Considering the Beauty and Etiquette of a Non-White Wedding Gown
Think white’s the only way to go? Think again. These days brides dress in a multitude of colors and shades. Before you ditch the white wedding, however, note that in today’s world it doesn’t necessarily mean “virginity.” In fact, the history of the white dress dates back to Queen Victoria, who wed in a white dress as a symbol of wealth—it’s not a practical color, and therefore was viewed as an outfit you only wore once. As times have changed, it’s taken on several meanings, the main one simply being “traditional.”
In addition to different shades of white—ivory, cream—brides are marrying in an abundance of colors. “Champagne” is a popular sub-white color, as it has a pink undertone and looks almost white in photos. When a bride goes all out and picks a completely different color, it’s usually viewed as a statement. Either the bride wants to tell the world her wedding is not going to bow down to an “outdated” tradition, or she’s going for something flashy and trendy. (As for Mom, she might be the most difficult one to convince that hot-pink is the latest thing in wedding-wear.) Trends aside, some brides opt for a different color because it’s their second wedding and they feel white is inappropriate. Or, maybe just because white’s not “their color.” Whatever the reason, it’s best to avoid anything too trendy. Those wedding pictures will be around forever, so it’s always best to err on the side of classic.
Color me bridal.
If you’re having a small, cocktail affair, you might find that white looks too formal. Brides go for copper, burgundy, blue, even silver and gold. If you’re honoring your husband’s Asian roots, you might want to wear red, the traditional bridal color in the Far East. Colors are also the rage if you’re having a theme wedding: Pink for that fairy tale affair, orange (yes, it happens) for a Halloween event, or green or brown for a Green Wedding (all the rage these days).
The most important thing to remember is to find a dress that looks good on you, and that you feel comfortable wearing. If white looks best, go for it. If that shimmery sequined number screams “Big Day,” get it. No queen or king gets to dictate what you wear on the Big Day, and your prince has already come to your rescue.