You might have heard the term “white wedding” before ‒ and no, I’m not talking about the Billy Idol song. A white wedding is a formal Anglican-style wedding with its roots in the British Victorian tradition. The term got its name from the bright, vibrant white dress Queen Victoria wore at her wedding in 1840, a tradition that carried on to most of the Western world.
Let’s talk a little more about the history of white weddings and about how they look today.
The Origin of the White Wedding
Before Queen Victoria’s iconic style reached the news, there weren’t many rules about what brides should wear at their weddings. Embroidered gowns with silver or white threads were standard, but the color of the gowns were often regal colors such as red. Some even wanted more utilitarian dress colors such as black or brown.
Once word of the queen’s white lace dress spread around the Atlantic, wealthy elites started following in her footsteps, and the white wedding dress soon became a symbol of status and wealth. It slowly spread to all of Great Britain and America, largely after World War II because of an increase in marriages as a result of postwar prosperity. The growing popularity of Hollywood movies also helped spread the idea of the white dress and the white wedding to the world.
Lastly, the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles in 1981 had a massive impact on the white wedding. It was televised and viewed by more than 750 million people, making it the most viewed white wedding of all time.
The White Wedding in the Modern Day
So, what do white weddings look like today? Well, I still can’t imagine a white wedding without a white dress. But the concept of a white wedding has expanded to include everything traditional Western weddings encompass ‒ the ceremony, the reception, and all else. With time, the tradition grew to include wedding invitations, bridesmaids, groomsmen, a flower girl, a ring bearer, and a white wedding cake.
Even the classic Western wedding ceremony style is part of the idea, with the bride’s family sitting on the left and the groom’s family sitting on the right. Some interpretations of the white wedding have featured choral music, hymns, scripture recitations, and the classic wedding march.
What Does the White Wedding Symbolize?
The white wedding stands as a symbol of many things, including the idea of tradition. I believe there’s a sort of magic in having an exquisite service just like royalty or your ancestors did in years past.
It’s also a symbol of honor toward your friends and family. Throwing a grand, beautiful party that makes every guest feel royal is just one way to demonstrate your thanks for their support ‒ before and after your wedding day.
For many, the white wedding is a religious symbol. The white dress of the bride and the wedding veil symbolize purity and innocence. In Christianity, the color white can represent Christ or religious commitment.
