What brides and grooms looked like in the past.

The white wedding dress is a staple of Western weddings, but this article of clothing has a relatively short history. It was popularized in 1840 when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. Before that, white wedding dresses were only reserved for the elite. Around the world, various wedding traditions bring with them a variety of outfits that extend far beyond the white dress. We present to you a gallery of vintage photos from the National Geographic collection. The images illustrate the colors, embroideries, furs and jewels that have adorned wedding attire around the world over the decades.

Tibet Source: Dr. Joseph F. Rock, National Geographic Image Collection Hungary Source: A. Cutler, National Geographic Image Collection Source: Hans Hildebrand, National Geographic Image Collection Poland Source: Hans Hildebrand, National Geographic Image Collection Norway Source: Gustav Heurlin, National Geographic Image Collection Russia Source: Junius B. Wood, National Geographic Image Collection Greece Source: Maynard Owen Williams, National Geographic Image Collection You can see more photos here.

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