The tradition of a bride wearing a white wedding gown became popular in Western cultures after Queen Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert in 1840. Prior to Victoria's wedding, brides typically wore colorful dresses, often favoring red, blue, or even black.

Queen Victoria chose white silk and lace, symbolizing purity, innocence, and wealth, as white fabric was difficult and expensive to maintain clean. Her influential choice set a new trend that quickly spread throughout Europe and North America, eventually becoming the universal standard for bridal fashion.

Today, while modern brides may choose various colors and styles, the white wedding gown remains an iconic symbol of Western wedding culture and tradition, tracing its roots back to a royal fashion choice made nearly two centuries ago.