The Most Iconic Wedding Dresses of All Time
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!
Wallis Simpson
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
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
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
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.
To learn more about this incredible dress and how it came together, click here.
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Elizabeth Taylor
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)
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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Ava Gardner
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
Wed Ronald Reagan in March 1952
The future First Lady donned a gray wool suit with a shawl collar.
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Jackie Kennedy
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
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
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
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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Princess Margaret
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
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
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
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
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
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 veil.
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Tricia Nixon
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
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
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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Diana Ross
Wed Arne Naess, Jr. in February 1986
The Grammy-winning artist married the Norwegian businessman in a lavish ceremony in Switzerland. She wore a satin gown with a lace neckline, sleeves, and veil paired with a tiara and flowers in her hair.
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Caroline Kennedy
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
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)
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)
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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Iman
Wed David Bowie in April 1992
The rockstar and supermodel married two years after meeting on a blind date, and their storied but private romance is considered one for the ages. Though both fashion risk-takers, their wedding looks were timeless, with the groom in tails and a white boutonniere and the bride in a Hervé Léger silk halter gown, long white gloves, and drop earrings.
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Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur)
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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Mariah Carey
Wed Tommy Mottola in June 1993
If you can't tell by the volume of the dress and the tiara on her head, the Grammy winner was supposedly inspired by Princess Diana's legendary bridal look when planning her own big day. The Vera Wang-designed ensemble featured a 10-foot veil and 27-foot train. The corset was embellished lace while the sleeves and skirt were satin.
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Celine Dion
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
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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Jenna Bush Hager
Wed Henry Hager in May 2008
Hager selected a gown by Oscar de la Renta, a favorite designer of former First Lady Laura Bush. It featured a V-shaped back and stunning embroidery. The bride kept the look natural and opted to forego a veil.
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Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker)
Wed John James Preston (Chris Noth), 'Sex and the City' (2008)
Though the fictional Carrie originally intended to wear something modest for her wedding, a Vogue photoshoot and custom Vivienne Westwood gown inspired her to "up the ante" on the dress and the guest list. The strapless corset ballgown boasted two colors and types of fabric. In a total Carrie move, she also donned a turquoise bird hair piece to add some drama to the already theatrical look. Fans know the wedding didn't go on as planned, but the bridal ensemble has a lasting place in costume design history.
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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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Chelsea Clinton
Wed Marc Mezvinsky in July 2010
Designer Vera Wang created the bridal look for the former First Daughter. The strapless gown featured stunning ivory silk organza and a beaded belt.
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Kate Middleton
Wed Prince William, Duke of Cambridge in April 2011
The long-sleeved dress set off a shock wave of imitation styles almost instantaneously. The gown complete with a fitted bodice, plunging lace overlay, and stunning train has become one of the most iconic bridal looks.
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Gabrielle Union
Wed Dwayne Wade in August 2014
The actress and NBA star married at Chateau Artisan in Miami, Florida, and the bride wore a Dennis Basso gown. It featured a strapless sweetheart neckline and bow detail on the back. From the gorgeous photos, you would never know the wedding took place during a hot August in South Florida.
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Solange Knowles
Wed Alan Ferguson in November 2014
For her New Orleans wedding ceremony, Knowles chose a sleek ivory gown and attached cape designed by Humberto Leon for Kenzo. She completed the look with gold cuff bracelets by Jill for Lady Grey.
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Nicky Hilton
Wed James Rothschild in July 2015
Hilton wore a gown fit for royalty for her July wedding at Kensington Palace. The stunning lace dress, designed by Valentino, featured long sleeves, a high neck, a fitted bodice, and full skirt.
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Sofia Vergara
Wed Joe Manganiello in November 2015
The two actors wed in a flower-filled ceremony in at The Breakers in Palm Beach. She wore a stunning sweetheart-neck custom couture gown designed by Zuhair Murad. The entire dress was embroidered, including pearl and sequin details, and the full ballgown skirt detached at the reception.
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Eva Longoria
Wed José Bastón in May 2016
For her sunset ceremony, the Texas native wore a custom, form-fitting gown designed by her friend Victoria Beckham. Longoria and husband José Bastón chose to marry at their home in Mexico, surrounded by 80 of their closest friends and family.
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Ciara
Wed Russell Wilson in July 2016
The NFL quarterback and Grammy-winning artist had a true fairytale wedding at a castle in England. She wore a custom Roberto Cavalli Couture gown with a lace overlay, trumpet sleeves, and a tulle skirt and train. The long train featured a sweet detail, the couple's initials, woven into the lace pattern.
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Pippa Middleton
Wed James Matthews in April 2017
Pippa's bridesmaid dress for Kate's wedding made waves, so there were high expectations when it came to what she would wear for her own big day. The gown was a custom creation by British designer Giles Deacon. It featured cap sleeves, a high neck, and a heart-shaped cutout on the back.
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Idina Menzel
Wed Aaron Lohr in September 2017
The broadway star, singer, and actor Menzel married fellow actor Lohr in a private, "magical" ceremony at their home. Her lace, off-the-shoulder gown was designed by Carolina Herrera and featured a slim, colored belt. She wore an headband by Jennifer Behr and stud earrings to top it off.
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Serena Williams
Wed Alexis Ohanian in November 2017
The tennis star married Virginia native Alexis Ohanian at a fairytale-inspired ceremony in New Orleans. Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen designed Williams' strapless ball gown and shimmering cape.
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Chanel Iman
Wed Sterling Shepard in March 2018
Atlanta-native Chanel Iman wore a blush-colored gown with white floral appliques, created by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad. A matching silk tulle bolero completed the supermodel's ceremony look before she walked down the aisle to see her groom
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Meghan Markle
Wed Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex in May 2018
Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller designed a silk-cady gown with a bateau neckline in close collaboration with the bride. Her tulle veil featured hand-embroidered flowers honoring each country in the Commonwealth. Since no royal wedding is complete without jewels, Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara held the 5-meter-long veil in place.
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Rose Leslie
Wed Kit Harington in June 2018
Game of Thrones might be a fantasy, but the co-stars fairytale wedding was totally real. The show's production took a break for the couple to wed at a church in Rose's hometown of Aberdeen, Scotland, and held their reception in her family's castle—a castle, y'all! The bride, whose mother is a direct descendant of King Charles II, wore a long-sleeve lace gown with an illusion boat neckline and belt detail. According to multiple outlets, the gorgeous dress was designed by Elie Saab. A sweet floral headband topped off her look beautifully.
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Araminta Lee (Sonoya Mizuno)
Wed Colin Khoo (Chris Pang), 'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018)
The groundbreaking film's costumes are incredible throughout the movie, but one of the most jaw-dropping moments is the wedding between Lee (Mizuno) and Khoo (Pang). Costume designer Mary E. Vogt chose Malaysian couture designer Carven Ong to create the stunning (and waterproof!) gown. The look included a sheer jumpsuit embellished with countless Swarovski crystals and other gold accents. The attached skirt included billowing layers that were inspired by Mizuno's history as a ballet dancer.
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Barbara Bush
Wed Craig Coyne in October 2018
The activist and daughter of former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush wed the actor in a secret, sweet ceremony at her family's estate in Kennebunkport, Maine. She wore a custom ivory silk gown designed by Vera Wang with a "something borrowed" bracelet of her late grandmother's and "something blue" earrings from her twin sister, Jenna Bush Hager.
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Princess Eugenie
Wed Jack Brooksbank in October 2018
Princess Eugenie wore a Peter Pilotto gown with a fitted bodice and a full pleated skirt. She requested a v-style back to show the scar from her childhood scoliosis surgery. Queen Elizabeth II lent her granddaughter the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara to complete her royal ensemble.
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Priyanka Chopra
Wed Nick Jonas in December 2018
Actress Priyanka Chopra asked Ralph Lauren to design her dream dress for her Western ceremony in Jodhpur, India. The gown featured hand beading and embroidery that took the Ralph Lauren team more than 1,800 hours to finish.
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Katherine Schwarzenegger
Wed Chris Pratt in June 2019
The famous pair tied the knot in Montecito, California, in an intimate ceremony with family and close friends. The bride and groom wore custom-designed Giorgio Armani on their wedding day, which included Katherine's strapless, sweetheart lace dress. The column gown featured a full train in the back, and she wore her grandmother's earrings along a combination of a custom lace-trimmed veil and a tulle veil once worn by her mother, Maria Shriver.
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Hailey Baldwin
Wed Justin Bieber in September 2019
Though the mega-star couple technically tied the knot a year earlier in a simple courthouse wedding, they chose to have their dream wedding at our region's beloved Montage Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina. The intimate ceremony was held at Somerset Chapel, and Hailey wore custom-made lace, off-the-shoulder, mermaid gown and veil (which had the words "Till Death Do Us Part" stitched on it) designed for her by the late Off-White designer Virgil Abloh. "I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am to have known him and worked with him, from walking on his runways to having him design my wedding dress and all the other amazing moments in between," she wrote on Instagram following his passing. "I felt he was always rooting for me."
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Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
Wed Tim Tebow in January 2020
The model and former Miss Universe from South Africa married the Florida-native football star at a sunset ceremony in Cape Town. The bride wore a timeless silhouette with an off-the-shoulder neckline and button details down the back, custom-designed for her by David's Bridal. A low bun, pearl drop earrings, and a cathedral-length tulle veil completed her classic look.
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Princess Beatrice
Wed Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in July 2020
After postponing her May wedding due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony. Just weeks before her re-scheduled nuptials, she chose to wear a Norman Hartnell gown belonging to her grandmother. Princess Beatrice customized her "something borrowed" with new organza sleeves and an ivory Duchess satin hem. To complete her look she wore the Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara, the same tiara worn by Queen Elizabeth II for her 1947 wedding ceremony to Prince Philip.
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Gwen Stefani
Wed Blake Shelton in July 2021
The pop and country stars wed at Shelton's Oklahoma ranch in a chapel he built especially for the occasion. The bride wore custom Vera Wang Haute gowns to the ceremony and reception. Her wedding gown was strapless with a sweetheart-neckline and tulle high-low skirt. Not only were her outfits legendary, but both dresses paid tribute to her kids in sweet ways.
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Issa Rae
Wed Louis Diame in July 2021
The actress, writer, and producer surprised fans with the news that she was married by posting photos on Instagram, joking that her girlfriends (i.e. bridesmaids) "all coincidentally had on the same dress." The famously private couple wed in France, and the bride wore a custom Vera Wang gown with a strapless sweetheart neckline, belt detail, and tulle ballgown skirt. She wore her hair in a gorgeous low ponytail with a lace-trimmed veil and stud earrings.
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Lady Kitty Spencer
Wed Michael Lewis in July 2021
The British model and niece of beloved Diana, Princess of Wales, stopped the Internet in its tracks when photos of her stunning wedding gown were released, though it was only one of five handmaid dresses she wore on her big day in Rome. Since she's a global ambassador for Dolce & Gabbana, it's no surprise the brand was behind each of her custom looks. The puffed sleeves and corseted midsection gave the high-neck, lace gown a modern, high-fashion feel to the Victorian-inspired look. A sleek low ponytail and natural makeup offset the dramatic gown.
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Jasmine Tookes
Wed Juan David Borrero in September 2021
The supermodel and social media executive celebrated their wedding in Quito, Ecuador, with a ceremony and reception bursting with fresh flowers. The bride wore a jaw-dropping custom gown by Zuhair Murad, which featured a timeless design with modern details. A 15-foot train and billowing skirt was beautiful paired with a high-neck, long-sleeve lace bodice. At the reception, the skirt detached to reveal the entire lace gown, which was more form-fitting and perfect for dancing the night away.
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Lily Collins
Wed Charlie McDowell in September 2021
Surprise! The actress secretly wed the director at the Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado, in a wedding that had the Internet lapping up every bit of "cottagecore" Pinterest inspiration. For the intimate, outdoor ceremony, the bride wore a lace, long-sleeve Ralph Lauren gown with a mock-neck. The real scene-stealer of her outfit, however, was the lace hood and cape, also designed by Ralph Lauren, which further enhanced the magical feel of the occasion.
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Paris Hilton
Wed Carter Reum in November 2021
In perhaps the most publicized wedding of 2021, Hilton and Reum married at her late grandfather's estate with a lavish, days-long celebration that included six outfit changes. Her ceremony dress, designed by Oscar de la Renta, featured a high-neck with a full tulle skirt. Instead of classic lace, the detailed design was meant to look like pressed flowers, which were also woven into her veil.
