Origin of the White Wedding Dress
Why are wedding dresses white? What are the meanings behind wedding dress colors? Learn about the history of wedding dresses and how the white wedding dress became so popular.
Until the nineteen-hundreds, brides hardly ever bought a special wedding dress, opting for their best outfit instead.
Wedding Dress Color Meanings
Green was always avoided, as it was thought to be unlucky. White symbolized purity and virginity and was also thought to ward off evil spirits.
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Married in White, you have chosen right
Married in Grey, you will go far away
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Blue, you will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Brown, you will live in the town,
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink.
The Origin of the White Wedding Dress
The white wedding dress, now a common tradition in the western world, originated with Anne of Brittany on the occasion of her marriage to Louis XII of France in 1499. But it wasn鈥檛 until 1840, when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, that the white dress was made popular. Now the white wedding dress is a classic.
What Does the Groom Wear to the Wedding?
To cut a dashing figure, the groom should match the bride. For a formal afternoon wedding, he should have a cutaway and, after six, a black tie. There is no symbolism in his clothes, as there is in the bride鈥檚. But there can, in fact, be symbolism in the boutonniere he chooses. A red chrysanthemum means 鈥淚 love you,鈥 a white rose means 鈥淚 am worthy of you,鈥 and a sweet William represents gallantry. Find out more about the meaning of flowers.
Are you ready for your wedding? Use our tools to plan for wedding weather! Plus, find out more about wedding customs and traditions and wedding folklore.
Tell us about your wedding dress below!
Christine Schultz
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I don't have a wedding dress. I'll probably never get married, but if I did, I don't want white, the color I specifically want, you've gone and given us some shitty old timey poem that we have to follow, so I guess I can't really wear what I want on my wedding day, which probably won't happen so I guess it's fine. I only clicked on this article to get an idea of the time frame in which this became popular, because I was having a discussion with a friend.
It was 1972, and my parents could not afford much, so I made my dress. It was white dotted Swiss with a soft cotton lining. It was country style with long puffed sleeves, an empire waist and a large flounce at the hem. I used a white daisy lace trim at the seams with pastel blue centers, and carried white carnations (the first flowers he gave me) with a white carnation wreath in my hair. Years later, I used a small length of that daisy trim and tacked it inside the waist of our daughter鈥檚 wedding dress for her 鈥渟omething blue鈥. My husband and I have been married 45 years and are still head over heels in love~鉂わ笍 Thank you for letting me share! Denise Parker
I mean, you can just share anywhere, just scream into the void, it's the internet, man
what dose the black rose and green roses mean,Becouse I am going to have black and green wedding, those are our favorate colors. I dont think that the colors should mean anything if you are really in love with that purson
