Why Every Woman Dreams Of A White Wedding
April 16th, 2008“Here comes the bride
All dressed in white”
Now this is something that has probably been ringing in every girl’s head right through the time that she has been growing up. Wearing that white gown and sailing down the aisle is so much a part of the feminine dream in most Western countries. Somehow, in your dreams, it can never be anything but white – white with the gossamer white of the veil completing the picture.
Why this white fantasy? After all, white for weddings has only been in vogue ever since Queen Victoria started the fad, all thanks to that beautiful white lace she had that she wanted to show off. Since then, every fairy tale and every happily ever after story has ended with the promise of a white wedding. In modern times, the visual media – both TV and the movies keep the white fantasy alive. Very few women can actually watch a bride in white and not feel the tears welling up – there’s something so touching and wonderful about the sight.
White also in those days, became the symbol of the upper classes – who else could maintain the spotless looks that any full white dress demanded? It also meant that the lace industry got a fillip and with every wedding, the sales of lace soared. Today, the fashion industry does billions of dollars worth of business in wedding dresses. Why else would most of the live fashion shows have to end with a bridal creation?
Again, why white when white used to stand for mourning? White also stands for purity, for innocence and from here it was a short step to it signifying virginity. It also meant that the bride stood out amidst a sea of colours that the women wore and the black suits of the men – she is the star of the show on that day, anyway. The focus needs to be on her and what better way than when she is a vision in pure white?
A white wedding goes beyond just the white dress. A typical white wedding experience means white flowers on the pews, white flower arrangements in church and at the wedding reception, white lapel flowers and all of this within the framework of the traditional church service, complete with organist playing the tune that has echoed in a young girl’s heart ever since she was old enough. It’s one dream that a lot of women can make come true.