Traditional White Weddings Dresses

It is a common assumption that the traditional colour for weddings dresses has always been white however this is not the case. In pre victorian times Western weddings dresses were were in any colour other than black or red. Black was the traditional symbol of mourning (and this still tends to be the case to this day) and red weddings dresses indicated connections with ladies of the night. Many brides are still reluctant to include the colour red in their wedding dress, but it is becoming more popular as the years roll on.

 

Colours of weddings dresses varied around the world, and still do. It is often though that white weddings dresses indicated virginity, however, historically it was actually blue weddings dresses that indicated purity. White weddings dresses are traditionally linked to christening gowns.

 

In China, Vietnam and India many weddings dresses are red as this is their traditional colour of auspiciousness and good luck. Where as in Finland in the 19th century dark weddings dresses were very popular particularly black.

 

Over the years western weddings dresses have also varied widely in style for example traditionally the wedding dress was long in length, however styles changed and in 1920s dresses were short at the front with long trains. In 1940's the weddings dresses style changed back to the longer length and this still appears to be the case to this day.

 

Having researched many weddings dresses magazines it looks like the western world is starting to return to colourful weddings dresses. Many brides now opt for full dresses in red, purple, green, blue and many other beautiful colours while others opt for their weddings dresses in white with a colourful train or some simply opt for a colourful sash. This is in contrast to many modern chinese weddings where the brides are now opting for Western traditional white weddings dresses.