The History of the White Wedding Dress

In fact, in the grand technique of things, the tradition is not even all that elderly. The white wedding dress of today is deep-seated tradition, and for lots of 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.

Women Haven't Always Been Marrying in White

Queen Victoria married Albert of Saxe in 1840, and wore what would then have been thought about a flamboyant white gown. Of coursework, this did not start the tradition immediately; however, lots of women saw this as a statement of class and style, and copied the Queen by also getting married in white.

Britain is a place that is rife with traditions and legends, so it is tiny 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 they know them today.

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 neat in those days as they are today!).

Of coursework, 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 five times 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, lots of 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 wonderfully wealthy that could afford to splurge on an elaborate gown.