History and the Present

Since ancient times, the wedding meant a change of status, the transition from childhood to adulthood. Most of the modern western wedding traditions, including that part which deals with orders, originates from ancient Rome. In ancient times to the wedding ceremony the bride wore white robes as a tribute to Hymenaeus, god of marriage. In Latin feminine form of the verb nubo - to marry, literally means "I cover myself veil." Part of the wedding dress was a veil - square-shaped, transparent, covering the face. She was a fiery color as the bride's shoes. At the head of the bride it was also a wreath of fragrant flowers. Dresses served white tunic and belt sprang up around the "knot of Hercules' drive away evil spirits. The first task of the groom's wedding night was untie the knot.

The Middle Ages: the aristocracy and the peasants

In the Middle Ages the wedding among the aristocrats usually arranged for political and commercial reasons. Not surprisingly, the bride at such weddings was to reflect the well-being of her family, so the newlyweds dressed in bright colors and expensive fabrics, furs, velvet and silk - in short, everything that the parents could afford.

Peasant bride tried whenever possible to copy the aristocratic wedding dress, and also used a colored fabrics - mostly green and blue.

In the fourteenth century the traditional wedding dresses were tight-fitting dress with lacing on the back or the front, long narrow sleeves, a plunging neckline in front, under which could be seen under dress and train. Dresses richest brides were made of brocade; they wore a gold belt, inlaid with precious stones. The bride also had a ring to symbolize fidelity and vow eternal love brooch - a sign of purity, and a garland of flowers in her hair loose Hair: structure, characteristics of growth and development   - A symbol of goodness.

Royal tradition

Although the white wedding dress was a traditional attribute of the bride's relatively new, white color for many centuries before appearing on the royal wedding. The daughter of King Henry IV, Princess Philip, in 1406 married in a tunic and mantle of white satin, trimmed with velvet and ermine fur. In 1499, Anne of Brittany, too, married in a white dress, and Marguerite de Valois at their wedding in 1527 was in a white dress and a blue ermine mantle with a loop length of 1.5 meters. When in 1613 married Elizabeth Stuart, she and bridesmaids dresses were made of white and silver fabric with silver lace. Dress the future Queen of Bohemia with a train in silver lace and sleeves decorated with diamonds, there were her father, Jacob I, a fortune. She walked down the aisle with her hair with a golden crown on his head.

Queen Victoria and white dress

Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840. The bride was pretty simple (by royal standards) of white satin dress and a wreath of orange blossom, with a veil length of 2, 5 meters, which was carrying the Queen, an opening hand. The official wedding photo was printed in large numbers and sold around the world, and the white color almost immediately gained wide popularity among brides from higher strata of society. Two daughters Victoria and married in white dresses and wreaths of flowers orange tree.

Prior to the reign of Queen Victoria (which lasted from 1837 to 1901), most European brides choose colored wedding dresses - including cream and ivory. Typically, the design of dresses was quite simple, with a minimum of decoration. Often the veil was the most complex and sophisticated part of the wedding dress. Considered a symbol of purity blue color, so many women are married it is in a blue dress. After the wedding of Queen Victoria's preferences have changed, and in 1880 the majority of brides buy wedding dresses white or cream - now the white color associated with purity and innocence. Somewhat later, a white dress came to symbolize the bride's virginity is.

However, representatives of the working class to buy a white dress that can be worn only once in life, was a luxury, so many of them are still married in blue, light green and even black dresses (usually black dress worn bride She marries a widower).

Hats or veils the bride is usually chosen in accordance with fashion. Only in the 1860s in Europe, there was a tradition to wear a wedding veil covering the face.

Industrial Revolution

Since the beginning of the evolution of industrial production capabilities of various goods, including - tissue increased significantly. There were large stores, which was presented a fairly extensive range of fabrics and dresses. As a result of increased supply, prices began to fall, and soon a white wedding dress is no longer a luxury available only to the richest.

Early 20th century: 1901-1939 year

Edwardian wedding fashion has brought in a significant proportion of extravagance. Wedding dresses began to richly decorate with lace and pearls, sometimes - feathers. It was not until World War I, when fashion became simplified to reflect the changing role of women in society. The hem of her began to rise higher and higher, corsets disappeared - and it touched, including, and wedding dresses. Glamorous evening dress in which movie star appears on the screen, too, had an impact on wedding fashion.

During the Great Depression Depression   brides often put on their best dresses wedding because splurge on a special dress for the festivities at the time it was unreasonable. Brides who still buy white dresses after the wedding, often painted them, leaving only the white cuffs and collar.

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier

In 1956, the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco watched thirty million viewers. The bride wore a dress with a high neck, long-sleeved, tight-fitting top and crumpets skirt of silk taffeta and gas, tulle and lace. The head of the bride are decorated with pearls, orange blossom and a long veil of tulle. Like Queen Victoria, Princess Grace created a trend that dictate the rules of wedding fashion in the next decade - a magnificent white dresses again become relevant.

However, around the same time in vogue it is quite simple, less formal wedding dresses. Marriage is increasingly out not in the church, and on the nature and outdoors, wreaths of daisies replaced veil, couples often composed themselves vows that brought the altar.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles

In 1982 there was another fairytale royal wedding. Princess Diana was a magnificent dress in Victorian style - with puffed sleeves and a wide skirt made of taffeta ivory. For some time, these styles became popular, but in the nineties the fashion is back to more simplicity and practicality.

Bride of the 21st century

In the twenty-first century, a bride can dress in anything - from the exquisite designer dresses to informal dresses. The most popular color for wedding dresses is still white, but are widespread experimentation with colors. White dress in most countries no longer symbolizes purity, and is simply a tribute to tradition. Although, judging by the success which makes globalization, it is unlikely that tradition will dominate for a long time. What's more important - a woman twenty-first century are becoming more independent, and are choosing wedding gowns exclusively on your own taste, so that today you can walk down the aisle in a white silk Silk - a legacy of the Yellow Emperor And black skin: No one will be surprised and, certainly, will not be condemned.

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