Pearls, the gifts from the sea, have long been associated with weddings as a symbol of purity and innocence. Are there deeper meanings to each color or pearl? Indeed, there are! Read on to find out more!
Hey, Christie!Thank you for helping us plan our wedding at Ainsworth House & Gardens! You are amazing!
Hey! I was looking at photos of my mother and grandmothers on their wedding days and noticed each was wearing a pearl necklace. In Nana Ruth’s photo, it was a short strand of white pearls. In Mimi Kate’s case, it was a trio of gorgeous blue pearls. My mom wore a huge, lustrous gold pearl.
What does a pearl symbolize at a wedding?
Do the different pearl colors have different meanings?
I’m just wondering if I should wear pearls on my wedding day too.
Thanks for your answer!
—-Mia, Musing in McMinnville, Oregon
Hey, Mia!I love collaborating with you two! I am so looking forward to your spring wedding here.
You asked some great questions about pearls, the birthstone for June. Because a pearl resembles the moon, pearls are associated with Moon Children–those born in June! Since I recently wore pearls to my daughter’s wedding here, I’ve got the answers you seek.
What is a pearl?A pearl is the only birthstone formed inside a living being. (All other birthstones are formed geologically like rocks or crystals.) A pearl is made by an oyster or other mollusk when something enters the undersea dweller and irritates it.As the mollusk forms layers of calcium carbonate around the irritant, the pearl grows larger and has more luster (shine). The oyster, mussel, or mollusk is taking an adverse situation and turning it into something of exquisite beauty!
Do the distinct colors of pearls have different meanings?Yes!
- White: New beginnings (which is why they are often worn at weddings), purity, innocence, and steadfast faith or fidelity to someone. Because of their luster and color, they are often associated with the moon’s ability to bring a person tranquility and peace.
- In Roman mythology, white pearls were sacred to Venus, the goddess of love. Other cultures associate pearls with feminine energy.
- Black: Being exceedingly rare, they symbolize wealth, high status, uniqueness, strength, resilience, and mysterious depths of the sea where they were formed. In China, black pearls are often pictured with a dragon. Then again, if you are into pirate movies, there is always the pirate ship, The Black Pearl, in Pirates of the Caribbean!
- Pink: A pink pearl symbolize love. Some think that it opens your heart to affection or compassion.
- Blue: Pearls the color of the sea or the sky are said to bring truth and tranquility to the person wearing a cobalt pearl.
- Gold: A gold pearl signifies success, prosperity, and wealth.
- Green: A green pearl invites into your life harmony hope, balance, and the opportunity for growth.
What does a pearl symbolize?When people think of pearls, they may think of them as having timeless beauty, sophisticated elegance, and grace.
Pearls signify purity, innocence, wisdom, wealth, status, and enduring beauty. In other cultures, a pearl represents the encapsulated teardrops of the gods.
In ancient cultures:
- In Ancient Greece, pearls represented love and marriage, thus being a protection for newlyweds.
- In Ancient Rome, pearls were the ultimate status symbol and adorned clothes and furniture. Anyone who could afford a pearl bought one or two even if they were in the lower class. To stop this, laws were passed which allowed only the wealthy to own pearls. Sorry, plebians!
In the Medieval and Renaissance Times:
- The pearl was an allegorical symbol for the journey of the soul and supported the person’s spiritual transformation.
- In England, Queen Elizabeth I wore pearls in her portraits to symbolize her purity and virginity.
In World Cultures:
- In Japan, pearls were thought to be the tears of water nymphs, the minor female deities qho lived in or near water.
- Wearing a pearl allowed the person to feel the same pure serenity the nymphs felt when near their cherished flowing stream, lovely lake, or pacific ocean cove.
In China, pearls were thought to protect against dragons and fires. In Chinese art, a dragon was often pictured chasing a black pearl, a symbol of wisdom and knowledge
If you have additional questions, please reach out to me.
Your friend in the wedding business,
Christie Shyne
The images above are courtesy of Pixabay.com.
Images below are from the Ainsworth House & Gardens wedding gallery.
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