Traditional for modern brides is a white wedding dress, although this was not always the case. The fashion for wearing such attire for a wedding ceremony appeared several centuries ago, and the usual image of a girl in a snow-white dress and long veil became popular only in the last century. The choice of white wedding attire is determined by the beliefs associated with this color, the customs of the countries in which they first began to wear a light wedding dress. Why is the traditional wedding dress white? What's its story?
Beliefs, myths and truth about a white wedding dress
There are many versions as to why a wedding dress should be white. Any of them is more or less similar to the truth, so it is quite possible to proceed from these stories when choosing a wedding dress. It just so happened that among most nationalities, a girl gets married in a white dress .
Photo of a bride in a white wedding dress
Today there are some deviations from this standard, for example, an outfit in ivory, beige, red, pistachio, blue or soft lilac will not surprise anyone, but the snow-white dress of the bride was, is and will remain traditional.
The modern world of man is based on events, beliefs and legends of the past
To believe or not to believe in them is the decision of each person. Several well-known versions tell why a wedding dress should be white :
- The most reliable of them says that Queen Anne of Austria was the first to wear a white wedding dress to her wedding celebration. She looked so gorgeous in this wedding dress that all French fashionistas began vying to sew snow-white wedding dresses for themselves and their daughters. Subsequently, the first wave of excitement subsided and stirred the hearts of the ladies at the wedding of Queen Victoria of England, who appeared at the ceremony in a snow-white openwork dress with a deep neckline.
- However, the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress to a wedding goes back centuries. In those ancient times, the bride's outfit was a symbol of innocence, purity and humility . In addition, according to legend, the color white protected from the evil eye, damage and bad words.
What does a veil and other items of a bride’s wardrobe mean?
A prerequisite is that you cannot take someone else’s veil or gloves to your celebration.
In ancient times, a mother protected her daughter from envious and evil people with the help of a scarf on which various symbols were embroidered. It was customary to give such a talisman to a young girl before her marriage. Today this custom has almost been forgotten. Instead of a scarf, a hairpin is now increasingly used.
In England there is a tradition that at a wedding the bride must have something new, something foreign and something blue.
In addition to the outfit, you should choose the right shoes. Give preference to closed shoes, they will help maintain family well-being. Avoid clasps and laces. The presence of such accessories can contribute to poverty, and their absence will help ease childbirth.
Having learned folk signs about the bride’s wedding dress, you can safely get married without fear that some item of clothing can interfere with family happiness.
A classic of the genre, or a traditional white dress for a wedding
Classic white dress for a wedding
So, wedding! Nowadays, a white dress and a wedding are simply inseparable concepts. As soon as we talk about the wedding ceremony, the image of an ethereal beauty in snow-white clothes .
Classic models of wedding dresses are currently considered one of the most popular. This is a universal combination of a tight corset and a luxurious full skirt. It is in this outfit that girls feel like fairy-tale princesses.
Traditional white dress for a wedding
The classic dress model looks like this:
- The lower part of the skirt is equipped with hoops , thanks to which volume is created.
- The fabric used for the dress is dense , which can fall in large folds.
- The skirt has several petticoats made of lining fabric or starched tulle.
Classic white wedding dress with a train
Classic options also include traditional wedding dresses, which have the following distinctive features:
- A-silhouette, where the skirt widens from the waist and falls in tails to the floor.
- The waist for this style is strictly defined, usually emphasized by a wide yoke or belt.
- This option can be decorated with a long train that is attached to the waist (it can be unfastened if necessary). A loop is sewn to the very tip of the train, which the girl puts on her wrist while dancing or moving along the street.
- A tight corset follows all the rules; it has a rigid frame and is laced or fastened at the back.
- The top of the dress can be either open or closed, depending on the wishes of the bride herself.
- The same goes for the sleeves. They can be long, short, 3⁄4 or completely absent.
White dress of the bride
The bride chooses shoes to match her white wedding dress depending on her own preferences. It can be:
- Traditional white shoes , ankle boots or boots with any shape of heel or no heel at all.
- Shoes can be classic style without decorations or decorated with rhinestones, beads and other accessories .
- The color of the shoes is matched to the belt, the bride’s bouquet, or traditionally white.
Traditional white wedding dress
Wedding color: red
As you know, the word “beautiful” comes from the phrase “very red” or “very beautiful.” These words have the same root, which is why “red maiden” is a beauty, and “red calendar day” is a festive, special day. The color red has long been associated with beauty, light, warmth and fire: our ancestors called the solstice “kres”, and the verb “kresat” meant “to cut out the fire.” In the divine language of symbols, red is the color of mercy and Divine love. This color also symbolizes love in Western culture. In medieval Europe, brides wore red dresses to their weddings. In the Buddhist tantric tradition, it is the color of passion. And in Eastern countries, red represents joy and wealth. By choosing red for your wedding, you will express confidence in strong love and the desire to throw a feast for the whole world. Red wedding - to a beautiful life!
Wedding dress options
Let the white dress not seem to you an exclusively classic or even boring option, because there are many styles and variations. Let's look at the most popular ones.
Lush white wedding dress
The dream of most girls is a luxurious and lush white wedding dress, as in the photo:
Lush white wedding dress
This model has a wide skirt and corset. The main features of the outfit are as follows:
- The width and volume of the skirt directly depends on the number of hoops or petticoats. Very often this design has quite a serious weight, but this fact has never stopped any girl if she decided to look like a queen at her own wedding.
- As a rule, these models have a strict corset with a minimum of decoration . The whole emphasis is on the skirt.
A delightful, airy and openwork lace white wedding dress has recently become the most popular among brides
It will look sophisticated and elegant at any celebration. Openwork fabric creates a magical, airy image.
Openwork lace white wedding dress
When choosing this option, it is worth considering some nuances:
- If you decorate a white lace dress with a train made of the same fabric, it will look elegant and expensive.
- Shimmering openwork fabric decorated with small rhinestones, pearls or sparkles will look royally magnificent.
- In itself, a wedding dress made of this material is absolutely self-sufficient, so you should not overload it with additional accessories.
Openwork wedding dress
Short white wedding dress
Young ladies with beautiful slender legs prefer short wedding dresses. It should be noted that traditions do not prohibit wearing a shortened outfit to a wedding , only on the condition that the bride herself likes this image.
Short white wedding dress
Models that have some characteristic features look impressive:
- Typically, a short white wedding dress resembles a classic cocktail dress .
- To ensure the correct placement of accents, designers use only luxurious fabric in creating models.
- In such versions of dresses, a very tight corset is usually not used .
- Sleeves can be of different lengths: long, T-shirt, lanterns, 3⁄4, sleeveless at all.
- They look great when complemented with a stylish bolero, stole, or cape.
Short wedding dress
Designer white wedding dresses
Fashion does not stand still, and modern designers have come up with many options for stylish and amazingly beautiful white wedding dresses, which are rightfully considered exclusive.
The research of fashion designers has gone so far that it is sometimes possible to guess that this dress is intended specifically for a wedding celebration only by the white color and the veil that comes with the set.
White designer wedding dress
The most fashionable white wedding dresses have some features:
- Designers make the bottom of the models asymmetrical. For example, the hem of a dress is much longer in the back than in the front.
- Currently, white wedding dresses in retro style are coming into fashion , the style of the 20s of the last century is especially relevant.
- They can be decorated with various large accessories that are not traditionally used in standard wedding dress models.
Designer white bridesmaid dress
White wedding dresses with colored elements
The most daring and bright girls will prefer a white and red wedding dress. These are exactly the ladies who can afford to experiment with colors even at such a crucial moment. It is believed that the combination of white and red in a formal dress is an application for leadership in a couple .
White and red wedding dress
The white and red version of the wedding dress can have a number of details:
- Both the main details of the dress and the trim can be red: bodice design, belt, sewn elements .
- If the red background of the model is decorated with rhinestones, the shimmering effect will be simply stunning.
A white and black wedding dress looks especially solemn and elegant . Only a confident and self-sufficient girl can use the classic opposition of colors in a wedding dress. A wedding dress looks ideal if the skirt is made of heavy white satin and the bodice is decorated with openwork black lace. You can create a mysterious and mysterious image by placing white lace flowers along the hem of a white dress.
White and black wedding dress
Simple white dress for wedding
classic simplicity of attire has been and will be in fashion throughout the centuries . This is especially true for wedding dresses. A simple, sophisticated white wedding dress will look great on any body type. These models use a minimal amount of decor; the fabric used for sewing is expensive, but creates a feeling of light simplicity.
The most spectacular decoration of this model is the youth and beauty of the bride.
Exquisite white wedding dress
But this does not mean that even such young girls should not decorate themselves on this important day with jewelry as beautiful as themselves. The good thing about the white color of the dress is that you can match it with jewelry of any color. If you want to keep the white color scheme and a classic look, choose gold and diamonds or cubic zirconia.
Gold earrings with cubic zirconia, Kalina Zolotaya (price on the link)
Gold ring with diamonds, SL (price on the link)
How to choose a shade of white for a wedding dress?
It is advisable to select the shade of white depending on the girl’s skin color type:
- For the “spring” color type, it is advisable to choose white wedding dresses closer to the shade of ivory.
- Girls with an “autumn” color type and red hair should choose outfits with a cream tint or the color of clotted cream.
Cream wedding dress
- Dark-haired, white-faced beauties of the “winter” color type can choose white dresses with a bluish tint .
White wedding dress with blue tint
- For dark-skinned women with brown or black hair of the “summer” color type, it is advisable to choose creamy, delicate shades.
Wedding color: blue
For lovers of the color blue, there is nothing more important than a sense of peace. They are not prone to adventures and value family comfort and trust. Traditionally, the color blue is associated with eternal values, height, depth and perfection of the world. In Christianity, blue symbolizes sincerity, prudence and piety. In Western culture, it is the color of nobility and stability. In India, blue is the color of wisdom: it enhances intuition and encourages contemplation. Many peoples used blue to protect against the forces of evil. Newlyweds who choose shades of blue for their wedding will be devoted to family values throughout their lives. Despite their outward restraint, they have a subtle feeling and respect for each other. Blue wedding - to peace in the house!