White has long been accepted as the traditional color of the wedding dress, but wedding gowns were not always white. The marriage of Queen Victoria to her cousin Albert of Saxe-Coburg in 1840 has had more influence on weddings than any other. Queen Victoria put the wheels in motion by marrying in white. Though brides continued to wed in gowns of different colors, white was now set as the color of choice for weddings and has continued ever since. In Godey’s Lady’s Book, 1849, this statement was printed: “ Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one.”

There is an old poem about how the color of your wedding dress will influence your future: “Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey , you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen, Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”  Continue reading story.

What color was (or will be) your dress? Does color matter to you? For my traditional wedding, I selected an Ivory dress because I liked ivory. My seamstress was so talented that all I did was send her my measurements as I lived in a different city. I had every confidence that my dress would fit because the seamstress had previously made all of the dresses for my sister’s bridal party. She did an outstanding job. I went home a week before my wedding and my dress fit perfectly. The seamstress also made all my brides maids’ dresses in a dark blue taffeta. My matron of honor wore a formal in dark blue. Everything went off with “a hitch”. (The pun is so intended).

Most weddings tend to be traditional, but some go completely outside the box and take a license to create a new tradition. Actually, some may argue that there is a tradition not to follow tradition. In any case, what is your preference regarding nuptial traditions? Are you a stickler for every aspect of your wedding holding true to tradition or are you more inclined to do your own thing or mix it up a bit? For those in intercultural marriages, did you (or will you) combine both cultures in your ceremony? Or will you skip all the pomp and circumstance and have a minister or other officiator come to your home? A couple can also elect to go to the Justice of the Peace or county clerk. Believe it or not, that is also a tradition as a civil ceremony recognized by the governing authority. (Religious ceremonies came later). Some brides even wear their white dresses to the JOP.