families, two businesses or even two countries. Many weddings were more a matter of politics than love, particularly among the nobility and the higher social classes. Brides were therefore expected to dress in a manner that cast their families in the most favorable light and befitted their social status, for they were not representing only themselves during the ceremony. Brides from wealthy families often wore rich colors and exclusive fabrics. It was common to see them wearing bold colors and layers of furs, velvet and silk. Brides dressed in the height of current fashion, with the richest materials their families' money could buy. The poorest of brides wore their best church dress on their wedding day. The amount and the price of material a wedding dress contained was a reflection of the bride's social standing and indicated the extent of the family's wealth to wedding guests.

History of Color[]

The first documented instance of a princess who wore a white wedding dress for a royal wedding ceremony is that of Philippa of England, who wore a tunic with a cloak in white silk bordered with squirrel and ermine in 1406, when she married Eric of Pomerania.[1][2] Also, white wedding gown was worn by Anne of Brittany when she married Louis XII in 1499.[3] Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding dress in 1559 when she married her first husband, Francis, the Dauphin of France, because it was her favorite color, although white was then the color of mourning for French Queens.[4][5] This was not a widespread trend, however: prior to the Victorian era, a bride was married in any color, black being especially popular in Scandinavia.[6]

White became a popular option in 1840, after the marriage of Queen Victoria to Albert of Saxe-Coburg,[7] when Victoria wore a white gown trimmed with Honiton lace. Illustrations of the wedding were widely published, and many brides opted for white in accordance with the Queen's choice.[8] Wearing white was quickly adopted by wealthy, fashionable brides. Less than a decade later, Godey's Lady's Book states that white wedding gowns were an ancient custom reflecting a bride's virginity, writing:

"Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one"

Also, addressed this in an article on the “Etiquette of Trousseau” in their August 1849 issue of the same magazine covers this topic. “Custom, from time immemorial, has decided on white as [a wedding gown’s] proper hue, emblematic of the freshness and purity of girlhood,” they wrote.[9]

Originally, it was blue that was connected to purity, piety, faithfulness, and the Virgin Mary.[10] However, many people at the time believed that white was meant to symbolize virginity, and it became the norm.

Even after white became the dominant color, for a period, wedding dresses were adapted to the styles of the day. In the early 1900s, clothing included a lot of decorations, such as lace or frills. This was also adopted in wedding dresses, where decorative frills and lace was common. For example, in the 1920s, they were typically short in the front with a longer train in the back and were worn with cloche-style wedding veils. This tendency to follow current fashions continued until the late 1960s, when it became popular to revert to long, full-skirted designs reminiscent of the Victorian era.

Embraced by wealthier brides in the Victorian era, the trend of a white wedding gown eventually spread across all economic levels and was cemented as “tradition” in the 20th century.[7] The white wedding style was given another significant boost in 1981, when three-quarter billion people—one out of six people around the globe—watched Charles, Prince of Wales marry Diana Spencer in her elaborate white taffeta dress with a 25-foot-long train.[11] This wedding is generally considered the most influential white wedding of the 20th century.[11] Since the middle of the 20th century, most Western wedding dresses are usually white,[12] though "wedding white" includes "Off-white" such as ivory, beige and cream. However, white is not the universal color of wedding dresses. In Mexico, for example, red is a popular color.[13]

Current trends[]

A bride in a contemporary version of the traditional long white wedding dress with train, tiara and white veil.

Dress color[]

Western culture has long followed the tradition of wearing white on one’s wedding day.[14] This trend has not changed now. "Color Wheel Pro" describes[15] white in association with light, goodness, innocence, purity and virginity. White is also often considered to be the color of perfection.[14] As for other significant meanings for white on a wedding day, “colormeaning.com” says, “In color psychology, white is the color of new beginnings — wiping the slate clean. The color white is a blank canvas, just waiting to be written on.”[16] Nowadays, with the spread of Western culture, white wedding dresses are worn in many countries and regions around the world and have become the norm. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the bride must always wear a white dress when getting married in the church temple, and nothing but white is allowed.[17]

Dress line[]

Like any other dress, the style of a wedding dress depends on not just the fabric, but the overall shape and features. Some of the most popular contemporary dress silhouettes include: A-line, ballgown, empire, mermaid, tea-length, and trumpet. Popular contemporary necklines types include: asymmetric, bateau, halter, jewel, off-the-shoulder, portrait, scoop, sheer, square, strapless, sweetheart, and v-neck. The neckline refers to the shape of the material at the top of the dress as it falls on the neck and shoulders.

Name Description Shape
A-line Like the letter A in the alphabet, this shape has a straight hem that extends from the lower bust and waist. A-line
Mermaid-line A form-fitting dress with a hem that widens from around the knees to form the tail fin of a mermaid. Mermaid-line
Princess-line-1 This type of dress has a form-fitting upper body and gathers from the waist to the hem. It is called this because it is a so-called "princess dress" type. Princess-line-1
Princess-line-2 This type of dress does not have a transition at the waist, but has vertical darts in the body to fit the body line. The skirt part is flared. It is called this because Alexandra, the queen of King Edward VII of England, liked to wear it when she was a crown princess. This type is the original princess line, but nowadays the "princess dress" type is often referred to as the princess line. Princess-line-2
Ball-gown The upper body fits the body, and gathers from the waist to the hem, making this type even wider than the princess line. Originally, it was a "debutante dress" type used for balls. Ball-gown
Slender-line A slender dress that follows the lines of the body. It has a narrow hem and a mature shape. Slender-line
Bell-line As the name "bell" implies, the waist is narrowed and the hips are fuller. It is sometimes called the bell and dome line. Bell-line
Empire-line This is a high-waisted type with a hem that falls in a straight line from the bottom of the bust and hardly widens, as worn by the goddesses of Greek mythology. It is called this because it was popular during the Napoleonic Empire. Empire-line
Mini Midi-length dresses were introduced around 1960, but when the mini-skirt was introduced in 1965, mini-length wedding dresses also appeared. However, it was only a novel style and has hardly become popular. Mini

Sleeve type[]

Strapless dress

In the early 21st century, about 75% of wedding dresses on the market are sleeveless and strapless.[18][19] Other brides prefer more modest styles with sleeves, higher necklines, and covered backs. Most of today's wedding dresses have either lace-up backs or zipper backs. Wedding dresses can also be long or short, depending on the type of wedding. Many Western ceremonial dresses are derived from Christian ritual costumes. So it was required to reduce skin exposure.[20] In response to this trend, sleeveless or strapless dresses often wear long white gloves.[21]

Gloves etiquette[]

White long gloves

If gloves are worn, they are kept on during the ceremony. If bridesmaids are wearing matching gloves,[22] they also keep their gloves on during the ceremony.[23] Gloves should not be carried as they should be considered an integral part of the costume.[24][25] The length of bridal gloves depends on the length of the sleeves of the dress.[26] The shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove. Opera-length gloves are, therefore, properly worn with sleeveless or short-sleeved dresses or strapless, sleeveless, or short-sleeved wedding gowns.[27][28] White, ivory, and beige are the traditional colors for opera gloves and are appropriate for virtually any occasion of which opera gloves are worn. Black opera gloves should not be worn with white or light-colored gowns.[29]

Eastern culture[]

Many wedding dresses in China, India (wedding sari), Pakistan (heavily embroidered shalwar qameez or lehngas) are red; the traditional colour representing good luck and auspiciousness. Vietnam wedding dresses (in the traditional form of áo tấc the ancient Ao dai) were blue, dark blue.

Nowadays, many women choose other colours besides red. In modern mainland Chinese weddings, the bride may opt for Western dresses of any colour, and don a traditional costume for the wedding tea ceremony.

Qing dynasty styled traditional Chinese wedding dress with phoenix crown (鳳冠) headpiece still used in modern Taiwanese weddings.

In modern Taiwanese weddings, the bride generally picks red (following Chinese tradition) or white (more Western) silk for the wedding gown material, but most will wear the red traditional garment for their formal wedding banquets. Traditionally, the father of the bride is responsible for the wedding banquet hosted on the bride's side and the alcohol (specifically called "xi-jiu," confusingly the same as what the wedding banquet itself is called) consumed during both banquets. While the wedding itself is often based on the couple's choices, the wedding banquets are a symbolic gesture of "thanks" and appreciation, to those that have raised the bride and groom (such as grandparents and uncles) and those who will continue to be there to help the bride and groom in the future. Thus out of respect for the elders, wedding banquets are usually done formally and traditionally.

Red wedding saris are the traditional garment choice for brides in Indian culture. Sari fabric is also traditionally silk. Over time, colour options and fabric choices for Indian brides have expanded. Today fabrics like crepe, Georgette, charmeuse, and satin are used, and colors have been expanded to include gold, pink, orange, maroon, brown, and yellow as well. Indian brides in Western countries often wear the sari at the wedding ceremony and change into traditional Indian wear afterwards (lehnga, choli, etc.).

Japanese formal wedding dress still used today.

A Japanese wedding usually involves a traditional pure white kimono for the formal ceremony, symbolizing purity and maidenhood. The bride may change into a red kimono for the events after the ceremony for good luck.

The Javanese people of Indonesia wear a kebaya, a traditional kind of blouse, along with batik.

In the Philippines, variations of the Baro't saya adapted to the white wedding tradition are considered to be wedding attire for women, along with the Barong Tagalog for men. Various tribes and Muslim Filipinos don other forms of traditional dress during their respective ceremonies.

Native American culture[]

Apache bride

The indigenous peoples of the Americas have varying traditions related to weddings and thus wedding dresses. A Hopi bride traditionally had her garments woven by the groom and any men in the village who wished to participate. The garments consisted of a large belt, two all-white wedding robes, a white wedding robe with red stripes at top and bottom, white buckskin leggings and moccasins, a string for tying the hair, and a reed mat in which to wrap the outfit. This outfit also served as a shroud, since these garments would be necessary for the trip through the underworld.

A Pueblo bride wore a cotton garment tied above the right shoulder, secured with a belt around the waist.

In the traditions of the Delaware, a bride wore a knee-length skirt of deerskin and a band of wampum beads around her forehead. Except for fine beads or shell necklaces, the body was bare from the waist up. If it was a winter wedding, she wore deerskin leggings and moccasins and a robe of turkey feathers. Her face was painted with white, red and yellow clay.

The tribes of Northern California (which include the Klamath, the Modoc and the Yurok) had a traditional bridal dress woven in symbolic colors: white for the east, blue for the south, yellow (orange) for the west; and black for the north. Turquoise and silver jewelry were worn by both the bride and the groom in addition to a silver concho belt. Jewelry was considered a shield against evils including hunger, poverty and bad luck.

Gallery[]

Historical European wedding dresses[]

  • Detail from The Marriage by Nicolo da Bologna, 1350s.

  • Helena Fourment, second wife of Peter Paul Rubens, painted by Rubens in her wedding dress, 1630.

  • Sophia Magdalena of Denmark's wedding dress, 1766. The Royal Armoury in Sweden.

  • Marriage of Napoleon I and Marie Louise. France, 1810.

Wedding dresses from different areas of the world[]

  • Traditional Japanese wedding robes worn by the Crown Prince of Japan, Akihito and Michiko Shoda for their marriage, 1959.

  • Wishram (North American Indian) bride around 1911

  • Traditional Finnish farmer wedding dress in Jomala, Åland

  • Traditional Kazakh wedding dress

  • Azerbaijan national wedding costume in Azerbaijan State Museum of History.

    Traditional Azerbaijani national wedding costume in Azerbaijan State Museum of History.

  • Hutsul wedding dress

  • Traditional Armenian wedding dress

  • 18th-century wedding dress from Kymi, Greece (Collection of PFF, Nauplio)

  • Bride in a wedding dress, Podhale, the Tatra Mountains

West Asian/North African dresses[]

  • Jewish Yemenite bride in Israel, 1950's

  • Wedding of Tewfik Pasha and Emina Ilhamy, Cairo, Egypt, January 1873

East Asian dresses[]

  • Chinese couple wearing traditional wedding hanfu

  • Reenactment of the royal wedding ceremony of King Gojong and Queen Myeongseong

South Asian dresses[]

  • Indian Hindu bride in red Sari

  • West Bengali bride

  • Indian Christian bride in white Sari

  • Bangladeshi bride in formal matrimonial Sari

  • Bride at a Nikah ceremony wearing typical South Asian red head covering and jewellery

  • A Nepali bride in wedding dress

  • Nepali bride of Kathmandu, 1941

  • Wedding dresses and other Asian couture in London

Southeast Asian dresses[]

  • Khmer (Cambodian) couple dressed in traditional wedding outfits

  • Vietnamese couple in traditional dress

  • Couple dress in traditional Thai outfits

  • Couple dressed in traditional Burmese outfits

Modern Western-style dresses[]

  • A bride in 1968, wearing a dress reflecting the styles of the time

  • Taiwanese couple dressed Western-style for keepsake photos in the park, 1989

  • Patricia Nixon Cox with her father Richard Nixon, 1971

  • American bride marrying a Scotsman wearing a kilt, 1996

  • New Orleans bride wearing a strapless, sleeveless gown, 2006

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Wedding white doesn't mean what you think it means". Ivy Bridal Studio. 3 March 2014. Archived from the original on 11 May 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2014. Princess Philippa of England is the first recorded princess to have worn white during her wedding in 1406, with her attire consisting of a tunic and cloak in white silk, but it wasn’t until Queen Mary that the white dress would explode in popularity
  2. ^ "The History of Matrimony". Amalfi Wedding Planner. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006.
  3. ^ "BRIDAL GOWNS HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN WHITE". deseret.com. Oct 12, 1995.
  4. ^ "Mary, Queen of Scots' first wedding day". Madame Guillotine. 24 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2014. Mary’s choice of a white wedding dress was an unusual one, particularly as white was more traditionally worn by royal ladies when they were in dieul blanc mourning but in this as in other things the strong willed Mary may well have been an innovator, keen to not just impress her own taste on her wedding day (after all, she hadn’t been allowed the privilege of choosing her groom) but also emphasise her virginity and show off her famously pale redheaded beauty, which would have been accentuated by a pure white dress.
  5. ^ "Elizabeth I Facts". The Elizabeth Files. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2014. Her favourite dress colours were white and black which symbolised purity.
  6. ^ Pelo, June. "Old Marriage Customs in Finland". Sydaby.eget.net. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Why Do Brides Wear White?". britannica.com. Retrieved Sep 7, 2021.
  8. ^ "Royal Weddings 1840-1947". Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Why do brides wear white?". news.osu.edu. Sep 12, 2020.
  10. ^ Ashliman, DL (2004). Folk and Fairy Tales: A Handbook–Greenwood Folklore Handbooks. ABC-CLIO. p. 9. ISBN 9780313058592.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Ingrassia, Catherine (2007). "Diana, Martha and Me". In Curran, Colleen (ed.). Altared: Bridezillas, Bewilderment, Big Love, Breakups, and What Women Really Think about Contemporary Weddings. New York: Vintage Books. pp. 24–30. ISBN 0-307-27763-1.
  12. ^ Stewart, Jude (14 February 2011). "The Bride Wore Chartreuse: Why (Most) Wedding Dresses are White". Print. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Is It Okay To Wear Red To A Wedding?". weddingknowhow.com. Retrieved Sep 7, 2021.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "5 special occasions when you should wear white". deseret.com. Dec 2, 2018.
  15. ^ "Color Meaning". color-wheel-pro.com. Retrieved Sep 7, 2021.
  16. ^ "White Color Meaning: The Color White Symbolizes Purity and Innocence". color-meanings.com. Retrieved Sep 7, 2021.
  17. ^ "Temple Bridal Dress Guidelines". churchofjesuschrist.org. Jun 1, 1997.
  18. ^ "As strapless weddings gowns dominate market, one bride just says no". Retrieved Jul 21, 2012.
  19. ^ Goldstein, Katherine (17 May 2012). "Say Yes to a Different Dress: Down with the strapless wedding gown". Slate. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  20. ^ "Is modesty for women only?". deseret.com. Aug 5, 2015.
  21. ^ "Opera Gloves - All The Tropes". allthetropes.org. Retrieved Oct 18, 2020.
  22. ^ "Victorian gloves: etiquette for use". January 10, 2021.
  23. ^ "How to Wear Wedding Gloves". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  24. ^ "Wearing Vintage Gloves". Retrieved Oct 18, 2020.
  25. ^ "Glove Etiquette". Retrieved Aug 15, 2010.
  26. ^ "TIPS FOR WEARING GLOVES FOR YOUR WEDDING". Oct 23, 2014.
  27. ^ Gloves, Ines. "Gloves Etiquette". Ines Gloves. Retrieved Oct 18, 2020.
  28. ^ "Vintage glove etiquette". denisebrain vintage. Retrieved Oct 18, 2020.
  29. ^ "Opera Glove Etiquette". Nov 9, 2011. Retrieved Oct 18, 2020.

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