White vs. Ivory Wedding Dress?

I didn't put any consideration into the 'purity' thing. I chose ivory. I have a lighter olive skin tone, so I went with ivory. It's a softer color, not as stark as white; that's why I chose ivory.

If you're really pale, the ivory dress would look better on you. Darker tones can pick from either choices. White has come to mean more "first wedding" than anything. I'm wearing a white dress. I'm not a virgin, but it is my first and only wedding. I also look awesome in white. ;-)

I going white white... I've never really thought of getting another dress color.. I know ivory isn't that much of a difference but I just didn't like the way it looked one me... and also I like a lot of sparkle and I've come to find out that ivory tends to make the bling gold instead of sliver and it looks funny IMO.

And tradition says a virgin wear all white it is to show that she is pure for her husband.

and usually ivory was for people who were getting married for the 2nd time or what not... to my knowledge not alot of people still follow this but there may be a few who do.

I went with ivory because I just liked it better. It felt softer to me. This is my first marriage, I did not choose anything based on how "pure" I am or not, I just went with with whatever I liked. My grandmother wore an ivory dress as well, I don't think the color you wear reflects on any sort of purity issues. Even the Amish community wears a simple dress of color when they marry and they are certainly virgins when they do.

Like everybody else said, it depends on your skin tone whether white or ivory would look best.

i was going to go with white, myself, but then realized i'm far too pale to wear white well, and as ivory would clash majorly (in my mind) with my color scheme, i'm going to wear a silver dress! i don't focus on the whole 'purity' thing or whatever... it's my wedding, i'm going to wear what i look good and feel comfortable in. (:

I've been playing with the idea of a blue wedding gown. Mostly because I refuse to be totally traditional. Also, until the late 1800s brides wore colored gowns. It was Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840 that set the "white" trend.

There is an old poem about how the color of your wedding dress will influence your future: “Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey , you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen, Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

Honestly, its your wedding - do what you want.

I went with white for my dress.

I'm going with a white dress, I always pictured myself in a white dress for my wedding Plus the dress I chose if I went with ivory it would completely change the floral and sequinned pearls to a yellowish color and that's not so great.

NotFroofy and I wore ivory dresses, just because we thought the color was more flattering on us. I suspect that most guests can't tell an ivory dress from a white one. As for the "purity" thing, my two grown children were my attendants. I figure that people could have guessed from that that I wasn't a virgin, regardless of the color of my dress. LOL

I chose ivory but it's a really light ivory, I actually didn't realize the sample was ivory until I went to order and she asked if I wanted the same as the sample dress or in white. I'm a redhead and thus have pretty light skin, ivory looks much better on me than stark white.

I don't think the "purity" thing is as serious as it used to be. I have friends who wore white who maybe shouldn't have if you wanted to go the traditional pure route, and I have had friends who've picked ivory because they thought it flattered them more.

I honestly didn't even noticed what color the dress was until my MOH said well that's an ivory dress. LOL

I am very fair with light eyes and I felt the white would have washed me out, plus I'm 33 I think white is out the game

In my opinion, it depends on your skin and also the type of dress more than purity and stuff. I chose white because ivory colors make me look like sick or something. Also the flowers in the dress looks better in a chalk white. AND my venue: it is very very green place so I love the contrast. I do see a difference in fabric details when they are white or ivory.. Do you have a picture of your dress?

Thanks, everyone, for your inputs! I figured that not many people these days think about the 'purity' thing when buying a dress. @Sandra, I have yet to go dress shopping, but I assume with my naturally tan skin and dark hair/eyes, white might look best? We'll see when I start trying on dresses

I was just curious as to what everyone's intake on the topic was. I know of someone a couple years ago that was so gung-ho on buying a dress other than white b/c she wasn't a virgin (she already had a kid), she was saying "people will talk if I wear a white dress b/c of my situation." I didn't know people actually cared about that stuff...

But yes, from gathering all your inputs, it looks like a white colored dress might be the way to go, solely based on skin tone

White

I chose my dress by its design not color. Ended up that I liked the model which was white, but if that model was ivory it would be my choice as well.

I also chose my dress by design not by the color.. actually just took out the receipt so I could see what mine was and it’s ivory. It just flatters me more although I guess traditionally I should be wearing white for staying “pure”. However as someone who is actually religious almost no one goes by that anymore. I think every wedding I’ve been to with my FH the bride was in a white dress with their daughter as the flower girl. Not that it matters I just don’t think that’s really a thing anymore

I wore a real ivory colored dress, back in the day, because I liked the antique look of it. My mother was a little askance, and grandmother, God Rest Her, probably was more so, but it didn't come to my ears, thank goodness. I think it's a tradition that has run its course.

Ivory wedding gowns now seem to be just a softer white, so it flatters people who have paler skin tones. If you have the skin tones to pull off pure white, and like that, go for it.

If I were getting married now, I would love a light blue wedding dress.

I'm pretty light skinned and I think a white dress makes me look too washed out. I had it in my mind that I was going to get a champagne or an ivory dress and I ended up falling in love with a dress that was both champagne and ivory. So for me it was the best of both worlds. I wouldn't worry about "purity" or any of that, my honest advice to you is to just go dress shopping try on what you like and choose the dress that you think looks best on you.

I am super super pasty white .. but have very very dark hair .. my dress is a very white looking ivory .. it doesn't wash me out .. all the dresses I tried in where ivory this was the whiteest looking one . I don't think you can judge based on skin tone alone .. hair color , undertones make big difference

White. Second marriage, dress did not come in ivory, and I loved the idea of a white dress. No regrets.

Wear what color looks better on you!