Why Do Brides Wear White?

Today, white is the default color for wedding dresses in many Western cultures, but that wasn't always the case.

For centuries, brides simply wore their best dress, regardless of color, including black. Although white didn't become standard until the 20th century, Queen Victoria is credited with popularizing it for brides. In 1840, she married her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, wearing a white silk satin gown trimmed with handmade Honiton lace. The choice was unusual at the time, but the gown photographed beautifully, and as images of the royal wedding circulated, it sparked a fashion trend among the elite that gradually spread. In Western culture, white already held associations with purity and innocence, and through Victoria's influence, it became firmly linked with bridal style.