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

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

As
with many other things in life, there is much folklore and legend
surrounding the various other colors 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 color 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 color, 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 color 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 colors 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 color, 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 color, 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

Colored 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.

What Wedding Colors Mean Today

The colors you choose for your wedding day set the
style and tone for your event. You can influence the mood of your
wedding through your choices of colors. Color appears in every aspect
of the wedding: the dresses, flowers, table decorations and the
invitations.

Carefully consider the following when choosing your wedding theme colors:

-- The location of your wedding and reception. Choose colors that complement the setting.

--
The mood you want to create. Vibrant colors add excitement, while soft
colors induce a romantic ambiance. Also, colors are symbolic. For
example, green is the color of fertility and harmony whereas red
represents beauty, strength, passion, celebration and luck.

--
The time of year. The season you get married should influence your
color scheme. Spring and summer colors are lighter, while fall and
winter weddings lean in toward darker colors.