10 of the Most Amazingly ’80s Celebrity Wedding Gowns

Big hair, big fashion and big weddings made for some iconic moments in the 1980s — and that included big wedding dresses, too.

Some of the boldest nuptial looks of the decade are still remembered today, like Princess Diana‘s epic 25-foot train to Emma Thompson‘s uniquely colorful confection. In fact, the late Princess Diana inspired many people’s wedding dresses during that decade, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ romantic frock.

One thing’s for sure — no matter how long or short the gown, the ’80s were all about puffy sleeves, lots of lace and one-of-a-kind looks.

From Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel’s New York Harbor “nautical” celebration to Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Bongiovi‘s Las Vegas elopement, see photos from these stars’ weddings and more.

01 of 10

Princess Diana & King Charles III

In front of more than 3,000 guests, Diana and then-Prince Charles walked down the aisle on July 29, 1981, in what was dubbed the “wedding of the century.” In addition to the guests who joined them at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, a record-breaking 750 million people tuned in from 74 countries around the world.

For the big day, Diana wore an ivory gown designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel that was created over the course of three months and featured a 25-foot-long train, ruffled neckline, puffy sleeves and lace trim.

The royals divorced in 1996. Diana’s dress has been on public display over the years, including a July 1998 exhibit at Althorp, Diana’s ancestral home, almost a year after her death, and a 2021 exhibit, Royal Style in the Making, at Kensington Palace.

02 of 10

Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks

After first meeting in 1981 on the set of Bosom Buddies, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson tied the knot in April of 1988. For the occasion, Wilson wore an above-the-knee dress with ruffle detailing on the skirt. She paired the frock with a tulle veil.

03 of 10

Julia Louis-Dreyfus & Brad Hall

When it came time for the Veep star to marry Brad Hall in 1987, she was inspired by another very famous ’80s bride.

“I got married in 1987, and my wedding dress was very Lady Di-inspired. I wasn’t a big Lady Di person or anything, but her wedding dress kicked ass,” Louis-Dreyfus explained on an episode of her Wiser Than Me podcast.

“It had A Room with a View vibe, and I was just so crazy about that movie. Lady Di’s dress had these poofy sleeves with two layers of lace that came off the cuff,” she continued. “And I totally stole that from my dress, which was a sort of study of everything awful in the ’80s. Well, I mean, that’s not fair. It was fine, but it was so ’80s.”

04 of 10

Diana Ross & Arne Naess Jr.

For Diana Ross‘ wedding to her second husband, Norwegian businessman Arne Naess Jr., in Switzerland in February 1986, the Supremes frontwoman wore a silky dress layered with lace sleeves and a matching cape. Ross and Naess Jr. were married until 2000.

05 of 10

Christie Brinkley & Billy Joel

Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel wed on a boat in New York Harbor in 1985 in front of about 150 guests.

“Though Brinkley maintained they chose to have a nautical nuptial because of their mutual ‘love affair with the ocean,’ Joel was probably closer to the truth when he said, ‘The reason we’re going on the boat is to get away from the press,’ ” PEOPLE reported in a April 1985 cover story from the couple’s first-ever joint interview.

The bride wore a white satin Norma Kamali gown featuring ivory lace and gold tulle for the festivities. Joel was Brinkley’s second husband; the two divorced in 1994.

06 of 10

LaTanya Richardson & Samuel L. Jackson

For their 1980 wedding, both Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson opted to wear all-white looks.

To celebrate their 43rd anniversary in 2023, Jackson took to his Instagram Stories to pay tribute to his longtime love, saying that 43 years had passed “in the blink of an eye.”

Over a video of the two dancing, he also added, “I think we can make 43 more!!! Love everlasting!!!!!!”

07 of 10

Jon Bon Jovi & Dorothea Bongiovi

The hair! The fringe! The fingerless gloves! After first meeting at Sayreville War Memorial High School in New Jersey in 1980, the “Livin’ on a Prayer” singer and his longtime sweetheart eloped in Las Vegas in 1989.

“We had the No. 1 album, the No. 1 single, and we were playing three nights at the Forum in L.A.,” the Bon Jovi frontman told Men’s Health in 2010. “I turned to Dorothea and said, ‘I got an idea. Why don’t we go right now?’ She said, ‘You’re out of your mind.’ I said, ‘Come on. What’s better than this, right now, this moment?’ And so we ran off to Las Vegas. Didn’t tell a soul.”

In honor of their 32nd wedding anniversary in April 2021, Bon Jovi shared a photo from their wedding day on Instagram and wrote in part, “If I got one thing right back in high school it was falling in love with this girl.”

08 of 10

Kenneth Branagh & Emma Thompson

Before the two appeared in the Harry Potter films, Thompson and Kenneth Branagh were married in London in August 1989. Instead of opting for a traditional white gown, Thompson sported a colorful knee-length look that featured a matching headpiece.

They divorced in 1996, and Thompson later married actor Greg Wise in 2003.

09 of 10

Janet Jones & Wayne Gretzky

In 1988, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky married actress and model Janet Jones in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in what CBC called “a wedding of royal proportions,” as “thousands” of onlookers gathered on the big day to try and sneak a peek at the couple.

The bride’s high-volume gown was paired with a tulle-embellished headpiece and equally bountiful blooms.

10 of 10

Valerie Bertinelli & Eddie Van Halen

As was the trend of the decade, rocker Eddie Van Halen sported an all-white ensemble for his 1981 wedding to actress Valerie Bertinelli. The One Day at a Time star’s look was also very of-the-time, featuring a lacy bodice and matching headpiece.

The couple divorced in 2007. Van Halen died from throat cancer at age 65 in 2020.

Read the original article on People