5 of the Most Dramatic Celebrity Wedding Veils, from Princess Diana to Kourtney Kardashian

Princess Diana

When Princess Diana wed then-Prince Charles in London, in 1981, her arrival in a royal carriage and momentous walk up the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral was “like watching a butterfly coming out of its chrysalis,” her wedding dress designer, Elizabeth Emanuel, told British Vogue in 2020.

While Diana’s ‘80s-style wedding gown — described by Emanuel as “overblown, romantic, flouncy” — made quite a statement on its own, the Princess of Wales, then 20, heightened the drama with a 40-foot-long veil that cascaded over her dress’ 25-foot train. The silk-tulle veil was painstakingly hand-embroidered with 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins by artisan Peggy Umpleby to give the effect of having been “scattered” over the sheer fabric.

“As the sequins were almost transparent, only the sparkles of light would be visible, creating a fairy dust effect,” Emanuel told British Vogue. “We used the same sequins on the gown itself, so that it would also sparkle as Diana walked down the aisle.”

Umpleby worked on the veil late into the night for “two solid weeks,” Emanuel said — but the herculean effort was well worth it.

When the designer saw Diana in the complete bridal look at her final fitting, the veil — which was topped off by the Spencer Tiara on the day of the wedding — completed the vision “perfectly.”

“The effect was magical, and Diana looked dazzling — like a real-life fairytale princess bride,” Emanuel remembered.

Kourtney Kardashian

For her 2022 nuptials in Portofino, Italy, Kourtney Kardashian worked with the Dolce & Gabbana design team to create her “dream” bridal look that included an unforgettable veil that paid tribute to her husband, Travis Barker. The sweeping veil featured a headpiece hand-embroidered with flowers inspired by Portofino’s many Mediterranean gardens, Vogue reported at the time.

The centerpiece of the delicate tulle and lace accessory was an intricate depiction of the Virgin Mary, based on the religious iconography Barker has inked on the top of his head. The words ​​”family loyalty respect” were stitched underneath the religious motif, mirroring Barker’s tattoo.

Kardashian wore the custom veil over a lace and satin corset minidress inspired by 1960s Italian lingerie.

While the veil brought a dash of glamour and decadence befitting the couple’s lavish wedding venue — Villa Olivetta, the estate of D&G founders Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana — it did cause some technical difficulties for the bride.

In behind-the-scenes footage of Kardashian and Barker’s nuptials featured in the Hulu special ‘Til Death Do Us Part, the reality star can be seen making a few unplanned stops on her walk to the altar to adjust her long veil after it got “stuck.”

Kate Moss

Kate Moss’ marriage to Jamie Hince ended in 2016, but her bridal look from their 2011 wedding lives on in fashion history.

The supermodel and The Kills guitarist tied the knot in the picturesque Cotswolds region of England in 2011, holding their ceremony in a small country church.

Moss, who had 15 bridesmaids, including her daughter, Lila, told Vogue at the time that she embraced a 1920s Great Gatsby vibe for her big day.

“I wanted it to be kind of dreamy and ‘20s, when everything is soft-focus,” she explained. “The Great Gatsby. That light and that kind of fun decadence.”

She tapped her longtime friend, designer John Galliano, to create her ethereal, bias-cut sheer chiffon slip dress, which was ornately embellished with a sparkling pattern of golden paillettes, rhinestones and sequins.

The pièce de résistance, however, was her lace veil, which gave a touch of bohemian glamour to her look. The veil featured a Juliet cap that framed her head and lace-edged tulle that flowed to the floor in two tiers.

Galliano told Vogue that Moss’ father was so charmed by her vintage-inspired bridal look that he personally thanked the designer during a speech at the wedding, eliciting a standing ovation from guests.

Hailey Bieber

Hailey Bieber let her veil do the talking when she wed singer Justin Bieber in South Carolina, in September 2019, one year after a courthouse ceremony in New York City.

When the Rhode founder shared a photo on Instagram of the South Carolina nuptials in October 2019, unveiling her wedding look, fans were immediately captivated by one specific detail.

In the black-and-white photo, which showed Hailey and Justin sharing a kiss, the bride’s cathedral-length veil was spread out on the grass, revealing the words, “TILL DEATH DO US PART” stitched along the bottom.

In a second post, Hailey shared that her glamorous, off-the-shoulder lace wedding dress and veil were designed by close friend Virgil Abloh. “@virgilabloh thank you for making my vision come to life and creating my dream dress. You and your @off____white team are incredible and I’m forever grateful I got to wear your beautiful creation. ❤️,” she wrote in the caption.

Hailey later told Vogue that she wanted Abloh — known for his luxury streetwear — to design her wedding ceremony look from day one.

“I didn’t want somebody who was a wedding dress designer. I just feel like my style and my street style is such a part of who I am,” she explained. “Virgil has kind of always just been in my corner since the beginning.”

Sofia Richie

Sofia Richie channeled Old Hollywood glamour on her wedding day in 2023 as she said “I do” to husband Elliot Grainge in the South of France.

She worked closely with Chanel’s haute couture team on the design of her white lace-embroidered ceremony gown, a halter-style silhouette with a long train, per Vogue. The dress had a hidden sentimental detail: her and Grainge’s initials “S&E” embroidered in blue on the inside by her heart.

Adding the perfect finishing touch to her look, Richie had Chanel create a veil adorned with clear resin drops that sparkled as she walked, giving the effect of dewdrops. The sheer front part of the veil provided a hint of drama while still letting the intricate lace and scalloped edges of her dress’ bodice shine.

Richie’s wedding look got its proper moment in the spotlight — and then some — as her walk down the aisle took more than seven minutes.

“It was a seven-and-a-half-minute walk down the allée for each of us,” she told Vogue, referring to her father, Lionel Richie, who escorted her to the altar. “We had it all timed, and it felt like someone was looking out for us up above because it was a very cloudy day and then the clouds parted.”