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white-wedding-dressesIs a white wedding dress symbolic of virginity? That's the big question that emerged from the bridal debate earlier this week, in which two former brides told their tales of choosing between red and white for the big day.

For Opihi, the idea of wearing a non-white dress had never crossed her mind. In fact, the idea that white = virgin was so deeply embedded that "I was horrified when my groom's Indian family told me that white was a symbol of death and only widows wore white. I was a virgin bride -- rare in even those days -- and I was distressed that I would have to wear scarlet."
White wedding gowns have long been associated with purity and innocence. "The idea of wearing white," says Kat, "was to symbolize virginity. But these days who are we kidding?"

Naughtygirl says, "I hate to be the one to say it, but in today's society I truly doubt that there are any women out there that are getting married who deserve to wear the white wedding dress." So is it inappropriate to wear white if your friends and family are well aware that you're not a virgin?



Lhgraphics says , "I always thought divorced women who remarry wearing white look foolish."

MsMSH suggests that pregnant, divorced and unwed mothers wear a red, black, blue or yellow dress instead.

However, the truth of the matter, says Holly, is that white actually has nothing to do with virginity. The trend emerged when Queen Victoria tied the knot in a white wedding gown -- prior to that, "most women married in what would be their 'best dress' -- usually black but also indigo, since indigo dye had to be imported from the Indies and cost money."

"A white wedding gown never meant 'virgin,'" adds Maya, "it simply meant 'rich' -- as in, 'I'm rich enough to have a dress that can never be worn again'."

For Sailornightwing, a white wedding dress has nothing to do with purity -- it's always simply meant the clean start of a new life together. She sums up what we think about the whole debacle: "Wear whatever color you want -- it's your wedding!"

Tell us! What does wearing a white wedding dress mean to you? Do you think it's inappropriate for women who aren't virgins to wear white on their wedding day?