Here’s Why Bridesmaids Always Wear Matching Dresses
By Rosemary Donahue. Photos by: Getty Images.
The wedding party look is often a huge part of the aesthetic of a wedding. After all, bridesmaids and groomsmen are up there with the folks getting married and are often featured prominently in many of the wedding photos. Because of this, many of us assume that the reason why bridesmaids dresses traditionally match is purely for aesthetic reasons — the bridal party looking uniform creates a pleasing backdrop for the main event. However, as Refinery 29 is reporting, that's not where the tradition of matching bridesmaids dresses started. The origin of a uniform bridal party is actually steeped in the paranormal.
According to a video Refinery 29 found on Buzz60, the custom of matching bridesmaids dresses goes as far back as ancient Rome and has supernatural origins. Rather than starting the tradition out of a desire to simply look similar, the entire bridal party (including the bride herself) dressed alike to confuse anyone who may attempt to steal the bride — be it a mortal suitor or a demonic spirit.
The tradition has evolved in modern times and though bridesmaids still often dress alike, the bride is now meant to stand out, rendering the origin of the story moot. Perhaps this is why many brides are opting for nontraditional weddings and allowing their bridesmaids to wear different dresses within a certain color range, or forgoing the whole bridesmaid dress trend altogether.
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This story originally appeared on Allure.
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