Should a bride wear a white wedding dress? | Wedding Dress Shop (2024)

FAQs

Is it okay to wear white to wedding dress shopping? ›

there are no rules. If you don't want to wear a gown, that's ok! If you don't want to wear white, then don't! You are the one wearing whatever you choose, so make sure it's exactly what you want.

Tradition by definition is the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way. This is highly different from a rule, therefore do not fall under the pressure of wearing a white dress if you do not want to.

The truth is, not all wedding gowns have to be white. While many wedding traditions have come down to us through many centuries of legends and beliefs, the white wedding dress is quite a recent tradition popularized by Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840.

Isaiah 1:18 “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be whiter than snow.” The white wedding gown is not a symbol of the bride's purity. It is an emblem of the work Jesus has done on the cross. It is a mark of the work the Holy Spirit continues to do, changing hearts, breathing life, making his people new.

Typically, you can't wear white to a wedding because this color is reserved for the couple tying the knot. In Western culture, it's tradition for the bride to wear head-to-toe white on the wedding day, so wearing anything that matches this shade might unintentionally steal the spotlight away from her.

The last thing you want is for someone to mistake you for the bride or be in photographs where guests think you're trying to steal the spotlight. All in all, it's respectful and customary not to wear white as a guest to the wedding unless the bride specifically asks you to wear white or she says it's okay to wear it.

In fact, white wedding dresses only came into fashion in the mid-19th century and became customary in the mid-20th century. Nowadays, 82 percent of U.S. brides wear white, according to the WeddingWire Newlywed Report—but how did this color become so popular?

A large, traditional wedding with the bride outfitted in a princess-style white wedding gown became a symbol of the American dream. From WWII through the end of the 20th century, the white gown symbolized prosperity, virginity and a lifetime commitment to one person. For most people today, those meanings are gone.

However, nowadays, the idea that you must be 'pure' in order to wear a white dress is rather outdated. Many brides choose to wear white on their wedding day, even if they aren't a virgin, or even if they have children already. These days, white is merely chosen because it's traditional.

Should a bride wear white to a bridal shower? ›

While white seems to be the shade most brides choose for a bridal shower, both Brickman and Cartledge agree that there's no rule on what color you should wear. "A lot of my brides don't opt for white at all, instead choosing a color that makes them feel confident or matches their wedding," Cartledge says.

Before 1840, when Queen Victoria wore an influential white dress for her wedding ceremony, it was quite usual for a bride to wear red, pink, blue, brown, or even black, while saying her vows.

Another way to wear white to a wedding is to opt for white separates instead of a white dress. A white blouse or skirt paired with a colourful blazer or shoes can be a great way to incorporate white into your outfit without looking like you're trying to steal the bride's thunder.

Except in select cases (which we'll cover below), the experts agree that wedding guests should still stay away from white dresses—and especially any that are long, that are lacy, or that read even slightly bridal. "The bride may or may not wear white (maybe ivory, maybe champagne), but it's her color for that day.

In Biblical times we see our first marriage happening in the Garden of Eden (Genesis chapter 2); the union between Adam and Eve is complete and legitimate without the courtesy of a white wedding! Furthermore, we see Jacob going to acquire his own wives without the courtesy of a white wedding.

Roman Catholic traditions were a custom for a Spanish bride wearing a black dress. The black gown symbolized ensured her loyalty to the bride's devotion to her husband until death. Nowadays, black wedding gowns are the first choice for women who want to wear an unusual yet intense look.

"Tradition dictates guests avoid wearing red out of fear that it could take attention away from the happy couple,” explains Hurwitz. “Visually, it's quite bold. In a photo, your eye is immediately drawn to the color, especially if it's next to neutrals like white, black, gray, or beige.”

Wearing white.

Wearing white on the day you get married is a dress code that dates back thousands of years and this verse explains why: “Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey, you will go far away.

There's an easy way to gauge if your floral ensemble is appropriate or not for a wedding. "If it's a pattern with a white base or a print with white in it, I would suggest sticking to a rough visual ratio of 75 percent color to 25 percent white," says Gabrielle Hurwitz of Gabrielle Hurwitz Bridal Styling.

When it comes to patterned dresses, avoid styles with a white base, especially if the pattern is also a lighter color. As long as the white is minimal, all-over patterns that include white are acceptable.

Can I wear a white wedding dress if I'm not a virgin? ›

However, nowadays, the idea that you must be 'pure' in order to wear a white dress is rather outdated. Many brides choose to wear white on their wedding day, even if they aren't a virgin, or even if they have children already. These days, white is merely chosen because it's traditional.

We suggest wearing nude colored. We recommend not wearing shoes to your bridal appointment. Because the dresses will not be tailored to you, and you will be trying on many dresses during your appointment, shoes will make it harder.

Parents or Close Family – Chances are your mom has been dreaming of your wedding for a while –maybe even longer than you have. So there is no doubt that she is an obvious choice to bring with you to go wedding dress shopping. Or maybe your Aunt who has been an important part in your upbringing.