Beautiful bridal wear doesn’t come much better than this. If you’re planning a wedding – or even if you’re not – taking inspiration from those who’ve walked down the aisle in the most stunning gowns is well worth a look. From royalty to A-list celebs, these brides had the world’s eyes on them as they said their “I do’s” and they certainly looked fabulous doing it.
Grace Kelly in Helen Rose
Perhaps the most iconic wedding dress off all time, the gown that Grace Kelly wore for her 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier was designed by MGM costume designer Helen Rose and was made from 25 yards of silk taffeta, antique rose-point lace and pearls by three dozen seamstresses, who worked on it for six weeks.
Amal Clooney in Oscar de la Renta
Amal Clooney is always on the top of our list when it comes to iconic brides and to-die-for wedding dresses. The Oscar de la Renta bridal gown she wore to wed George Clooney in 2014 in Italy was the stuff wedding dress dreams are made of.
Queen Rania in Bruce Oldfield
Back in 1993, the Jordanian beauty and noted fashionista married King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein in this gold-embroidered wedding gown designed by Bruce Oldfield, the designer who created many of Princess Diana’s evening gowns. The epitome of royal class.
Audrey Hepburn in Pierre Balmain
Audrey Hepburn married actor Mel Ferrer in September 1954, after starring with him on Broadway in the play Ondine. She wore a typically full-skirted Fifties ballerina-length style by Pierre Balmain with roses in her hair. Simply perfect.
Solange Knowles in Humberto Leon for Kenzo
Solange Knowles eschewed many of the traditional wedding elements to marry her long-term love Alan Ferguson. The bride arrived for the ceremony, which took place in New Orleans, on a bike and wore a Stéphane Rolland jumpsuit before switching into a Humberto Leon for Kenzo gown. We love her offbeat style!
Jacqueline Kennedy in Ann Lowe
Jacqueline Kennedy wore a full-skirted dress by New York designer Ann Lowe when she married future US President John F. Kennedy in 1953. She completed her look with little white gloves and a full veil. The marriage was ill-fated (John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963), but the look is eternal.
Queen Soraya in Christian Dior
Soraya’s gown by Christian Dior might be the most over the top gown of all time. Made of 37 yards of silver lamé studded with pearls, 6,000 diamond pieces, and 20,000 marabou feathers, the creation weighed 20 kilograms. The strapless dress came with a matching jacket and veil for the ceremony itself as well as a full-length white mink cape to keep the bride warm. Royal, indeed!
Pippa Middleton in Giles Deacon
British couturier Giles Deacon dressed Pippa Middleton for her 2017 nuptials. The look was elegant and stately but not staid, classy but not too conventional. Constructed entirely of lace with a tulle-filled train, it was teamed with a Stephen Jones pearl-studded veil, a Maidenhair Fern tiara and Manolo Blahnik shoes.
By Kate Dannies