Like any number of traditions, the white wedding dress comes to us straight from the Victorian era—in fact, from Queen Victoria herself, who was married to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on this day, Feb. 10, 175 years ago.

Where did the wedding dress originate?

History of color The first documented instance of a princess who wore a white wedding dress for a royal wedding ceremony is that of Philippa of England, who wore a tunic with a cloak in white silk bordered with squirrel and ermine in 1406, when she married Eric of Pomerania.

When was the first wedding dress?

The earliest recorded instance of a white wedding dress in Western culture is that of the English Princess Philippa at her wedding to the Scandinavian King Eric in 1406. She was dressed in a white tunic lined with ermine and squirrel fur.

Who was the first person to wear a white wedding dress?

A white wedding is a traditional formal or semi-formal wedding originating in Great Britain. The term originates from the white colour of the wedding dress, which first became popular with Victorian era elites after Queen Victoria wore a white lace dress at her wedding.

Did Queen Victoria invent the wedding dress?

Queen Victoria has been credited with starting the tradition of white weddings and white bridal gowns, although she was not the first royal to be married in white.

What does the Bible say about white wedding dresses?

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.

Why do brides wear blue?

“Something borrowed” from a happily married friend or relative was believed to bring good luck for the union and even fertility. The color blue was meant to ward off the evil eye, and it also stood for love, purity, and fidelity. And the sixpence was intended to bring prosperity to the couple.

When did brides start wearing white?

Many brides chose to wear dresses of other colors for their wedding—and beyond. So why do so many of today’s brides wear white? They do so largely thanks to a trend that started with Queen Victoria ‘s 1840 wedding to Prince Albert.

When did white wedding dress?

The first recorded person to wear a white wedding dress was Princess Philippa of England all the way back in 1406. Since then, the white wedding dress style remained dormant until 1558, when Mary Queen of Scots wore it at her marriage ceremony.

Why did grace wear a purple wedding dress?

Tommy and his family have moved into a very posh mansion, where they held their wedding. Grace, it emerged, is free to marry him because her husband killed himself. She wore a lilac wedding dress to show she’s in mourning.

What is the oldest wedding dress?

The earliest preserved wedding dress is getting close to being 200 years old and was warn by Princess Charlotte in 1816 at the famous Chapels Royal in St. James Palace.

What does the term black wedding mean?

Black wedding (Yiddish: shvartse khasene), or plague wedding (Yiddish: mageyfe khasene) is a wedding performed in time of crisis, for example, during epidemics. In the wedding, the bride and the groom, who have never met before, were wed in an effort to ward-off diseases.

Why did Queen Victoria wear white?

An illustration of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s wedding in 1840. From Culture Club/Getty Images. “Victoria had chosen to wear white mostly because it was the perfect color to highlight the delicate lace [of her gown],” wrote biographer Julia Baird of the monarch’s no-nonsense fashion choice.

Who gave Victoria away at her wedding?

The Duke of Sussex was the favourite uncle of Queen Victoria. He gave her away at her wedding to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840. The Duke of Sussex died, aged 70 of erysipelas, at Kensington Palace in 1843.

What killed Albert?

The color white represented purity, symbolizing both a woman’s chastity and her transition to a married Roman matron. A royal wedding sparked the modern trend in white bridal wear. Queen Victoria chose to forgo the royal tradition of wearing coronation robes when she married Prince Albert on Feb. 10, 1840.