Weddings have been a special time for thousands of years with ceremonies and celebrations being a huge part of the ritual. Special clothing has always been worn by the bride and groom for the occasion, however, white wedding gowns are a relatively recent tradition. In the past marriage was done for strategic reasons within the nobility and often these matches were agreed whilst the betrothed were just children, although the wedding would not take place until they came of age. This was particularly apparent in Europe during medieval times where there were constant wars and disagreements over borders and trade and as such, political alliances were vital in order to maintain stability.
One of the first wedding gowns recorded was that of the Princess Phillipa at her wedding to Erik of Denmark in 1406. This gown was made from rich fabrics and decorated with gems, gold thread and pearls. This became a standard for noble weddings and the fabrics and colours were rich and unusual. Dyes were expensive and some such colours as red and purple were rare. The gowns were made from vast amounts of fabric and were gathered at the waist with long trains behind. No expense was spared and each gown was more lavish and spectacular than before. Some of these gowns were so heavy that the bride could not walk down the aisle unaided! This is probably where bridesmaids originated.
For the commoner bride, wedding gowns were still made to look as magnificent as possible and tended to be made from blue or green fabric. During the Middle Ages, blue was seen as the colour of purity and as such both the bride and groom wore blue ribbons at their nuptials. Weddings among commoners was still a time for great celebration and a lot of preparation would have gone into organising it.
There have been white wedding gowns throughout history but they were not very common and did not really come into fashion until Queen Victoria married Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. The gown was of a relatively simple design which was made from satin which was enhanced with Honiton lace. At the time, this was seen as being very plain and it would appear that she received a good deal of criticism for her choice, but it set the trend for wealthy fashion conscious brides in the years to come. Blue was still the colour of purity but following Queen Victoria's wedding that all changed and white was the new symbol of purity.
The Industrial Revolution also had an impact on weddings and with the advent of greater wealth among the masses, department stores were born. These shops offered cheaper clothes and gave even the lowliest of brides the opportunity to buy the wedding gown of their dreams. As a result, white wedding gowns became accessible to the populace and a tradition was set. Modern brides have access to a whole myriad of colours as white does not suit many skin tones and there are shades to suit every bride. The fabrics have changed a great deal as well and there is so much choice available so that the bride can have a fabric to suit her and also the time of year. Bridal gowns are often still embellished with gemstones, pearls and lace but these days, unless you are very wealthy, the gemstones and pearls will be simulated rather than the real thing.
Throughout history most girls have dreamt of having the perfect wedding wearing the most beautiful gown and this is unlikely to change. Fashions and colours may come and go but for most brides it is the dress that they choose that makes their wedding day such a special occasion.
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