The 23 Most Beautiful Celebrity Wedding Dresses of the Past 100 Years

Key Takeaways

• Celebrity wedding dresses often reflect the couple’s unique style, from Princess Diana’s dramatic 25-foot train to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s minimalist slip dress.

• Many iconic gowns feature sentimental or personal touches, like Sofia Richie’s embroidered initials or Princess Beatrice’s vintage dress from her grandmother.

• Designer details, like Grace Kelly’s hand-sewn pearls or Priyanka Chopra’s 75-foot veil, make these dresses unforgettable sources of inspiration.

There’s so much to love about a celebrity wedding. From designer wedding dresses and impressive guest lists to over-the-top décor and top-secret locations, A-list stars know how to host a showstopping celebration. However, each affair is its own distinct occasion that represents the couple tying the knot. For example, while royal fêtes may feature an opulent ceremony with thousands of attendees and a traditional carriage ride, other famous figures may opt for a more laid-back, intimate ceremony that includes just a handful of close friends and family members.

Even though each celebrity wedding is unique, the gowns worn by famous brides are often one of the most impressive aspects of each celebration. Whether you found yourself falling in love with Princess Diana’s silk-and-taffeta ball gown that featured a 25-foot-long train at her 1981 televised nuptials, or you couldn’t stop thinking about Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s iconic slip dress paired with sheer gloves for her 1996 secret ceremony in Cumberland Island, Georgia, these ensembles have likely played a role in shaping your own bridal style.

Whether you’re searching for inspiration for your own big day or simply looking to reminiscent on some of the most iconic bridal looks, here, we’ve rounded up our 23 favorite celebrity wedding dresses from the past 100 years. Read on to see them all—and learn the stories behind them.

Related: The Biggest Celebrity Weddings From the Past 90 Years

Queen Elizabeth

On November 20, 1947, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip tied the knot at Westminster Abbey. The bride opted for a Duchesse satin gown, designed by Norman Hartnell, that featured intricate details and embroidery. The piece reportedly cost $42,000, equivalent to approximately $1.6 million today. To complete her look, she accessorized with pearl necklaces belonging to Queen Anne and Queen Caroline, a tiara, and an exquisite 15-foot train.

Jackie Kennedy

It was arguably the American royal wedding of the century: On September 12, 1953, Jackie Kennedy and John F. Kennedy said “I do” at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Newport, Rhode Island. For the occasion, the bride donned an ivory-colored silk dress with a portrait neckline, embellished flowers, and a bouffant skirt, designed by Ann Lowe. The delicate accessories—a pearl choker and lace veil—served as the perfect finishing touch.

Audrey Hepburn

When it came time to marry Mel Ferrer on September 25, 1954 in Burgenstock, Switzerland, Audrey Hepburn landed on a tea-length dress for the occasion. The flared piece, which included a satin sash, high neck, and dramatic sleeves, was designed by Pierre Balmain. To complete the timeless look, the actress slipped on a pair of elbow-length gloves.

Grace Kelly

On April 19, 1955, Grace Kelly wed Monaco’s Prince Rainier III at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco City. For the royal nuptials, the Hollywood actress selected a dress adorned with thousands of hand-sewn pearls—and featuring a high neckline. Kelly turned to Helen Rose, a famous American costume designer with whom she had worked with at MGM Studios, to design the showstopping gown. A pearl-and-lace-embellished Juliet cap was added to keep her veil in place.

Princess Diana

When Princess Diana and Prince Charles tied the knot at St. Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981, the public immediately seized on the bride’s beautiful gown. The silk-and-taffeta dress, which was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, featured hand embroidery, frilly lace, sequins, and pearls. However, it was arguably her 25-foot train and 153-yard tulle veil that stole the show.

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

Known for her iconic style, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s wedding dress was the subject of public fascination. For her secret nuptials in 1996, she tapped Narciso Rodriguez for the project. He ultimately crafted a pearl-colored silk crepe sleeveless slip dress cut on the bias with a subtle cowl neck. While the designer reportedly gifted the dress to the bride, the total cost of the bespoke piece was estimated to be $40,000. She kept the rest of her look simple and pared-back, opting for silk gloves, a silk tulle veil, and Manolo Blahnik shoes.

Victoria Beckham

When Victoria Beckham tied the knot with David Beckham on July 4, 1999, at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland, the Spice Girl donned a silk, pleated ball gown with a sculpted bodice and a 20-foot train, designed by Vera Wang. She finished her bridal look with a crown crafted from 18-karat gold. After the ceremony, the newlyweds changed into matching monochromatic purple ensembles for their reception.

Kate Middleton

For her 2011 royal wedding to Prince William, Kate Middleton tapped Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen to design her bridal gown. Her iconic look featured a modest V-neckline, sheer lace sleeves, and a traditional lace veil. And in a nod to tradition, her ensemble also included a nine-foot-long train. The total cost of the dress was $434,000, equivalent to $617,000 today.

Gabrielle Union

When it came time for her wedding to Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union said “yes” to not just one—but two showstopping gowns. For her 2014 nuptials, she slipped into a strapless Dennis Basso piece that featured a high slit and custom bodice, as well as hand-beaded pearls and crystals for a hint of understated glamour. Following her ceremony, the actress changed into a strapless dress with a full skirt and ruched details.

Amal Clooney

On September 27, 2014, George and Amal Clooney hosted their destination nuptials in Venice, Italy. For the big day, the human rights lawyer wore a custom Oscar de la Renta gown with a bateau neckline and dramatic tulle train. The piece was exactly what she had envisioned: “George and I wanted a wedding that was romantic and elegant, and I can’t imagine anyone more able than Oscar to capture this mood in a dress,” the bride told Vogue.

Ciara

On July 6, 2016, Ciara tied the knot with Russell Wilson at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire, England. Her dress, which was designed by Roberto Cavalli, exuded a whimsical and romantic aesthetic. The piece included bohemian-inspired bell sleeves, a corseted front, as well as the couple’s initials embroidered on the back of the gown.

Serena Williams

For her New Orleans nuptials to Alexis Ohanian, which took place on November 16, 2017, Serena Williams opted for a Alexander McQueen gown designed by Sarah Burton that featured a strapless neckline and voluminous tulle skirt. To complete the look, she added a regal cape and veil, as well as jewelry that was estimated to cost $3.5 million.

Meghan Markle

When it came time to tie the knot with Prince Harry on May 19, 2018, at St. George’s Chapel, Meghan Markle opted for a timeless wedding dress designed by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller. The gown featured an open bateau neckline, sculpted waist, and slim three-quarter sleeves. In a nod to the royal affair, the former Suits actress accessorized her floral embroidered veil with an elegant Queen Mary Filigree tiara.

Princess Eugenie

In a lavish ceremony fit for a royal, Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel on October 12, 2018. She chose Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos to design her long-sleeve gown, which she accessorized with a regal tiara. Rather than a veil, the bride opted to show off the low back of her dress in order to display a scar from a childhood scoliosis operation.

Priyanka Chopra

On December 1, 2018, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas tied the knot at Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace in India. For the Western portion of their nuptials, the bride stunned in a bespoke Ralph Lauren creation. With a high neckline and scalloped sleeves, her hand-embroidered lace gown was adorned with 2,380,000 mother-of-pearl sequins. However, during her grand exit, it was her 75-foot veil that was truly showstopping.

Hailey Bieber

Hailey Baldwin tapped Virgil Abloh and Off-White to design a custom gown for her 2019 nuptials to Justin Bieber that featured a lace tulle veil and pearl embellishments. And while the dress included a number of modern elements, such as a corset bodice, long sleeves, and an off-the-shoulder silhouette, the drama-inducing train embroidered with “Till Death Do Us Part” is what made it truly innovative—and completely unique.

Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in an intimate, flower-filled ceremony on July 7, 2020, at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor. In a heartwarming tribute to Queen Elizabeth, her grandmother, the bride wore a vintage, organza Norman Hartnell gown that Queen Elizabeth herself wore in the 1960s. Beatrice completed her ensemble with the Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara, which Queen Elizabeth also wore as part of her own bridal look in 1947.

Issa Rae

On July 25, 2021, Issa Rae married Louis Diame in a private ceremony in the South of France. For her nuptials, the Insecure star and creator wore an ivory Vera Wang strapless ball gown that featured a sweetheart neckline and a chapel-length Chantilly lace veil. However, she then switched into an A-line, V-neck Italian silk gown with a playful tulle skirt—another custom Vera Wang design—for her reception.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton and Carter Reum tied the knot at her late grandfather’s Bel Air estate on November 11, 2021. For the star-studded event, the bride opted for an Oscar de la Renta gown that featured a high neckline, long sleeves, and floral embroidery. The dress was exactly what the socialite envisioned herself saying “I do” in: a timeless, elegant, and sophisticated piece.

Alexandra Daddario

Actress Alexandra Daddario selected a custom pleated Danielle Frankel dress for her 2022 wedding in New Orleans. The gown, which featured floral appliqués, lived up to the bride’s expectations. “I fell in love with Danielle Frankel’s dresses,” she told Vogue. “I followed them on Instagram. They sent me a message, and we chatted, and when I went to their studio, I just felt beautiful in everything. I chose my dress because it felt like it belonged in New Orleans and was the right choice for the Louisiana heat.”

Danielle Brooks

In 2022, Danielle Brooks married Dennis Gelin in a custom gown from Alonuko that featured a sheer bodice with embroidery and a full skirt. “It was very important to me to find a black wedding dress designer,” the actress wrote on Instagram. “When I tell you I hit jackpot finding @alonuko_bespoke, I hit jackpot. She was incredible to work with and even flew all the way from London two days before my wedding to make sure the dress arrived in time.”

Sofia Richie

As one of the most beloved brides of her generation, all eyes were on Sofia Richie’s looks for her nuptials to Elliot Grainge. The two tied the knot at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes in the South of France on April 22, 2023. For the occasion, the bride donned three Chanel gowns. And while each one was truly beautiful, her ceremony dress, which featured a high neckline, scalloped detailing, and hidden sentimental details, including her and her partner’s initials embroidered in blue, was truly stunning.

Alex Cooper

On April 4, 2024, Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan officially became husband and wife during a ceremony in Riviera Maya, Mexico. For her nuptials, the Call Her Daddy podcast host wore a silk Danielle Frankel dress with a trend-forward basque waist and spaghetti straps. “I had a feeling the pearl off-white color and the vintage, yet modern elements would be a perfect match for me,” she told Vogue. “The minute I tried it on I knew we had found what I was looking for.”

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