Today the majority of brides all over the world follow the tradition of wearing a white gown on their wedding day. But where did the tradition originate and when did it become a staple of every wedding?
Turns out it wasn't until late 19th century that white made an entrance as a color of choice. Prior to that it was customary to get dressed in bold, rich colors, embroidered with delicate needlework and adorned with jewels. Wedding dresses, for nobility especially, were worn to show off their wealth and status. Some noble brides' gowns were so heavy with jewels, the women had to be carried down the aisle.
All of that changed in 1840 when Queen Victoria donned a simple, white frock trimmed with lace to her wedding to Prince Albert. And while those attending Queen Victoria's wedding seemed to have been underwhelmed with her choice of a 'bland', jewel-less gown, her dress made history and was the talk of every newspaper around the world for months to follow. Noble brides everywhere began to copy the queen, since a white dress to be worn only once was a luxury for a common working woman. Nevertheless the white dress trend survived through the years and turned into a tradition.
But not everyone wanted to follow the queen. There have been plenty of brides who veered off from the norm, be it Elizabeth Taylor or Brigitte Bardot. More recently Keira Knightley wore a blush dress for her big day, while Sarah Jessica Parker donned a black ball gown.
In India and China it is customary to wear red to symbolize luck and prosperity. In many African countries a colorful patterned dress is the norm. There is a myriad of choices to make your wedding dress as unique as you are.
Here at Dream Dresses we have been working with many brides to create a wedding dress that is one-of-a-kind. We have made wedding dresses in champagne, red, blue, gray and black for the brides that want to go beyond the traditional white. Right now we are working on a custom champagne and black wedding gown that is simply divine.
You can choose a pale blue, lavender or gold to stay close to the white and add just a touch of untraditional. Or you can choose a rich tone such as red, purple or black to make a bold statement.
To inspire you further we are sharing our recent feature on Strictly Weddings that highlights three of our non-traditional wedding dresses. Embellished with lace, sheer panels and delicate layers of tulle, these gowns are the perfect go-to for a bride that wants something different.
Take a look at the gorgeous images and reach out to us to order your very own custom-made, non-traditional wedding dress. We look forward to creating a design that is uniquely you.
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Team Credits:
Photographer: Hello Lovely Images
Reception Venue: The Lightroom PDX
Floral Designer: BLUE Floral Company
Make-up Artist: Megan Blake
Calligrapher: The Brumby Nest
Bakery: Next Dimension Bakery
Dress Designer: Dream Dresses by PMN
