Choosing The Right Wedding Dress Color

In western culture white has become the color of choice for most brides. Although this was not always the case, traditionally brides wore their best clothes which could have been any color. There is a traditional rhyme that helped them to choose:

Married in White, you have chosen right,
Married in Blue, your love will be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live is a whirl,
Married in Brown, you will live in town,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink,
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.

There are two thoughts on why white became so popular. Some give credit to Queen Victoria because she chose to break with the tradition of wearing silver which was the color for royals and instead wore white. Others believe that the credit should go to Ann of Brittany for wearing it first, and making it popular. Brides who choose to wear white should know that it is the color for joy and chastity. Blue is traditionally the color for purity.

For many cultures white has never been the traditional color for a wedding dress. In some Asian cultures red is the customary color for brides. Japanese brides will often wear two or three different gowns throughout the day. During the 19th century many brides in Finland chose to wear black. In India, green is a popular color because of its association with fertility.

More and more brides are choosing to break away from the traditional white gown. Some brides are brightening up their gowns by using color accents. They are choosing to have the trim, sash or embroidery on their dress made in a different color. Other brides are going all the way and are choosing to wear a colored dress.

Brides breaking away from white are now choosing their gown color based on many factors. Some are choosing the color according to their family background. Some are using the time of year that they are being married as a guideline. If they are being married in the spring they are wearing pastels, whereas falls brides are wearing more earthy tones. Brown is even becoming a popular color for a bride.

You should not feel that as a bride you have to wear white. The color of your dress does not matter. What is important is that it reflects the mood and tone of your wedding. And the most important thing is that your dress truly makes you feel like a bride.