Why do women feel they have to have a white wedding dress?

Question

Why? Don't they realize going out to buy a brand new *white* wedding dress wasn't even in until the Queen of England did it for her wedding back in the 1800's?

Why can't they say hey, I'm going to pick a color that looks good on me and it be a color other than white?

Answer 1

Tradition - we've been doing it since the 1800's.

Answer 2

Well, some do make that decision.  Inevitably it all comes down to the bride and what she wants to do.  Indian brides wear a color from the red family on their wedding day.  Gwen Stefani took her white wedding dress and had the hem dipped in pink.  Goth brides usually choose to wear black dresses.  It's a girl's prerogative.  If I choose to be a sheep then so be it... baa!  :)  Since it is 2008, the white wedding dress has then been popularized for the last 208 years.  Hopefully most girls who are stuck on a white dress do realize that there are different shades and that those different shades complement different skin tones.

Answer 3

Because it's not worth causing a family feud to wear a non-ugly dress.  

Answer 4

because they want a white dress.

i want a white dress

who cares.

if you dont want one dont buy one.

get over it

Answer 5

Why are Christmas decorations usually red and green?

Why are Halloween colors usually orange and black?

Why do we wear black to a funeral?

Is it OK to use other colors on these occasions?  Of course.  But more often than not, we gravitate toward the familiar.

Answer 6

Because its just tradition and because it looks so goo with a tan and because they hardly make different color wedding dresses with beautiful trains and stuff. So just stick with white!

Answer 7

It's a tradition, it's elegant, and just about everyone looks good in white.  Sometimes people do chose other colors.  But why does it matter?  They are the ones getting married, not you, so it's up to them what color they want to wear.

Answer 8

They do cream, ivory , champagne, gold , blush, and I have seen different color sashes, ribbons and bows. And because it is tradition. and beautiful

Answer 9

I love offbeat and independant weddings. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going with a color as opposed to the Traditional white/ivory/champange etc colors.

However, my reason for going with the white dress is that it's just what feels right to me. Granted, I may not be going with the big frou-frou type of white dress, but it'll be white none the less.

For every bride it should be about what feels right. If one feels right wearing the big white fancy dress with the train and the whole 9, then she's right. If another chooses to go with a purple dress, then she's right as well.  

Answer 10

Its the ideal and a tradition, that's why.  What end up happening, though, is they try on dresses and realize that white just washes them out and they do end up picking a shade that looks good on them.  I actually knew a couple of brides who their future husbands were the ones insistent on the white dress, not them.

Answer 11

It is tradition, but many brides I have known are changing tradition. Personally, I am wearing ivory, which is close to white, but if I had wanted to wear any other color, I would have.

Answer 12

Because it's traditional, and pretty, and it would suck to walk into your own wedding and see someone wearing the same color dress as you. Not most people wear white when they go to a wedding, only the bride. It all depends on her style. I guess we're just used to looking for a white wedding dress, because it would look pretty stupid to walk down the aisle wearing a hot pink dress, or something. Leave the colors for prom or quinceaneras, for the wedding, go white. It looks nice, and it's just a girl thing. lol.

Answer 13

So what?  We didn't start putting ketchup on cheeseburgers until the 1960's.

Answer 14

Personally, I am wearing a white wedding dress because it has just been tradition (apparently since the 1800s) and I do want to stand out as being the bride, the only one in white. And the white wedding dresses are so beautiful.

If someone else wants to wear a different color on their wedding, I am fine with that. But I personally couldn't dream of wearing anything other than white, possibly because it has been ingrained in my mind since I was little, but that is just what I want to wear and feel pretty in.  

Answer 15

Yeah, and wearing blue jeans wasn't in until the 20th century.  It doesn't mean I'm going to walk around wearing a dress from the Victorian Era.  I am living in the early 21st century and like to wear what people today expect me to wear, that includes what I wore for my wedding.  I'm not sure what your point is.  

Answer 16

some women feel like they must

Answer 17

I didn't feel as though I had to have a white wedding dress...it was what I wanted.  I don't know anyone that got a white (or ivory) dress because they thought they *had* to.  Some people like the tradition of it.  And yes, it is tradition since it goes back to the 1800s.  Now if you want to wear a colored dress, go right ahead.  I'm not going to judge someone for wearing a red or blue or pink dress if that's what they want.  It's rude of you to judge those that happen to choose to wear white or ivory.

Answer 18

1 tradition

2 symoblized purity or something  

Answer 19

I think its because white is classic and to most brides it symbolizes purity and a fresh start. Also, white usually looks good on anyone.

Answer 20

because it's tradition.  and classic.  and it's what little girls dream about when they picture their wedding.  

Answer 21

because it's tradition

Answer 22

I think it is just tradition, and the idea that all girls have had their whole lives. It is a sign of purity... In the end, you don't really have to wear white, I think it is just the tradition.

Answer 23

Traditionally a sign of virginity. We always wondered why the groom wore black! TRUE