The Most Iconic Wedding Dresses of All Time

By Patricia Shannon
Updated January 14, 2021
Credit: Pat Candido/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
We could look at beautiful wedding gowns all day, every day, and this collection has some stunners. We’re starting our list with Wallis Simpson’s stunning slip-of-a-gown that was at the height of fashion in 1937 when she married the Duke of Windsor. Other royals that made our list are Grace Kelly, Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and—of course, Princess Diana and her over-the-top confection for her 1981 nuptials to Prince Charles. Rest assured, we didn’t give all the attention to the beautiful brides across the pond. We’re also showcasing American royalty of our own including Jackie Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Caroline Kennedy, and Jenna Bush Hager. We couldn’t leave off a few of our favorite fictional characters and their epic dresses either. No Southern wedding dress list would be complete without at least a mention of Shelby’s 80s-centric look from Steel Magnolias. Take a look through these stunning gowns through the years and share with us your favorite. Did we leave someone off the list? Let us know!
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Here Are Some Of Our Favorites

From Josephine Baker to Jackie Kennedy these wedding gowns are absolutely breathtaking!

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Wallis Simpson

Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty

Wed Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor in June 1937

This silk crepe dress was at the height of fashion when Simpson wore it to marry the Duke of Windsor. The designer dyed the fabric a light shade of blue to match her eyes. He appropriately deemed the hue “Wallis blue.”

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Shirley Temple

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Wed Sgt. John Agar in September 1945

Shirley Temple was just 17 years old when she married Sgt. John Agar. She wore a satin wedding gown and large tiara.

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Josephine Baker

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Wed Jo Bouillon in June 1947

The Missouri-born entertainer married French composer Jo Bouillon at Château des Milandes, her home in Southwestern France. Baker wore a belted square-neck sheath dress, but her feathered hat and braided updo stole the show.

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Queen Elizabeth II

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Wed Prince Philip in November 1947

Less than three months before her November wedding, Queen Elizabeth approved a design from Britain couturier Norman Hartnell. The gown was constructed with duchesse silk satin, white seed pearls, silver thread, intricate appliques, and a silk tulle veil. The tulle train was attached to the dress at the shoulders.

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Elizabeth Taylor

Credit: Frank Worth, Courtesy of Capital Art/Getty

Wed Conrad ‘Nicky’ Hilton in May 1950

Taylor became known for her wedding style—as there would be many looks to choose from through the years. In her first marriage to Conrad ‘Nicky’ Hilton, the actress wore a satin ball gown that showed off her tiny waist and a voluminous veil.

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Kay Banks (Elizabeth Taylor)

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Wed Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor), 'Father of the Bride' (1950)

The same year she tied the knot with the hotel heir, Taylor starred as Kay Banks in the original Father of the Bride. Her on-screen look was more conservative than her real-life wedding day style, but still played up her iconic curves.

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Jackie Kennedy

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Wed John F. Kennedy in September 1953

The wedding gown that went down in history as being one of the best of all time almost didn’t happen. Ten days before her wedding to JFK, Jackie’s dress was destroyed in a flood in designer (and Alabama-native) Anne Lowe’s studio. Lowe ended up pulling together the new gown, complete with bouffant skirt and portrait neckline, just in time for what would go down as one of history’s most iconic weddings.

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Audrey Hepburn

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Wed Mel Ferrer in September 1954

Pierre Balmain designed Hepburn’s tea-length dress. It featured a high neck and satin sash and was paired with elbow-length gloves. A flower crown gave an ethereal touch to her wedding day style.

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Debbie Reynolds

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Wed Eddie Fisher in September 1955

Reynolds wore a lace gown with cap sleeves. A short veil and pearl jewelry completed the young star’s look.

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Grace Kelly

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Wed Monaco’s Prince Rainier in April 1956

The wedding gown that’s widely considered the most famous of all time was a confection of silk, taffeta, tulle, and Belgian lace. It took three petticoats (embroidered with little “something blue” bows) to support the bell-shaped skirt.

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Ava Gardner

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Wed Frank Sinatra in November 1951

The halter-neck dress was paired with a sheer shawl. A simple, double strand of pearls completed the bridal look.

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Nancy Reagan

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Wed Ronald Reagan in March 1952

The future First Lady donned a gray wool suit with a shawl collar.

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Princess Margaret

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Wed Antony Armstrong-Jones in May 1960

The long-sleeve, silk organza gown featured a fitted v-neck bodice and pleated, full skirt. Norman Hartwell, who designed her sister’s dress more than a decade earlier, created the look.

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Eartha Kitt

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Wed Bill McDonald in June 1960

South Carolina native Eartha Kitt wore a custom chiffon dress trimmed in satin for her at-home wedding to real estate developer Bill McDonald. She finished her wedding day ensemble with a 5-strand pearl necklace, along with coordinating satin hat, shoes, and handbag. 

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Nancy Kwan

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Wed Peter Pock in June 1962

Actress Nancy Kwan married Austrian ski instructor Peter Pock at the Paddington Registry Office in London. For the simple ceremony, Kwan chose a lace and shantung silk dress with a matching bolero jacket and statement headband.

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Dolly Parton

Credit: via Pinterest

Wed Carl Dean in May 1966

Parton’s bridal style was short and sweet. A simple tulle veil was the finishing touch.

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Priscilla Presley

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Wed Elvis Presley in May 1967

If there was any question what decade the Presleys said “I do,” one only needs to take a look Priscilla’s dress—and hair—to find out. The organza gown with beaded sleeves had a flowy silhouette that was a popular style at the time. It was topped with a three-quarter-length veil.

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June Carter

Credit: via Pinterest

Wed Johnny Cash in March 1968

Carter chose a short dress in light blue lace with bell sleeves for her wedding to crooner Johnny Cash. Low satin heels and a flower headpiece completed the ensemble.

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Ina Garten

Wed Jeffrey Garten in December 1968

The Barefoot Contessa was 20 years old when she exchanged vows with Jeffrey Garten at her parents’ Connecticut home. An anniversary post shows the bride wearing a floral brocade dress with fur-trimmed sleeves, a single-strand of pearls, and a bow-topped viel.

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Tricia Nixon

Credit: Paul DeMaria/NY Daily News Archive/Getty

Wed Ed Cox in June 1971

For her White House wedding, Nixon wore a V-neck gown with delicate lace and pearl embroidery. The veil cascaded out of a coordinating headpiece.

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Aretha Franklin

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Wed Glynn Turman in April 1978

Franklin wore an ankle-length white dress to marry actor Glynn Turman at her father’s New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. The soul singer completed her wedding day ensemble with a brocade robe trimmed in fur and ending in a train that followed her up the aisle.

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Diana, Princess of Wales

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Wed Prince Charles, Prince of Wales in July 1981

The sleeves, the train, the tiara—who could forget this iconic look? The dress was comprised of ivory silk taffeta and antique lace. Diana’s gown was kept under such tight wraps that a back-up dress was constructed on the off chance that the details of this dress were leaked before the big day.

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Caroline Kennedy

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Wed Edwin Schlossberg in July 1986

The dress was designed by Carolina Herrera, a favorite designer of Caroline’s mother, Jackie. The silk organza gown had a drop waist, high round neck, and short sleeves.

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Diahann Carroll

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Wed Vic Damone in January 1987

The Tony Award-winning actress wore an ivory suit with puffy sleeves and a peplum waist to marry musician Vic Damone in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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Shelby Eatenton Latcherie (Julia Roberts)

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Wed Jackson Latcherie (Dylan McDermott), 'Steel Magnolias' (1989)

Shelby’s off-the-shoulder number featured satin beads up the back and a large taffeta bow. A few year’s later, Julia Roberts would wear a slightly similar look (with fewer florettes) for her role in Runaway Bride.

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Annie Banks (Kimberly Williams-Paisley)

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Wed Bryan MacKenzie (George Newbern), 'Father of the Bride' (1991)

Before she was Brad Paisley’s bride, Kimberly Williams played one on-screen in the Father of the Bride reboot. The fitted bodice transformed into a full skirt with a large swathe of lace trim.

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Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur)

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Wed Lucas (Leslie Nielsen), 'Golden Girls' (aired May 1992)

Who remembers this TV wedding? We’re not quite sure what was going on between the fit, lace, and those rings in v-formation, but it’s definitely one that’s hard to forget.

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Celine Dion

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Wed Rene Angelil in December 1994

Understated is not a word that can be used to describe Dion’s bridal attire. A large headpiece was just the beginning of this unforgettable look. Embroidery, lace, diamonds—every kind of opulence one can imagine was incorporated into the gown’s design.

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Nicole Kidman

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Wed Keith Urban in June 2006

The one-shouldered gown with empire waist felt both vintage and modern. The bride wore her hair half up with soft curls falling just below her shoulders.

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Beyoncé Knowles

Wed Jay-Z in June 2008

Tina Lawson, mother of the bride, designed the Houstonian’s dress for her New York wedding ceremony. In this snapshot shared to Lawson’s Instagram page, you can see the Southern mama fixing her daughter’s train before the Carters walked down the aisle as husband and wife.

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