A short perusal through history will reveal that the white wedding dress is generally a tradition that has become more prominent only in the last 100 years or so. Before Queen Victoria’s wedding in 1840, most brides wore popular colors of the day. At that time, blue was a symbol of purity, and therefore many brides wore blue on their wedding day. Since Queen Victoria wore a lavishly decorated white wedding dress, trends turned at that point. Fancy white wedding dresses were still reserved for the wealthy; ordinary folks certainly could not afford a dress that would only be worn once. After department stores became commonplace, white wedding dresses were much more available and attainable for your average person, and by 1890, the white wedding dress was the acceptable norm. In the early 1900’s, one might have worn a simple white wedding dress, but have it dyed after the wedding, so that the dress could continue to be used.
Although human traditions come and go, white garments do represent purity in a biblical context. Revelation 3:5 states that those who overcome are wearing white, and their names will not be blotted out of the book of life. Revelation 7:14 refers to someone whose garments had turned white, because the garments had been washed in the blood of the Lamb. These are just a couple of verses indicating that God chose white garments to represent individuals who had their sins washed away; those who were spiritually pure.
What about brides today? White, and sometimes ivory, are still the color of choice for a wedding dress. While white traditionally symbolizes purity, the reality is that sadly, for many brides the color is meaningless. How many young women stand before God in marriage, having already given away their most precious gift, which should have been saved for her husband, to present to him on their wedding day? How many young women stand before God on their wedding day, with a child already growing their womb? In other words, how many young women are outwardly adorned in white, but their spiritual garments are stained by sin?
When it comes down to it, the actual color of your dress on your wedding day is rather inconsequential. Colors have meant different things throughout the ages, and to this day they still symbolize different things in different cultures. What really matters? The color of your spiritual garment. Your purity. (Let me be clear, God has the same standard for young men, as well.)
Determine that no matter what, you will save your gift and give it only to your husband, after you are married. However, if you have given away your gift but you are not yet married, do not despair. Through genuine repentance, your tainted garment can be restored to white once again.
What will be the color of your spiritual garment on your wedding day?
