The Classic White Wedding: A Journey Through Its Origins

A wedding embarks the most special day for a bride. The dreams, the planning and the little girl who is finally embodying her dream of being a bride come true. A classic white wedding was not really a culture before but it changed gradually over the years.

Every gown, every body, every curve is different and to find “the dress” which doesn’t scream a yes! But gently taps your heart and whispers, “this is the one”. Picking out a wedding dress can be equally overwhelming and a thrilling experience for a bride. And in today’s article, we are going back to where it all started. 

How the history and the complete magical euphoria of it shapes a bride’s dream today.

Queen Victoria- 1840

Victoria is known to set two iconic trendsetters for fashion. Wearing black for mourning and white for her wedding to Prince Albert on 10th February 1840. White was something which was worn by women who were being presented at court. Women saved their best dressed gowns for their wedding which did not have a distinct colour. Royal weddings conducted before her, brides wore a variety of hues with red being the most prominent colour used. 

Queen Victoria's Portrait on her wedding day


Of course in China red is considered for good luck and prosperity, due to which most brides to this day wear red and wear white at receptions. Queen Victoria’s dress was constructed from Spitalfields cream silk-satin, adorned with a flounce of Honiton lace gracing the neckline and sleeves, the dress maintains its status as the quintessential Western wedding gown silhouette, featuring a slender waist, voluminous crinoline petticoat, and delicate lace details. 

The queen wanted to show off her lace and its intricacy and her dress is still considered an icon. Queen Victoria even made sure to burn her dress so that it couldn’t be copied or recreated according to Vogue. Wedding gowns are known to be worn just one time today which wasn’t the case for Victoria. She bought hers for several occasions due to which it created a new wave of symbolism. The colour gradually signified wealth, purity and innocence. 

The aftermath of the second world war made clothing cheaper to produce and the white one- time wedding dress with a lavish wedding ceremony became an eminent factor of getting married.  

Ever since then, the wedding of famous iconic actresses and royal weddings have shaped and cemented the way we see bridal gowns as a statement piece of fashion.

Elizabeth Taylor- 1950

Elizabeth’s wedding gown in 1950 consisted of a sheer neckline with lace detailing, a tulle veil and a fuller skirt. This was her first wedding to Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr. Her following weddings were she wore outfits which were not “traditional white” but beautiful nonetheless. Although, her first gown still remains to be iconic. 

Princess Grace and Prince Rainer of Monaco

In 1956, photographs of Grace Kelly’s wedding gown were released creating a storm of demand around the world. Her dress was adorned with lace, silk, pearls and tulle which are some of the major fabric choices of today’s brides. (More below).

Princess Grace set up a trend with her gorgeous wedding gown. Her wedding look consisted of a snatched waist, a bell- shaped  skirt and intricate lace veil with a headpiece. Her dress has inspired so many brides today with most of them preferring to have lace detailed veils, a high neck bodice and pearls, lots of pearls.

Grace Kelly on her wedding day

Lady Diana Spencer- 1981

In 1981, 750 million people around the globe watched the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer with Prince Charles of Wales. Diana wore her ivory silk taffeta gown created by David and Elizabeth Emanuel which featured a 25ft train.  

She set up the trend of frilly necklines, puffy sleeves and shades of white in gowns. 

Princess Diana of Wales on her wedding day

Kate Middleton- 2011

Kate Middleton’s Alexander McQueen wedding gown was created by Sarah Burton. The use of elegant lace that created beautiful arm detailing and neckline brought out the structure of her neck. 

Nowadays sheer lace is used around the areas of waist, cuffs and the gown skirts with different tulles and sparkles to create an array of rhythm. 

Kate Middleton on her wedding day

Meghan Markle- 2018

Meghan Markle’s dress by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy inspired copies overnight. Her dress defined a new wave of simplicity and rawness. 

Her gown inspired incorporation of silk taffeta, duchess silk and also velvet in bridal gowns.

Conclusion

Over the years, many things have influenced how our bridal gowns look like today.

A little silhouette to the ripped lace, luscious silks and the moonlight sparkles that move with you. Whatever your personality is, a gown nonetheless is not just an outfit. But a little girl’s dream, a vision of a beautiful woman and the soft glimmer of a happily forever wrapped into one.

Note- RaaHaa Fabrics doesn’t take any credit for the pictures in this article.

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