I stumbled across this webpage on the history of the wedding dress while searching for any history at all on the sweetheart neckline (nothing definitive I can find so far! How weird is that?).
Ok we all know that the choice of color for wedding dresses were white and its variations right? But blue was also a favourite colour.
a) blue is a colour associated with Mother Mary, therefore another symbol of purity
b) blue traditionally symbolised fidelity and and everlasting love (hence the popularity of sapphires in engagement rings!)
This phrase below is a wedding customary phrase and it refers to what the bride must have on her on her wedding day.
"Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe."
I now know why its "something blue" and not pink or yellow! Brides would wear blue or something blue on their person to ensure the fidelity of their husband as was the superstition of the day.
Now, what colours were forbidden or frowned upon?
Pink: "marry in pink and your fortunes will sink"
Red: in Victorian times, this colour was associated with prostitutes and slatterns. Also for guests, this was considered rather taboo - if invited to attend a wedding, a widow in mourning would throw off her customary black and wear red to the wedding. Thus, red was further viewed as a bridal mourning colour.
Green: considered the colour of fairies and was generally thought bad luck to call the attention of the magical folk to oneself during the wedding. Also, green is connected to Nature and to wear the colour might induce rain to dampen the wedding day.
Brown: rustic. "marry in brown and you'll live out of town" - with the implication that one would always be a hick and a countrymouse.
Yellow: Trendy for a while but considered to be a heathen colour and unholy, therefore forbidden to be worn in church!
Thats a lot of colours the bride/guests can't wear to a wedding! We're fortunate to be in the modern times. Nowadays, brides and guests get to choose whatever they want. I've seen lots of black in recent years!
They might not care, or they might be ill-informed. However it is, it is always good to do your research before you attend a wedding as a kind of respect to the couple getting married.
Laurie's getting married on the 30th of November! I think I'll wear blue. Heh.
And a silver sixpence in her shoe."
I now know why its "something blue" and not pink or yellow! Brides would wear blue or something blue on their person to ensure the fidelity of their husband as was the superstition of the day.
Now, what colours were forbidden or frowned upon?
Pink: "marry in pink and your fortunes will sink"
Red: in Victorian times, this colour was associated with prostitutes and slatterns. Also for guests, this was considered rather taboo - if invited to attend a wedding, a widow in mourning would throw off her customary black and wear red to the wedding. Thus, red was further viewed as a bridal mourning colour.
Green: considered the colour of fairies and was generally thought bad luck to call the attention of the magical folk to oneself during the wedding. Also, green is connected to Nature and to wear the colour might induce rain to dampen the wedding day.
Brown: rustic. "marry in brown and you'll live out of town" - with the implication that one would always be a hick and a countrymouse.
Yellow: Trendy for a while but considered to be a heathen colour and unholy, therefore forbidden to be worn in church!
Thats a lot of colours the bride/guests can't wear to a wedding! We're fortunate to be in the modern times. Nowadays, brides and guests get to choose whatever they want. I've seen lots of black in recent years!
They might not care, or they might be ill-informed. However it is, it is always good to do your research before you attend a wedding as a kind of respect to the couple getting married.
Laurie's getting married on the 30th of November! I think I'll wear blue. Heh.
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