It has been suggested that Contemporary Western wedding dress be merged into this article. Museo del Bicentenario – Galera de Roberto M. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip sit on thrones before a european bridesmaid dresses Parliament.

Color, style and ceremonial importance of the gown can depend on the religion and culture of the wedding participants. Weddings performed during and immediately following the Middle Ages were often more than just a union between two people. They could be a union between two families, two businesses or even two countries. The woman to the far right is wearing a typical wedding dress from 1929.

Until the late 1960s, wedding dresses reflected the styles of the day. From that time onward, wedding dresses have often been based on Victorian styles. This was not a widespread trend, however: prior to the Victorian era, a bride was married in any color, black being especially popular in Scandinavia. Even after that, for a period, wedding dresses were adapted to the styles of the day. In the early 1900s, clothing included a lot of decorations, such as lace or frills.