Everything You Need to Know About the White Wedding Dress

The white wedding dress is one of the most iconic symbols of bridal fashion and is steeped in both history and tradition. While it’s often associated with elegance and purity, there’s much more to this color choice than meets the eye. From its origins as a trend set by royalty to its evolution in modern bridal collections, the white wedding dress has remained a classic choice for brides around the world. However, finding a true white dress isn’t as easy as it seems.

Below, we’ll explore the fascinating history of white wedding dresses, why ivory has become more popular, the role of nude linings, and the growing trend of adding color to bridal gowns. Whether you’re drawn to the charm of tradition or looking for a fresh twist, this guide has everything you need to know about the white wedding dress.

The History of the White Wedding Dress

White hasn’t always been the color of choice for wedding dresses. In fact, white didn’t become popular until after Queen Victoria wore a white dress for her wedding in 1840. When you think about the long history of marriage, with the first recorded marriage between two people happening in 2350 BCE, the white wedding dress is actually a relatively new cultural custom. Prior to Queen Victoria, wedding dresses were often a bride’s best church dress and were made of a variety of fabrics and colors. The color and fabric of their dress would often represent the wealth and social status of the bride’s family for anyone in attendance.

Thanks to Queen Victoria, purity is top of mind when we think of the meaning of the color white. However, when she wore white, it symbolized wealth and status rather than purity. Regardless, the royal wedding had a great influence on culture, and white soon became the popular choice for wedding dresses. Before Queen Victoria, blue was traditionally seen as the color of purity and virtue and was often associated with the Virgin Mary in Christian symbolism. By the late 19th century, white had firmly replaced blue as the primary color representing purity in Western culture.

Why White Wedding Dresses Are Hard to Find

When looking through our collections, you’ll find that we don’t offer pure white as an option for our designs. Instead, we offer our dresses in ivory. There are many reasons for this:

• White tends to be more prone to discoloration making it less practical for an all day event like a wedding.

• White is less forgiving in photographs as it will harshly reflect the light and potentially washes out the bride’s features and the details of the dress.

• White tends to be too stark for many skin tones and doesn’t complement all complexions. Softer shades like ivory are more universally flattering.

• Due to the way they are made, popular wedding dress fabrics such as lace, satin and tulle are naturally ivory.

• White can feel clinical and sterile which lacks the warmth and romantic qualities needed for a wedding.

We could go on and on, but ultimately, modern brides have evolved and moved away from the rigid tradition of a pure white wedding dress. Ivory is often seen as equally elegant and has become the default shade due to its timelessness and softer appearance.

The Role of Nude Linings in Modern Bridal Design

You may notice that we often design nude linings for our dresses. A nude lining is a contemporary design feature and is chosen by brides all across the globe for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the number one reason brides choose nude linings is because of the enhanced detail visibility it gives to the lace.

The nude color provides a striking contrast against the ivory lace, beadwork and embroidery, allowing it to pop for a more defined and dramatic look. As a result, wedding dresses with nude linings tend to photograph beautifully as the details shine without being overshadowed by a lighter color. They can also create an illusion effect to add a hint of sexiness while still providing elegant coverage. Just take a look at how a nude lining helps bring out the details of our Hera gown!

The Rise of Color in Wedding Dresses

Straying even further from the tradition of the white wedding dress is the colorful wedding dress. In the last few years, colorful wedding dresses have become increasingly popular and we can see why. Just look at how much romance colorful lace adds to our Esther gown! And brides wearing our colorful wedding dress, Misty, are just as magical!  

Incorporating color into their wedding dress allows brides to express their individuality while making it one-of-a-kind. Not to mention, a colorful wedding dress can have a unique photographic impact. Brightly colored or pastel gowns can create stunning visual contrast making the bride stand out against the backdrop of her surroundings. Plus, a colorful dress can perfectly complement a wedding theme or season.

As bridal trends evolve, ivory wedding dresses have replaced white wedding dresses as a symbol of understated sophistication. They stand out as a versatile, universally flattering option and brides everywhere are drawn to their ability to marry classic charm with contemporary style. Non-white options like nude linings and pops of color are becoming increasingly popular as brides embrace their unique personalities and move away from the Western tradition of the white wedding dress. Ultimately, choosing a wedding dress should all be about reflecting your personal style whether that’s a bold color, ivory or the traditional white.

If you’re ready to try on our ivory gowns at a bridal salon near you, you’ll want to visit our store locator. And if you want to see our dresses in action, don’t forget to follow us on social media!