When it comes to color, White happens to be a bright, pristine, and pure color with no shade or any other mixture. But white is known to have some derivatives, which are shades of white. Ivory, on the other hand, is one of these shades of white, just like some colors such as off-white, diamond white, eggshell, cream, or ecru. If you should know the big ivory tusk of an elephant, just like some other animals too have tusk; this color 'Ivory' takes its name after this tusk because of the resemblance.
White is known to be pure and without blemish to the eyes, but ivory has a little tint of cream or yellow. Most, if not all wedding gowns, are available in either white color or ivory color. It used to be well known for virgin brides to use the white color wedding gown, while the non-virgin brides use the ivory color, but that is turning out to be an old wives' tale.