Timeless Classics: Iconic Brides

Inspired by the highly profiled celebrity weddings of summer 2010 featured in InStyle Weddings Magazine, I have put together a list of Iconic Brides of All Time. In no particular order, these women have each inspired and influenced wedding fashion and tradition.

Queen Victoria & Prince Albert, 1840

Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria married Prince Albert on February 10, 1840. Wearing a white gown, Queen Victoria changed wedding fashion forever.

Elizabeth Taylor & Conrad Hilton, 1950

Elizabeth Taylor
Although she was married eight times, Elizabeth Taylor’s first marriage to Conrad Hilton took place on May 6, 1950. Her traditional 50’s silhouette cost a then-staggering $1500.00 (nearly $140,000 today) and would influence future designers.

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy & John F. Kennedy, 1953

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy
The Princess of Camelot, as she was called, married the future president John Fitzgerald Kennedy on September 12, 1953. Wearing one of the most photographed wedding dresses in US history, Jackie would be come a future fashion icon to women of all ages.

Marilyn Monroe & Joe Di Maggio, 1954

Marilyn Monroe
Known for her sexy dresses that flattered her feminine silhouette, Miss Monroe’s wore a non-traditional dark suite to her city-hall wedding to baseball legend Joe Di Maggio on January 14, 1954.

Audrey Hepburn & Mel Ferrer, 1954

Audrey Hepburn
Audrey’s first marriage to Mel Ferrer took place on September 24, 1954 in a gown featuring a tiny waist, wide sleeves and full skirt. Already an Golden Globe and Academy Award winner, gossip columns said their marriage would never last – the couple divorced 13 years later in 1967.

Grace Kelly & Prince Rainer, 1956

Grace Kelly
Famed actress, Grace Kelly became a princess on April 19, 1956 when she wed Prince Rainier III of Monaco.  The nervous bride wore a Helen Rose gown made of silk, taffeta and lace to the “Wedding of the Century” dubbed as it was by press.

Mia Farrow & Frank Sinatra, 1966

Mia Farrow
Marrying a man nearly twice her age, Mia Farrow looked stunning in her mod mini dress on July 19, 1966 to Frank Sinatra.

Priscilla Presley & Elvis Presley, 1967

Priscilla Presley
Certainly one of the most famous brides of all time, Priscilla married Elvis on May 1, 1967 at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. Wearing a loosely fitted lace gown and classic 1960s heavy eyeliner, her 8 minute ceremony to Elvis would bring new meaning to the term “quickie marriages” of future generations.

Yoko Ono & John Lennon, 1969

Yoko Ono
Once blamed for breaking up the Beatles, Yoko Ono wore a simple mini shirt, knee socks and wide brimmed hat to her wedding to John Lennon on March 20, 1969. For their honeymoon, the couple held a “Bed-In for Peace” at Amsterdam Hilton Hotel that would later inspire a second “Bed-In” Montreal, Quebec where they recorded their iconic song “Give Peace A Chance”.

Princess Diana & Prince Charles, 1981

Princess Diana
Bridal fashion was never the same after Lady Diana Spencer wed Prince Charles of Wales on July 29, 1981. Watched by millions, Princess Diana wore  a gown by David and Elizabeth Emanuel created from antique lace, silk, taffeta , and was adorned by thousands of pearls and sequins. Its 25 foot train drew gasps from the crown that surrounded Westminster Abbey in London, England.

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy & John F. Kennedy Jr, 1996

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Breaking the mold of the early 1990s puffy and over-the-top dresses made of lace ruffles, satin and beaded embroidery, Carolyn Bessette wed John F. Kennedy Jr on September 21, 1996 in an intimate ceremony on Georgia’s Cumberland Island in a candle-lit chapel. Her simple yet chic Narcisco Rodriguez white sheath dress would forever change wedding dress style.

Victoria Beckham & David Beckham, 1999

Victoria Beckham
The widely hailed nuptials of Victoria Adams to football super star David Beckham were held at Luttrellstone Castle in Ireland on July 4, 1999. Surrounded by her Spice Girl band mates, Victoria looked stunning while wearing a champagne coloured gown by Vera Wang.

Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt, 2000

Jennifer Aniston
Hearts broke across the world when an “America Sweetheart” married a “Hollywood Heartthrob”. Jennifer Aniston wed Brad Pitt on July 29, 2000 in a one million dollar Malibu wedding. Although their divorce is almost as famous as their marriage, Jennifer wore a breath taking Lawrence Steele white silk full-length halter dress.

Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale, 2002

Gwen Stefani
Wearing custom pink-to-white ombre wedding gown by John Galliano, Gwen Stefani wed rocker Gavin Rossdale at the first of their two wedding ceremonies on September 28, 2002. Although she arrived over an hour late with her father Dennis, Gwen was greeted by a patient groom and his sheep dog, Winston, at St. Paul’s Convent Garden in London, England.

Melania Trump & Donald Trump, 2005

Melania Trump
On January 22, 2005 Melania Knauss wed Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida. Wearing a $100,000 Christian Dior gown with thousands of hand-stitched crystals and pearls. The dress had a 13 foot train, 16 foot veil and weighed over 50 lbs. The gown was so stunning, it landed the cover of Vogue Magazine – marking the first time a bride was features on its cover.

Dita Von Teese & Marilyn Manson, 2005

Dita Von Teese
Burlesque Queen Dita Von Teese married shock rocker Marilyn Manson on December 3, 2005 in a purple silk taffeta Vivienne Westwood gown, Christian Louboutin shoes, and a tri-corn hat by Stephen Jones.

Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise, 2006

Katie Holmes
Quoted as saying she dreamed of marrying Tom Cruise as a young girl, Katie Holmes’ dream came true on November 18, 2006. The Bride wore a romantic off-the-shoulder Giorgio Armani gown to her celebrity filled wedding held a 15th century armory of Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy. Although two had exchanged Scientology vows the day prior, their Italian ceremony was like a fairytale.

Protia de Rossi & Ellen DeGeneres, 2008

Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres
Day-time TV Queen and Comedian Ellen DeGeneres wed her long-time girlfriend Portia de Rossi during an intimate backyard exchange of personal vows on August 16, 2008. Both brides wore designs by Zac Posen.

Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner, 2009

Ivanka Trump
Trump Empire Heiress, Ivanka Trump wed real-estate mogual Jared Kushner on October 25, 2009. Wearing a Grace Kelly inspired lace Vera Wang gown, Ivanka was draped in thousands of dollars of jewels including diamond drop earings, diamond hair clip and art-deco inspired bracelet.

And just for fun …

Carrie Bradshaw & John James Preston, 2008

Carrie Bradshaw
After waiting for 10 years, our favourite New York heroine, Carrie Bradshaw, finally wed her Mr. Big – John James Preston at New York City Hall on May 30, 2008 wearing a vintage white suite. Featured above in a divine Vivienne Westwood gown, similar to Dita Von Tesse’s, Carrie is flanked by her best friends: Miranda Hobes, Charlotte York, and Samantha Jones en route to her first wedding attempt to Mr. Big at New York City Library.

4 Comments

  • Reply
    Jessica Kenny
    August 12, 2010 at 12:10 am

    This is great Shannon! I love reading your blog posts!!

  • Reply
    Jessica Kenny
    August 12, 2010 at 12:10 am

    I really love the dress that Portia wore to the wedding. Their wedding pictures are stunning 🙂

  • Reply
    Gregg
    April 17, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    Hey! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look
    forward to new posts.

  • Leave a Reply to Gregg Cancel Reply