For countless years, husband and wife have been walking down the aisle to express their love and togetherness. In addition to the traditional wedding ring a festive dress has always been part of the occasion. However, bridal fashion has changed a lot since then. When we think of bridal fashion today, we think of beautiful, white princess dresses. But that wasn't always the case. Did you know that brides still walked down the aisle in black around 100 years ago? This is probably completely unimaginable for you. In the following part, we take you through the history of bridal fashion, from ancient Rome to the present day.
Bridal fashion in ancient Rome
Even in ancient Rome, brides wore a special wedding dress that had little to do with the modern wedding dress. On their wedding day, Roman women wore an ankle-length gown with a wooden belt around the waist, which was fastened with a special knot, the Hercules knot. The bride combined the gown with a festive stole, a veil and sandals. Everything was perfectly color-coordinated. At the end of the ceremony, the bride and groom retired and the groom set about his task of undoing the Hercules knot. As you can see, even more than 2000 years ago, it was very important to women to be the center of attention on their wedding day as a beautiful bride.
Wedding dresses in the Middle Ages
By the Middle Ages, bridal fashion had already undergone a change. At this time, the type of dress the bride wore to the altar depended very much on her social standing. The more affluent the couple, the more colorful and splendid the bridal fashion. People from the lower classes usually couldn't afford a special wedding dress and got married in their best Sunday dress, even if it was black. In the upper classes, on the other hand, it couldn't be flashy enough. The wealthy brides wore sweeping dresses made of velvet or silk with lavish embellishments of gold and silver. The power and wealth of the bride and groom were reflected in the bride's dress.
The bride in black
It may sound strange to you, but there was a time when brides walked down the aisle in all black. At the end of the 19th century, it was unthinkable for people to buy a dress for just one occasion. Out of financial necessity, brides either wore their Sunday best, which was often black, or they bought a dress that could be worn after the wedding ceremony. Regional costumes were also often used as wedding dresses at the time. A wedding ceremony in black is probably unthinkable for most brides today.
The dream in white
Since the beginning of the 20th century, the trend has been towards wedding dresses in white, the color of purity. A white dress emphasizes the bride's innocence and virginity. Since then, the style of bridal fashion has been constantly changing. In the different decades, the trend has alternated between long and short dresses, between sweeping and simple wedding dresses. Every decade has its very own trend in bridal fashion. In the 20s it was the short Charleston-style dress, in the 50s the sweeping petticoat, in the 60s the mini dress, which became longer again until the 80s. Nowadays, dresses come in all shapes and styles. Only the color has not changed for many years: Most brides get married in a classic white.
Modern bridal fashion
The modern bride leaves nothing to be desired. There are no limits to your creativity when choosing your dream dress. Whether it's a lavish tulle dress or a fairytale dress with a vintage look, nowadays there is a dress to suit every taste. Thanks to the large selection, you can find the perfect dress for every individual need and every figure. Nothing is impossible. The choice of colors is also growing, because not all white is the same. There are many subtle shades that flatter every skin color. Can't decide whether you want to wear a short or long dress? Nowadays there are also dresses that are short at the front and long at the back. The perfect solution for indecisive brides. You can also decide for yourself how much skin you want to show on your big day. You can opt for a strapless or backless dress if you want to show a little more. Whether pompous or simple, anything is possible these days. When choosing a wedding dress, every bride should rely on her own taste. You should always feel comfortable so that you can your big day enjoy your big day to the full. The extent to which bridal fashion has changed over the last few centuries is truly impressive.
