The wedding dress is an integral part of any wedding ceremony. It’s the most important attire a bride will ever wear in her life. The wedding dress is not just a piece of clothing but a symbol of the bride’s dreams, personality, and taste. And when it comes to choosing the color of the wedding dress, two popular options come into play: white and ivory. Have you ever wondered what each color signifies and why brides go for one or the other? In this blog post, we will discuss what white vs ivory wedding dress means.
The Meaning of White Wedding Dress
White is a classic and timeless color. It is the color of purity, innocence, and virginity. This is why white has been a popular choice for wedding dresses for centuries. White wedding dresses became popular after Queen Victoria wore a white lace gown for her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. Before that, brides would wear elaborate dresses in different colors, including red, blue, and even black.
White represents a blank canvas, which means starting anew, a clean slate. For many brides, the white wedding dress symbolizes hope, love, and new beginnings. Furthermore, the white wedding dress implies that the bride is a virgin, which was once a prerequisite for marriage.
White is a symbol of unity as well. It suggests that the couple is starting a new union in life. Wearing a white wedding dress also means that the bride is willing to start a new life with her husband, leaving behind her old self.
The Meaning of Ivory Wedding Dress
While the white wedding dress remains a classic choice for many brides, ivory has become increasingly popular in recent years. Ivory is a softer version of white, with a slight yellow undertone. It is a modern take on the traditional white wedding dress.
Ivory symbolizes warmth, elegance, and romance. It represents the values of white with a more up-to-date meaning of love and commitment. The ivory wedding dress is a perfect choice for brides who want the classic and timeless look of a white wedding dress with a little extra warmth and depth.
Another reason why ivory wedding dresses have become so popular in recent times is that they look stunning on any skin tone. While white might be too stark for some brides, ivory can be more flattering and complementary to the skin tone.
Choosing Between White vs Ivory Wedding Dress
Choosing the right color for your wedding dress is a personal choice. The choice depends on your personal taste, your skin tone, and the theme of your wedding. The good news is that bridal shops have a vast array of wedding dresses in various colors, including white and ivory, to choose from.
When choosing between white and ivory wedding dresses, there are a few factors to consider. For example, if you have warm or olive undertones in your skin, you may find that ivory is a more flattering color for you. In contrast, cooler skin tones may look better in stark white wedding dresses. If you are having an outdoor or rustic wedding, an ivory wedding dress may work better since it will blend in more with nature. In contrast, a traditional wedding in a ballroom or church may call for a classic white wedding dress.
In conclusion, choosing between a white vs ivory wedding dress depends on your personal taste, the theme of your wedding, and what you feel the best in. The white wedding dress, a classic and timeless choice, symbolizes purity, innocence, and new beginnings. On the other hand, the ivory wedding dress, a modern take on white, symbolizes warmth, elegance, romance, and commitment. Whatever your choice may be, remember that the wedding dress is all about how you feel on your big day. So pick what you feel the best in and shine!
FAQ
When should a bride not wear white?
Traditionally, white is considered the classic color for wedding dresses, as it symbolizes purity and innocence. However, in modern times, there are certain situations when a bride should avoid wearing white on her wedding day.
One significant reason for a bride to avoid wearing white is if it conflicts with the customs or traditions of the couple’s culture or religion. For example, in some cultures, white is the color of mourning, and wearing it to a wedding would be considered inauspicious. Similarly, some religious institutions discourage wearing ostentatious or revealing clothing, and a white dress might not be appropriate in such a setting. Therefore, it is essential for a bride to understand their cultural and religious norms and observe them accordingly.
Another reason for a bride to avoid wearing white is if she’s attending a friend or family member’s wedding, and the bride specifically requested guests to avoid white attire. It’s essential to respect the bride’s wishes, and wearing white might make her uncomfortable or appear disrespectful. In such cases, choosing other appropriate colors such as pastel shades, jewel tones or even black can be a better choice.
Lastly, if it’s a second marriage, some brides prefer not to wear white as it is symbolic of the first marriage. Instead, they can opt for any other color that makes them feel confident and beautiful.
While white wedding gowns may be the tradition, it is crucial to show respect for cultural and religious customs, consider the bride’s preferences, and choose an appropriate hue that aligns with the occasion and reflects the bride’s personality.
Where did a bride wearing white come from?
For many people, it’s traditional that a bride wears a white dress when she gets married. But have you ever wondered where this tradition came from? While today the white wedding dress is considered an important symbol of purity and innocence, it hasn’t always been this way.
Historically, wedding dresses came in all different colors and styles. However, in the Western world, the wearing of a white wedding dress became fashionable and popularized in the 19th century, coinciding with the reign of Queen Victoria. Although she wasn’t the first to wear a white dress on her wedding day, her choice to do so in 1840 when she married Prince Albert is said to have popularized the trend for white wedding dresses, and many brides soon followed suit.
Before Queen Victoria, brides from wealthy families would wear dresses made of rich materials in a range of colors including red, purple, and gold, which signified wealth and status. Brides who did not hail from the upper classes commonly wed in their best dress, regardless of its color.
In fact, several notable queens opted for gowns in unconventional colors before Victoria set the tone for the classic white attire. For instance, Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown in 1559 when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France. However, it was not until the 19th century that the white wedding dress became a popular norm, as the Industrial Revolution made it easier for people of lesser means to afford such elaborately made gowns.
So why did Victoria choose to wear a white wedding dress, and what made the trend stick? For one, the Victorians were big on symbolism and believed that each color could convey a different message or meaning. White, in particular, was associated with purity, innocence, and virtue, making it an excellent choice for the young queen on her wedding day.
Moreover, up until the mid-1800s, a white dress indicated privilege rather than purity, the latter connotation becoming more widespread in the latter half of the century. Some also credit Victoria’s popularity, with even lesser-known trends of the time, like the sprigged muslin dress worn by her bridesmaids, taking off simply because she had worn them.
After Victoria’s nuptials, white became a popular choice for brides not just in England but in many other parts of the world as well. Today, the white wedding dress has become an iconic symbol of weddings across the Western world, and many brides still choose to wear a white dress on their special day as a nod to tradition.
What does the white wedding dress symbolize in Christianity?
The white wedding dress is a tradition that has been a part of the Christian wedding ceremony for centuries. However, the meaning and significance of the white wedding dress have been subject to various interpretations.
One of the more common interpretations in Christian circles is that the white wedding gown symbolizes the purity of the bride. White is associated with cleanliness, and the white dress is seen as a representation of the bride’s innocence and chastity. In this sense, the white wedding dress can be understood as signifying the bride’s commitment to sexual purity and faithfulness to her future spouse.
However, from a Christian perspective, the white wedding gown has a much deeper and more powerful meaning. The white wedding gown is not merely a symbol of the bride’s purity; it is also an emblem of the work that Jesus has done on the cross.
The Bible teaches that all human beings are sinful and in need of redemption. However, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection have made it possible for us to be made new. When we repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified before God and made clean. We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ and made pure as snow, like a bride on her wedding day.
Thus, the white wedding dress can be seen as a symbol of the righteousness of Christ that covers us when we place our faith in him. It is a mark of the work that the Holy Spirit continues to do in our hearts, changing us from the inside out, and making us new. As the apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
The white wedding dress is not just a symbol of the bride’s purity and innocence but also a powerful reminder of the saving work of Christ on the cross. It represents the new life that we have in him and the hope of the coming marriage feast of the Lamb when we will be forever united with our Lord and Savior.
