Why are wedding gowns White?

Prior to the sixteenth-century, bridal gowns were more akin to everyday garmets in style and color. During this sixteenth century, European nobility dictated that white would symbolize purity for the bride. At the time, pale or white garments cost more than dark colored ones because bleaching cloth was an expensive process, available to only the affluent.Other symbols of purity worn by more common brides included a coronet of flowers on her head, a veil over her face, her hair down, and orange blossoms or daisies.

White as the symbolic color of maidenhood resurfaced in the culture when the virgin Queen Victoria married Albert in a white gown.The trend has changed little since and in Europe and the United States, most brides still wear a shade of white or ivory.

Fun facts:
In Scandinavia, black is a popular choice for the bride's dress.
In Ireland, green is often worn.
In most Asian cultures, the bride wears red, the color of luck, joy and prosperity.

A Hopi bride's white dress is woven by the groom and any men in the community who wish to assist him.
For more fun facts see "A Bride's Book of Lists" by Marsha Hackman.

Tips for transporting a gown to a destination wedding:

1) Carry the dress in the fabric hanging bag provided by your bridal salon. Keeping the dress seperate from other items will prevent possible snags or damage.

2) Never check your gown! Carry your dress on as a piece of luggage and ask to hang it in a coat closet or fold it in fourths and place it in an overhead bin with one side against the wall and another piece of luggage protecting the other side.

3) If you must ship it, make sure to send it to a commercial address and set it to arrive before you. If you are getting married on or near a holiday, allow extra shipping time and always insure the gown for the full amount!

4) If there is beadwork or flowers, wrap the areas in tissue paper prior to transport.

5) Upon arrival, have your wedding planner or family member refer you to someone competent to steam or press your gown. Hotels that host destination weddings should have someone on site to handle this request.


No matter the destination, transporting your gown can seem daunting but with the simple tips above, it will be as easy as your walk down the aisle.