White was not a popular wedding dress colour until 1840. White was considered the traditional colour of mourning for many decades and thus not suitable for a wedding. Before 1840, brides wore bright coloured wedding dresses which symbolised their happiness. Medieval brides of a higher social standing also used expensive fabrics like fur, velvet or silk.
The Introduction of White Wedding Dresses
The main reason why wedding dresses are white nowadays is one particular marriage from the 19th century. In 1840 Queen Victoria married Albert of Saxe-Coburg wearing a beautiful white gown, complemented with orange blossoms and an eighteen foot long train. Their wedding photo was published and influenced many brides. Even though a lot of women still got married in bright colours, the tone was now set for white.
