History of the White Wedding Dress and What It Symbolizes
The wedding dress is one of the most important dresses for women all around the world, as they all want to look beautiful on their wedding day and dream of wearing a white wedding dress.
Fashion designers from around the world are creating the most stunning designs to please brides and their changing styles and tastes. You can see hundreds of wedding dresses on Arabia Weddings right here!
But have you ever thought about where the white wedding dress tradition comes from or why wedding dresses are white? Traditionally, weddings and brides were always related to the color white. But have you ever wondered why? Do you know what the white wedding dress meaning?
Check out the latest 2025 wedding dress collections here!
After some research and going back in history, we found some really interesting facts to share with you below.
Where Did the Tradition of Wearing a White Wedding Dress Come From?
Wearing a wedding dress (not necessarily white) goes back to the middle ages when brides were expected to look and wear their best to represent their family’s status.
So a bride was expected to wear expensive fabrics, such as velvet and fur, especially if she came from a wealthy family.
Although brides choose white to symbolize purity of the soul, white did not become popular until the 1840s.
White was not chosen for a wedding dress until after Queen Victoria wore a white dress when she married Albert of Saxe-Coburg. In those days, white symbolized wealth, and blue was a symbol of purity. But Queen Victoria broke these traditions by wearing a white dress on her wearing day. She was also the first royal bride to have bridesmaids carry her train.
Many Brides looked at her wedding dress for inspiration and wanted similar dresses.
1930 Fashion Took a Whole New Stand
Women started wearing dresses that emphasize their female figures. The oversized ruffled sleeves are unmistakably ’30s. The wedding dresses were mostly floor length, with long sleeves and mostly with high necklines.
Most wedding dresses were made out of satin, but lace was also worn in early 1930.
1960 New Styles
In 1960 women started wearing dresses with tight sleeves and shorter veils; they also had their hair combed back.
The wedding dresses in the 60s had some volume to them, but the seams began to streamline and the hems began to rise. Dior’s New Look silhouette was still popular in the early 1960s.
In the mid 60s wedding dress skirts narrowed and waistlines rose.
1980 Princess Diana's Wedding Dress
1980 Princess Diana of Wales set the fashion trend for the '80s with her full skirt and big poufy sleeves. Princess Diana’s wedding dress, made by the Emanuel Salon, combines historical inspirations and a fairytale look it still has an influence on the bridal world today.
The puffier the sleeves the better! That was how wedding dresses were seen back in 1980; the sleeves were definitely the highlight of the dress.
1990 Embroidery and Beading
1990 Embroidery, beading, corsets, and significant sleeves were the trend in the 1990s.
Brides in the 90s wanted wedding dresses that were more sophisticated and detailed. Many brides accessorized their wedding dresses with long white gloves.
New Century Wedding Dresses
By the new century, bridal fashion continues to evolve and change, the choices have become unlimited.
Strapless gowns became very popular within the bridal industry. Ball gowns were also a favorite, along with spaghetti straps.
The Top Arab Bridal Fashion Designers
We as Arabs are proud to have some of the most famous fashion designers in the world, whether it is ready-to-wear, haute couture, or even wedding dresses.
The Arab World is home to many creative designers whose names have become among the most famous high-fashion designers in the world and they have also reflected their oriental heritage in one way or another, such as Elie Saab, Georges Hobeika, Gemy Maalouf, Rami Al Ali, Reem Acra, Zuhair Murad, Saiid Kobeisy, and Tony Ward.
Check out the most famous fashion designers in The Middle East and the Arab world:
Saudi Bridal Fashion Designers You Must Know
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