Coloured Wedding Dresses

The History of the Wedding Dress

Why do we wear white? Why not coloured wedding dresses? Many girls grow up dreaming of the day they will walk down the aisle in a beautiful white wedding dress. However, many people are oblivious to how wearing white came into fashion.

It was not always common for brides to purchase new dresses for walking down the aisle. Instead, brides would often wear the finest dress they owned no matter the colour or style. This meant many poorer brides wore their church dresses. This would include black and dark blue hues due to its pure representation and ability to hide stains. Darker hues means dresses can be worn after the event, even if marks were to occur.

The popularity of white wedding dresses didn’t come into play until the Reign of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe in 1840 wearing a white dress. Unlike today, white was not always symbolic of purity. In Victorian times, women typically wore coloured wedding dresses, with blue gowns being the colour of purity. In fact, in Victorian times, wearing a white wedding dress typically symbolised wealth. Queen Victoria is credited with making white coloured wedding dresses popular. This caused many women across Europe and America to wear white to highlight their social status.

Today many different colours, shapes and traditions are symbolic of different factors essential in marriage. Although often chosen for their symbolic nature, coloured wedding dresses allow free expression. Opting against white, also means the gown can be worn again.

Therefore, question arises, why shouldn’t modern day brides adopt different colours and traditions to express themselves on their wedding day.

Phoenix Red dresses

The first mention of a wedding dress came from an ancient Chinese myth. The myth was about a dragon-dog turned man who promised to vanquish the emperor’s enemy to marry the princess. On completion, the empress decided to ensure a lucky union by dressing the princess in a beautiful phoenix red dress.

Today the wearing of red phoenix wedding dresses is still very common in China, India, Pakistan and Korea. Red wedding dresses are symbolic of romance, love and warmth, and can bless a marriage with good fortune. In result wearing red has become a way to ensure good fortune and express a brides more risqué, gothic nature.

In japan, it is common for brides to wear white and red dresses, adopting traditions both from the east and the west. It is however not only eastern countries that wear the daring colour. In North America, red highlights the connection with the earth. Whereas, in ancient Greece flowing red gowns highlight the intimate aspects of the relationship.

So, why wouldn’t you want to wear a red wedding dress? For the bride who wishes to make a statement and stand out, wearing a red wedding dress would be the perfect solution. Red wedding dresses can be worn by women of all different shapes and styles.

Red wedding dresses are very common within gothic style weddings and can be worn by women of all different shapes and styles. This is due to the colour’s versatility. Red dresses are particularly suited to gothic style weddings.

By Lynne Kennedy Photography

Captured by Julie Tinton Photography

Green Wedding Dresses

China is suspected to be the first country where it was expected for brides to wear a specific colour. It was originally tradition to wear sombre black robes with white trims. However, the Zhou Dynasty introduced strict rules outlining what could be worn and by whom. This was judged taking into consideration profession, social caste, gender and occasion. By the start of the Hans Dynasty (200 BC) rules on attire were less strict. However, it was encouraged that certain colours were worn in different seasons, e.g., green in spring, red in summer, yellow in autumn and black in winter. By the seventh century the wearing of green wedding dresses came into fashion with grooms often wearing red. Perhaps as a nod to the spring fashions from the previous dynasty.

The association of green with springtime has been carried on into modern society. The wearing of green wedding dresses is associated with harmony and balance as hinting at the environment and the outdoors. The colour is therefore particularly suited to being worn by very nature orientated brides or for an outdoor wedding. Due to green conveying optimism and harmony, it is specifically suited for weddings as you are optimistic of your future.

A vast variety of shades from pastel, lime and forest green, could see green being worn during the springtime or around the Christmas season. This is due to it linking closely with both events in tradition and representation. In addition, green dresses could compliment many skin tones and evoke different emotions whilst allowing an effortlessly classic look.

Photographed by Beautyman Photography

Photography by Mihaela Bodlovic

Something Blue

As previously mentioned, it wasn’t completely uncommon for brides to wear dark blue wedding dresses down the aisle. This was due to it being uncommon for brides to buy new dresses for their wedding. This saw many dark blue or black garments being worn as they were forgiving and could hide any marks or stains.

Blue coloured wedding dresses originally symbolised purity, an association now linked with wearing white. In today’s society blue wedding dresses can be symbolic of loyalty. Therefore, links with your wedding day as you are expressing your loyalty to your partner.

The versatility of shades can portray different emotions. Softer blues can create a calm and clean atmosphere. Whereas darker, royal or navy blues can be representations of power, knowledge and integrity. This makes blue wedding dresses the perfect choice for brides wishing to express confidence, calmness and composure. Linking with the sky and ocean, blue wedding dress can introduce a bit of mystery to your day.

The Victorian-era rhyme, “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and six pence in your shoe” describes the five objects a bride should have for luck. The objects were to protect brides against the ‘evil eye’ that could curse women with infertility on their wedding day. Today, ‘something blue’ actually represents purity, love and fidelity. Therefore, an ultimately individual way to follow the rhyme would be to walk the isle in a beautiful blue wedding dress.

A soft blue wedding dress that replicates the ocean waves would create an ethereal peaceful atmosphere for your wedding. For those brides that want to inject a little colour, a soft blue tone similar to blush wedding dresses would be perfect.

Photographed by Roslyn Gaunt Photography

Photograph by Darroch Photography

Inject a little sparkle with Champagne

Choosing a gold wedding dress is the perfect way to inject a little sparkle into your day. This is especially true around autumn/wintertime when the weather may not be on your side. Whether a head-to-toe golden look, or a simpler gown with gold embellishments you will be sure to make a statement. As well as being successful in portraying connotations of wealth and happiness.

The colour gold is often associated with royalty. In ancient times, brides in Korea dressed to emulate royalty by wearing elaborate long-sleeved tops in silky blues, reds and yellows. So why not feel like a real princess on your wedding day?

Champagne coloured wedding gowns have been growing in popularity over the years. This may be due to the creativeness it allows to inject a little colour without straying too far from the traditional white wedding dress. Champagne tones are very romantic and can portray an almost boho style.

Champagne, gold and other neutral wedding gowns enhance the detail of the dress specifically when wearing lace, tulle, chiffon and organza. This is because these tones create depth that highlights the dresses carefully considered design.

In conclusion, gold or champagne gowns are perfect for the bride that wants to inject a little colour, standing between the boundaries of traditional and modern. The bohemian style portrays warm and wealthy connotations whilst highlighting the whimsical fairy-tale concept brides dream of.

Photographed by First Light Photography

Photographed by Crofts and Kowalczyk

Captured by lisa Roberts Photography

Pink wedding Dresses

We have already addressed the inclusion of slight pink tones by wearing blush wedding gowns, but what about the bride who wants to do it all. Pink wedding dresses can come across very playful and flirtatious, having the ability to create a different atmosphere depending on your choice of hue. The selection can range between your more subtle, rose, blush and blossom tones to your stand out vibrant pinks.

Wearing pink coloured wedding dresses suits the warmer months like spring and summer as it relates to flowers and weightlessness. However, darker or brighter pink tones can make for beautiful gowns in the colder seasons. Regardless of the shade, by wearing pink, you are demonstrating your acceptance or love of love as a result of the colour association. This makes the choice particularly suited to your wedding day.

Again, like with the champagne gowns, light pink dresses are another way of inserting a slight element of colour if you still want to stay somewhat traditional. This being said, with the correct hue your pink wedding dress can make an eye-catching statement that won’t be forgotten. The versatility of the colour allows for both the brides who consider themselves traditional, or non-traditional to inject some colour into their day. The vast selection also allows pink wedding dresses to compliment many different skin tones and portray many different personalities.

So, whether you want to live out your fairy-tale wedding in a spring garden, or wish to make an edgy, breath-taking statement, pink is definitely the colour for you.