Did you know that Queen Victoria is credited with the whole white wedding dress trend? Before her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840 women would wear the best dress hanging in their closet. But once the young Queen chose white it became the color for brides. So it's only fitting that the Victoria and Albert Museum in London would have a retrospective on the traditional white dress.
Wedding Dresses 1755 - 2014, which is open now through March 15, 2015, features some of the world's most beautiful wedding gowns, designed by the biggest names in fashion design.
With a mix of stunning 18th and 19th century pieces on display, along with 20th and 21st century designs, visitors will get an up-close look at wedding dresses designed for British society, celebrity and royal brides by Norman Hartnell, Charles James (who's having his own retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this summer), Charles Frederick Worth, John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, Jenny Packham and Vera Wang.
Take a look through this gallery for a sneak peek of what's on display, and if you can't make it across the pond to see these timeless looks with your own eyes, The Wedding Dresses book is available at V&A's online shop.
(c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Given and worn by Margaret, Duchess of Argyll © Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Given by Mrs Alec Hambro © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Courtesy of Mr and Mrs Gordon Hodson © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
(c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Photograph by Hugo Burnand
(c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
(c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Photograph by Julian Marshal
Courtesy of Jenny Packham