Wedding Dresses Through the Ages

Most women, in their lifetime, will wear a wedding dress (or two!) and wedding dress fashion trends have to be the greatest indicator of the decade in which someone got married. You got tule and shoulder pads, it was the 80’s. Pretty with lace? You must’ve only just recently got hitched.

We have been looking through the different styles of wedding dresses that have been popular from the 1800’s. We see vintage wedding gowns in Elizabethan movies all the time, but what about some of the more unusual trends?

Keira Knightley wore the one with bows in The Duchess, set in late 18th century England. Obviously an aristocrat, this dress reflects the choices probably made by others for the Duchess of Devonshire.

(Photo Credit to quezi.com)

When it comes to a wedding colour theme, the dress is usually very rarely considered. White wedding dresses only started to come into fashion in Victorian times and wearing white at a wedding was never a “rule” before the 20th century. Most brides wore the finest dress they owned or could afford, but until the late 1800s, it was not often white. It could be any colour from blue to brown.

Everybody has heard the old wives tale about the colour of the wedding dress symbolising a woman’s virtue. Many people assumed that the color white was intended to symbolize virginity, though this was not the original intention. It was the color blue that was connected to purity, piety, faithfulness, and the Virgin Mary. Today, Western wedding dresses are usually white, though “wedding white” includes shades such as eggshell, ecru and ivory. The concept of the white wedding dress symbolising an intact virtue is widely disregarded these days as most women who marry are not virgins on they wedding day.

(Photo credit and info Wikipedia)

Are you frustrated because you can’t find the 1950’s wedding dress you’ve been dreaming of? You’re looking for a cocktail or ballerina length full skirted dress and all you’re finding are full length gowns? You want strapless and everything has sleeves? That’s because dresses like this Jacques Griffe from 1955 were not the norm. (photo and info from Couture Allure Vintage)

The 80’s, big hair and big shoulders! It was all about the bouffant and the shoulder pads/puffed sleeves 3 years ago. Most women who got married during this decade cringe whenever they are asked to bring out the wedding photos!

The most recent trend in wedding couture? Fitted, flirty and fluffy! It’s all about showing off your sex appeal in a classy way.

(Photo credit for 90’s and 00’s Google)

When you’re a lacy and frilly or simple and stylish kind of gal, your wedding gown is supposed to be a reflection of how you feel most beautiful on your special day. If you think you rock shoulder pads, then go for it! Want to wear your mama’s vintage gown? Why not!

What decade did you get married in? Did you love or loathe your dress? If you could get married in any era, which would you choose?