The red wedding dress may seem a bit unusual at first glance, but it is nothing new at a wedding. Even in Roman antiquity, women wore a flame-red bridal veil,A flamecalled. The Romans believed that it would bring wealth and love to the wedding couple. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the red color was still popular until Queen Victoria married in a white dress in 1840. Since then, white has been the usual color for wedding dresses. But in recent years, the red color has been making a comeback as top designers Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang featured red wedding dresses in their couture collections. From orange red to bright red to wine red – the color of love is being seen more and more often at weddings.
Why is a wedding in white no longer a must?
White traditionally represents purity, innocence and should signal virginity, especially at a wedding. Because that doesn't quite correspond to reality today, more and more brides are opting for itDresses in unusual colors. A red wedding dress is usually perfect for older women or those who are not getting married for the first time. Even extravagant ladies who simply want to attract everyone's attention need a dress like this. Model Chrissy Teigen, 31, for example, wore a red Vera Wang wedding dress when she tied the knot with singer John Legend in 2013 and she looked absolutely stunning.
Meaning of the color red in different cultures
In many cultures, red has a symbolic meaning and usually represents fertility and new life. In Hindu culture, the color symbolizes joy, life, energy and creativity. The main god Brahma, for example, is depicted in a robe of red and gold. Red is also the color of the goddess of luck, love, prosperity and beauty Lakshmi. In the Aztec world it was a symbol of fertility and emotions. The bride wore red feathers on her hands and legs during the ceremony. In China, red was used to celebrate the miracle of the blood tie, marriage. The bride and groom drank from two glasses tied together with a red string.
The color is still an integral part of wedding traditions in many countries such as India, Pakistan, Thailand and Turkey. Many young brides in Taiwan and Korea these days choose to have two wedding ceremonies and after the traditional wedding they put on a modern white wedding dress.
Does a red wedding dress suit me?
The color must not only match the character of the bride, but also her color type. When choosing the right shade, you should make sure that it can emphasize your beauty and the charisma of your personality. This might be difficult because there are more than 26 shades of red. Your motivation: the right shade of red will definitely make you shine!
In general, muted red tones are perfect for blondes, while brunettes should prefer light shades. The following list should help you choose a color:
- Winter type / cool red tones: wine red, dark red, carmine red, ruby red, crimson red
- Summer type / cool muted red tones: fuchsia, burgundy, cherry red, bright red
- Spring type/ strong warm red tones: coral red, tomato red, poppy red, paprika red, orange red, brick red
- Autumn type / warm red tones with golden undertones: brick red, copper red, rust red
When choosing the right shade, the bride's figure should also be taken into account. Light colors are more noticeable and are therefore not suitable for round body shapes. Dark colors, on the other hand, make you slimmer and are well suited to concealing certain problem areas. Another advantage is that you can also use this dress later as an evening dress.
Which accessories to wear with a red wedding dress?
The other accessories must also be chosen to match the red wedding dress. In order for the look to appear elegant and feminine, a well-coordinated color combination of shoes and jewelry is important.
If the bridal shoes should also be in red, then both shades of red must be as similar as possible. Alternatively, a second color such as gold or silver can be used as a contrast. Nude is definitely the safe bet in combination with bright red. However, with floor-length dresses, the shoes are less visible.
When choosing jewelry, stick with simple, understated pieces that add some contrast without drawing too much attention. Think rings, earrings and bracelets rather than necklaces. Gold and silver look classic and can be combined well with red.
However, if you don't want to forego tradition entirely, you can choose a two-tone dress or combine the white dress with a few red elements. A red belt, a red bridal bouquet or jewelry with red stones, for example, are perfect as a splash of color. White dresses decorated with red lace are particularly elegant and effective. Beautiful appliqués made of beads or tulle can also be a real eye-catcher. The dress should not have more than two colors.
By the way: A red ribbon on the wedding dress has a meaning at Turkish/Islamic weddings. This is supposed to symbolize virginity. During the evening, gifts of money from guests will also be attached to it.
By the way, two-piece wedding dresses are ideal for brides who want to add color. This is the perfect opportunity to choose the colors for the two parts yourself. Two-piece wedding dresses look particularly elegant when the top is in the form of a corsage. It creates a beautiful cleavage and emphasizes the shoulder area. The skirt can be very different: from short to floor-length, from a figure-hugging design to a sweeping tulle skirt. Anyone who keeps an eye on the current bridal fashion trends has not missed the fact that another variant of the two-piece wedding dress has become extremely fashionable: the crop top and skirt combination.
Is a red dress also suitable for the registry office?
In order to exchange wedding rings in the registry office, the bride prefers to dress smartly but discreetly. Simple cuts and simple dresses are preferred. But you can also make your grand entrance with a sheath dress. The red color offers the right balance between extravagant and extra-chic. And yes, the knee-length sheath dress is a great solution.
