It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of childhood, and of the immaculate heart that she now gives to the chosen one. The Victorian ideals of weddings, romantic love and purity were projected backwards to rewrite the white dress as a symbol of innocence and virginity rather than wealth. In many societies, the color white has long been associated with purity and virtue. That's one of the reasons brides choose a white wedding dress.
In many societies, the color white has long been associated with purity and virtue, and that's one of the reasons why some brides choose to wear white, especially in the West. Brides used to pay for a wedding dress that could be used again, or they used the dress they already had. Initially adopted by the wealthiest brides, the white wedding dress fashion finally spread to all economic levels and was consolidated as a “tradition” in the 20th century. The bright white wedding dress wouldn't become popular in Europe and North America until the 1930s and wouldn't take root in public consciousness until World War II.
So why do so many brides today wear white? They do so largely thanks to a trend that began with Queen Victoria's wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. The wedding dress for the first marriage in Europe and countries with a European predominance is now usually white by default. The white wedding dress is the overwhelming choice for most American brides, and 4 out of 5 brides choose to walk down the aisle in a white dress. Brides used to buy a wedding dress that could be used again, or they simply wore the best dress they already had.
