In 2018 you will see the newest trends and choices the brides of Charlotte, North Carolina make today. They are very different from days gone by. But one of the traditions from long ago has not lost its splendor. That is the color of “white” for the wedding dress on the wedding day and the beautiful white veils which are still worn by today’s brides. In honor of the changing styles we are writing today about old styles versus the new trends. It is nice to look back and compare the styles today to the ones we left behind.
The white wedding dress & when to marry:
Our traditional white wedding dress today does not carry the meaning it had long ago. The white wedding dress is from the Victorian era and in the beginning the white color was a symbol of purity . The custom to wear a white wedding dress started in the XVI century and was given credence when Queen Victoria herself wore a white wedding gown instead of the silver gown to her nuptials. Queen Victoria was followed by Mary Queen of Scots. She felt the white color complimented her bright auburn hair and her beautiful hazel eyes.
The brides of yesteryear were very young, some being as young as 15 years of age. It was unusual for any woman to wait to her 20s to experience marriage and having children. The term “old maid” was born out of the tradition for girls to marry as early as possible. It was thought if a young lady did not marry in her teens, her prospects were not very good that she would find a mate.
The trends in 2018 and how woman have found their freedom:
Fast forward 175 years and our brides today are much more progressive and sophistocated. Wedding traditions have relaxed completely and They still prefer the white dress but are free and not held to the standards that our grandmother had to endure. In the past women married at a very early age and had children.
Today, the sky is the limit as to when women decide to do these things. Some prefer to wait until the college days are behind and today we see many older brides. Finding a soul mate does not mean today that the wedding happens immediately. Some couples have children first and even purchase their first home before the nuptials.
When the time is right, the wedding day is the biggest event in a woman’s life. Color is on the upswing and many brides are opting for gowns of another color (other than white). Many brides are taking their hair and skin color into consideration when choosing the color of the gown. Although the white dress is often a top choice, some may now opt for other colors like eggshell, ivory or even a soft pastel shade.
Some brides today choose to add a splash of color to the white wedding gown. They might add a colored sash or a colored petticoat. Bright colored shoes are also a choice for many brides. Color is definitely having a come back, even if the white dress is still favored over other color choices.
Something old, something blue, something borrowed and something blue is an old English saying still being honored today at weddings:
- Something old means the bride will continue to prosper
- Something new offers optimism for the challenges ahead
- Something borrowed represents borrowed happiness
- Something blue stands for purity, fidelity and love.
The white wedding veil:
The classic wedding veil today varies in style and also in length. The tradition of wearing a wedding veil started in Greece. The Greek brides wore a veil to protect themselves from evil spirits. In Rome, brides long ago used the veil to conceal the girl’s identity until she was at the altar. She then removed her veil as she was presented to her fiancee (soon to be her husband.) The veil is still worn today (not just in the United States and Europe) but in many countries to conceal the bride’s face.
In the 1920s we saw brides choosing a lace headdress (which would be held up by a circle of flowers). The veil material was originally made of silk material. In the 1950s, brides were looking for a more modern flair. They preferred the look of a pillbox hat (as some were referred to) to wear on the wedding day. In the 1970s brides still preferred a more relaxed look and began to choose floral crowns with see-through veils.
One of the most popular choices now is called a “Birdcage” veil. It looks like a snug fitting skull cap with lace or a small amount of veil material to cover the bride’s eyes. This style of veil was first worn in the 1950s in the post-war era. Brides looking for a vintage “old-fashioned event might choose a “birdcage veil” for her wedding day to fit her vintage theme.
In America, our tradition is to have the person walking the bride down the aisle to lift the veil and give her a last kiss before presenting her to her new husband to be. We have noticed as wedding coordinators that many older brides have elected not to wear a veil at all. There are other ways to adorn the hair. A beautiful hair ornament or a cap with a bit of see-through lace is still a popular choice today. Our modern brides are always coming up with new ways to adorn their hair and the wedding veil still plays a large part in the bride’s attire.
The Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton & Prince William:
At the Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince Harry in 2011, the bride wore a 72 inch veil of ivory silk. She chose the celestial halo effect. Another Royal Wedding will be occurring within weeks. We are all looking forward to the next Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It will no doubt be just as lovely as the one before.
Stay tuned next time for more from the wedding coordinators at “Events by Jaclyn.” We look forward to helping you on your wedding day to pull of the perfect wedding!
Staff Writer.
