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Wedings and colors
The History of the White Wedding Dress
As a youngster -- or perhaps even as an adult --
have you ever sat dreamily imagining yourself in a fairytale
wedding dress, about to marry your very own Prince Charming? And,
what color is the wedding dress? The chances are its a white one.
Millions of girls and women that dream of the perfect marriage have
a vision of the perfect white wedding dress in their minds. But why
white? Where did this tradition come from?
Women Havent Always Been Marrying in White
In fact, in the grand scheme of things, the tradition isnt even all
that old. The white wedding dress of today is deep-seated
tradition, and for many is worn to signify virtue as well as uphold
tradition. Millions -- in fact billions -- of women all over the
world start thinking about the perfect white wedding gown before
they have even found the perfect partner.
Britain is a place that is rife with traditions and legends, so it
is little wonder that the tradition of the white wedding dress was
started by the English Monarchy. It was the wedding of Queen
Victoria that spawned the interest and popularity of white wedding
dresses as we know them today.
Queen Victoria married Albert of Saxe in 1840, and wore what would
then have been considered a flamboyant white gown. Of course, this
did not start the tradition immediately; however, many women saw
this as a statement of class and style, and copied the Queen by
also getting married in white.
The white wedding dress in those days had nothing to do with being
virtuous -- it was all about wealth. Getting married in a white,
extravagant gown was a sign that you could afford to buy a dress
that you would never be able to wear again because of its style and
color (whites were not easy to clean in those days as they are
today!).
Of course, women still continued to be married in various colors
and styles of dress -- it was only the vain and the wealthy that
insisted on white to follow in the footsteps of the wealthy
Monarch. However, during Edwardian times, the white wedding dress
once more soared to new heights of popularity, as Coco Chanel
unveiled its new knee-length white wedding dress, complete with
extravagant train.
Even so, with the depression that followed World War I and the
approach of World War II, many women continued to make do with
whatever type of dress they could afford, and this went on for
decades. Some women would marry in a short white informal
wedding dress, which could then be dyed and used as an everyday
dress. Again, it was only the fabulously wealthy that could really
afford to splurge on an elaborate gown.
However, from the 1950s onwards, as the world watched Hollywood
stars, royalty and members of high society get wed in stunning
white gowns, the tradition of white became signed and sealed.
Wedding Dresses of Different Colors: A bit of folklore
As with many other things in life, there is much folklore and
legend surrounding the various other colors that brides have been
known to wed in. One old rhyme seems to sum up these notions:
Married in white, you have chosen all right.
Married in green, ashamed to be seen.
Married in red, you will wish yourself dead.
Married in blue, you will always be true.
Married in yellow, ashamed of your fellow.
Married in black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in pink, your spirits will sink
Of course, most people will think nothing of this poem, apart from
the fact that each color has been coupled with a meaning that just
happened to rhyme very well. We all know that there are plenty of
people that have married in pinks, blues and every other color, and
have enjoyed a long and happy marriage. And we certainly know that
there are plenty of people that have married in white, who have not
prospered quite so well.
Ordering Your Wedding Dress Online
Luckily, legend and folklore has given way to individuality in
recent years, and brides now enjoy getting married in the color of
their choice. Both celebrities and everyday women have injected
their wedding dresses with their own sense of style and
personality, and we have seen women marrying in colors ranging from
delicate ivory to deepest red and even black.
Royalty and high society still tend to favour the tradition of
marrying in white. However, since simply wearing a white wedding
gown can no longer mark their stature due to the availability of
the white wedding dress, they now do this by infusing the dress
with the most expensive silks, pearls and material possible, making
it worth a kings ransom by the time it is finished.
Luckily, we dont all have to pay a fortune to look stunning for our
wedding day, and there is now so much choice in color, style,
material and design that we can get married looking just the way we
want -- and without having to sell all of our worldly possessions
to do so!
The Internet is a great source for wedding dresses. You can enjoy
excellent value for your money and unrivalled choice, enabling you
to achieve just the look and theme that you want for your special
day. Whether you want a full-on white gown with all the trimmings,
a simple and elegant ivory dress, an informal yet classy wedding
dress or something totally unique in a rich, vibrant color, the
Internet will provide you with access to the perfect choice.
You will enjoy access to a wide range of dress styles online,
including:
Traditional wedding gowns
Informal wedding dresses
Designer wedding dresses
Colored wedding gowns
Gothic or medieval style wedding gowns
Short wedding dresses
Long wedding dresses
You can also select from a wide choice of material, so you can feel
and look as stunning as you dare, and with the great quality
available online you can cherish your special dress for years to
come -- perhaps even pass it down to future generations.
What Wedding Colors Mean Today
The colors you choose for your wedding day set the
style and tone for your event. You can influence the mood of your
wedding through your choices of colors. Color appears in every
aspect of the wedding: the dresses, flowers, table decorations and
the invitations.
Carefully consider the following when choosing your wedding theme
colors:
-- The location of your wedding and reception. Choose colors that
complement the setting.
-- The mood you want to create. Vibrant colors add excitement,
while soft colors induce a romantic ambiance. Also, colors are
symbolic. For example, green is the color of fertility and harmony
whereas red represents beauty, strength, passion, celebration and
luck.
-- The time of year. The season you get married should influence
your color scheme. Spring and summer colors are lighter, while fall
and winter weddings lean in toward darker colors.