Why the white wedding dress then?

Question

In response to my question, my wife isn't a virgin and i was, i found that the bulk of women that answered told me that this was 2007 and things had changed. that i should get over it and forget about the traditional way of doing things. Why then do women insist on wearing a white dress to get married? If virginity and purity no longer matter, then why wear the white that symbolizes it? Does tradition matter after all, or is it only good when you can have your cake and eat it too?

Answer 1

Because it looks nice- what other day will we get to wear a big white princess dress?

I've just read your other question. Why are you hating your wife so much??? Your being so unbelievably unfair and judgemental and irrational. I really do think you need to go to counselling or something, please dont take that as an insult cus its not, but this really isnt normal. You need to stop resenting your wife. To be honest Im wondering why she married you, not why you married her.

Answer 2

The white wedding dress we associate with virginity & purity was actually just a fashion trend in the Victorian era.
What about other traditions? Do we still wear a veil so the groom can't bolt before the ceremony? What about the "best man" who originally had the groom's back as he stole his bride from a neighboring village?

Like most cultural traditions, wedding traditions evolve and change and often have very different original meanings. So what if a non-virgin bride wears white? You probably didn't steal her from a neighboring village either.

Answer 3

Basically - because that's what the media (women's magazines, manufactures, etc) said women were supposed to wear. It wasn't until the 20th century that women began wearing white as "the wedding dress" . And in Asian countries the traditional dress is red. It really shouldn't matter what color the dress is, or if the bride is a virgin, but rather if the love she brings is pure, true, and forever. - The same goes for the groom and he usually wears black.

Answer 4

"Why the white wedding dress then?" because that's what the bride WANTS to wear and since usually the bride's family pays for the wedding it's HER decision to make. Think of this...if you didn't know your wife wasn't a virgin before you got married (she must have told you...or she has given birth) you wouldn't know anyway. Barring her having given birth there is NO WAY to tell if a woman is a virgin or not, not even a gynocologist can tell for certain...Just because you actually was means nothing other than the fact that you didn't have sex before marriage...so do you want a gold star for that?

Answer 5

I think that to many women, even those who are not virgins when they marry, still wear a white dress because that is the tradition in almost all families. There are however, many brides now days going with many colors for their wedding dresses, such as blue, green, and pink. Let me ask you this, what do you think of a woman wearing a white wedding dress if she is no longer physically a virgin, but is looked upon as one, spiritually? Should she be allowed to wear white or not?

Answer 6

The days of virginity until marriage are a rarity which symbolized The true meaning of the white dress.

In our relaxed, anything goes society most brides do choose white. I have a cousin who was married 5 times (not sure if this is the last one either) and she has 6 kids. Her choice of gown - white AND she has a large to do at each event.

It really has come down to your personal preference and if you really choose to go by tradition.

The color of the dress does not a marriage make!

Answer 7

White wedding dresses aren't supposed to symbolize virginity. Traditionally, they were meant to be festive female attire for the wedding celebration, nothing more. Blue is the representative color for purity, not white. Virginity and purity does matter, but wearing white doesn't; so calm yourself down.

Answer 8

Wearing a white dress had nothing to do with virginity, it became popular in the Victorian era buy upper class brides that could afford to buy a new dress that was only worn once. It was sign of wealth not virginity.
Most woman bought a nice dress if they could afford one, but one that could be worn again. Others wore the nicest clothes they had.
The whole white=virginity is a newer idea and just a stupid one at that. White is supposed to represent joy.

Answer 9

The white wedding dress doesn't symbolize virginity. It began when wearing a white dress was a sign of absolute wealth. Who else could afford a dress to be worn on one single day other than a very wealthy woman? Regular women just wore their Sunday best.

Answer 10

White symbolizes what ever the individual feels it does. White wedding dresses are only popular for that past few centuries, it used to be only the rich could afford a white dress. I have a white dress because to me it symbolizes a wedding, hope, and happiness.

I think that if youre going to ask about white to a wedding you should also consider the black tuxes the groom and men wear, doesn't that symbolize grief and death?

Color doesn't matter these days, she's going to do what feels right to her!

Answer 11

Can I ask you? Do you love your wife? How old are you?

I understand that different people have different feelings and values, but you "were okay with it at first", and now your not? She CHOSE you didn't she?

That should at least mean SOMETHING...
White dress red dress no dress are you kidding me? I understand that some things in life affect people differently, but equating this situation to a rape victim (as you did in additional comments on that last "closed question") is insane.

Have you thought of counseling to help YOU deal with YOUR issue over this?

I bet you are (without knowing it) making your wife feel like total **** over something she can NOT go back and change.

Has she expressed a feeling that something from your past is suddenly "just not good enough"?

How about a little communication with her? How about a little understanding for a wife who (again) CHOSE you!!

Just because she experimented earlier in life does not make her permanently flawed....and if you feel this way, maybe you should re-evaluate your feelings for her.