In recent years, A-list brides like Hailey Bieber and Zoë Kravitz have blurred the lines between cutting-edge catwalk looks and contemporary bridal options — more often than not wearing a variety of styles on the day. They turn to designers like Alexander Wang and Virgil Abloh to create bespoke gowns that nod to the traditional white dress (a trend initiated by Queen Victoria), while being distinctly modern.
Read more: Met Gala 2021: Everything You Need To Know
On the other hand, there are still plenty of brides in the public eye who seek out something timeless, with Maria Grazia Chiuri at Christian Dior now the celebrity go-to for classic romance. Most recently, Karlie Kloss, Chiara Ferragni and Miranda Kerr have turned to the Italian designer at the French couture house ahead of their big days.
From the longest trains to the highest hemlines, look back on Vogue’s edit of the most iconic wedding dresses of all time.
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Priyanka Chopra
The wedding: Priyanka Chopra married Nick Jonas in a week-long celebration in Mumbai, December 2018.
The dress: Throughout the festivities Chopra enjoyed multiple outfit changes, the most notable fashion moment being the custom Ralph Lauren gown worn to the couple’s Christian ceremony. Featuring a multitude of pearls, crystal beading and Swarovski crystal embellishment, the extravagant dress was the culmination of 1,826 hours of work. And just when you thought the wedding couldn’t get more over the top, the bride wore her custom gown with a tulle veil measuring an incredible 75ft. LB
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Instagram / @haileybieber, Photograph: Corey Tenold2/49Hailey Bieber
The wedding: Hailey Baldwin married Justin Bieber in a much-anticipated ceremony taking place over several days in September 2019, having first entered a marriage a year prior. The couple chose Montage Palmetto Bluff, located 15 miles north of Savannah, for the celebrations.
The dress: Mrs Bieber chose four gowns for the expansive nuptials: a white mini dress by Vivienne Westwood for the rehearsal dinner, a floor-length gown by Virgil Abloh for Off-White, including a veil embroidered with “till death do us part”, a Ralph & Russo halterneck gown for the reception, before finishing the evening in a Vera Wang slip dress and trainers.
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The Duchess of Cambridge
The wedding: Kate Middleton married Prince William at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011, becoming HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The dress: Middleton wore an ivory and white satin gazar dress featuring long sleeves and a bodice covered in couture lace by Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton. The dress was worn with a veil made from layers of ivory tulle and the Cartier Halo Tiara, which was borrowed from Queen Elizabeth. LB
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4/49Victoria Beckham
The wedding: Victoria Adams married David Beckham at Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland in 1999.
The dress: The bride wore a Champagne-coloured Vera Wang gown featuring a strapless bodice and voluminous skirt with a 20-foot train. The designer revisited the dress to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her eponymous brand in a British Vogue video. The couple changed into matching purple outfits by Antonio Berardi for the reception, where they famously were seated on custom-made thrones. LB
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Instagram / @mstinalawson5/49Beyoncé
The wedding: Beyoncé Knowles became Mrs Carter when she married Jay-Z in 2008 at the couple’s Manhattan home, transforming the space completely including with orchids flown across the world from Thailand specifically.
The dress: The bride wore a strapless sweetheart-neckline white taffeta gown designed by her mother, Tina Lawson, with a trailing vail pinned into a bun hairstyle. She finished the look with a blue manicure — the same name the couple chose for their first born in 2012 — and simple pearl earrings. NP
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Photograph: Mark Seliger6/49Zoe Kravitz
The wedding: Zoe Kravitz married Karl Glussman on 29 June 2019 at her father, Lenny Kravitz’s, Parisian townhouse. Guests included the actor’s Big Little Lies co-stars, Alicia Keys, and Eddie Redmayne.
The dress: Kravitz chose Alexander Wang for two bespoke creations. The first being a drop-waist style with a fitted bodice and an ankle-length tulle skirt, accessorised with a bow headband and kitten heels. Later, Kravitz changed into a midriff-revealing corset and low-rise skirt. The evening before the nuptials, the bride chose a beaded crochet dress to host her rehearsal dinner. NP
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Princess Eugenie
The wedding: Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in October, 2018.
The dress: The bride wore a V-neck gown with long sleeves and full pleated skirt with flowing train designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, founders of the London-based label Peter Pilotto. The low back was a particular request by the bride who had surgery aged 12 to correct scoliosis. LB
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Gwyneth Paltrow
The wedding: Gwyneth Paltrow tied the knot with Brad Falchuk in an intimate wedding at the couple’s Hamptons home in 2018.
The dress: Paltrow collaborated with Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli to create a gown covered in lace appliqués over nude lining, with capped sleeves and a keyhole back. Paltrow finished the look with a cathedral length veil for her walk down the aisle. LB
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The Duchess of Sussex
The wedding: Prince Harry married Meghan Markle on 19 May 2018 in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The dress: For the ceremony, Meghan Markle wore a silk-cady gown with graphic bateau neckline created by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The look was teamed with Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara and a 16ft veil featuring intricately hand-embroidered flowers, each representing a Commonwealth country. Read more about Meghan Markle’s wedding dress here. LB
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Getty10/49Pippa Middleton
The wedding: Pippa Middleton married James Matthews at St Mark’s Church at Englefield Estate in 2017. Later, the wedding party celebrated in a 140ft glass marquee erected in the Middleton family’s back garden.
The dress: Pippa Middleton wore a lace gown with a tulle-filled train by British couturier Giles Deacon. The look was teamed with a Stephen Jones pearl-studded veil, a Maidenhair Fern tiara and Manolo Blahnik shoes. For the evening reception, the bride changed into a second floor-length gown. LB
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Amal Clooney
The wedding: Amal Clooney married George Clooney in Venice, 2014.
The dress: For the couple’s civil ceremony, Amal wowed the crowds in Venice by wearing a navy and cream bespoke suit by Stella McCartney. The two-piece outfit consisted of wide-leg trousers and a short sleeved top with navy trim, which effortlessly matched the navy band on her cream wide-brimmed hat. LB
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Kim Kardashian
The wedding: Kim Kardashian married Kanye West at the Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy, in 2014.
The dress: Kardashian called on Riccardo Tisci to design her custom-made Givenchy white lace gown with long sleeves and a cut-out back. LB
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LilyAllen / Instagram13/49Lily Allen
The wedding: Lily Allen married Stranger Things actor David Harbour in Las Vegas in September 2020. Allen’s daughters were guests of honour, and the new family headed to In-N-Out Burger straight after the ceremony.
The dress: The bride wore a double-breasted mini dress by Christian Dior with Miu Miu shoes, and a tulle veil in her bouffant updo.
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Queen Elizabeth II
The wedding: Queen Elizabeth II was just 21 when she married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey in 1947.
The dress: Her Majesty famously saved up ration cards to purchase the material needed for her wedding dress. The gown was made of ivory duchess satin and decorated with 10,000 imported white pearls, silver thread and tulle embroidery. Her bridal ensemble also included a 15-foot patterned full court train attached at the shoulders, and a silk tulle veil held in place with the Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara lent to the princess by her mother. LB
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INF/Splash News15/49Solange Knowles
The wedding: Solange Knowles married music video director Alan Ferguson in New Orleans in 2014.
The dress: Arriving at the ceremony by bicycle, Knowles wore a Stéphane Rolland jumpsuit with a cape, before switching into a Humberto Leon for Kenzo gown for the reception. LB
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Matrix16/49Keira Knightley
The wedding: Keira Knightley married musician James Righton in a low-key ceremony of just 11 guests at the town hall in Mazan in the South of France. Later, more guests joined the wedding party at Knightley’s mum’s home for the reception.
The dress: Sometimes, simple is best. Keira Knightley wore her hair loose and accessorised with a delicate flower garland for her wedding in the South of France in 2013, paired with a ballerina-style Chanel minidress that she has worn previously and sunglasses. LB
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PHOTO BY MEL BARLOW & CO. / ALLAN ZEPEDA17/49Serena Williams
The wedding: Tennis champ Serena Williams married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in a fairytale themed day in New Orleans in 2017. The couple celebrated with friends including Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé, with the couple choosing Beauty and the Beast’s “Tale As Old As Time” for their first dance.
The dress: Williams’s love of fashion comes second only to sport, so her wedding day was always going to be a fabulous affair. The bride walked down the aisle in a caped Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown, complete with millions of dollars worth of diamonds. Her second dress, embellished with beads and feathers, was by Donatella Versace, and the bride wore it with bejewelled Nike Cortez. NP
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Splash18/49Anne Hathaway
The wedding: Anne Hathaway married Adam Shulman in 2012, in an outdoor sunset ceremony in Big Sur, California.
The dress: The actress wore a custom-made Valentino bridal gown, which featured intricate lace and embroidery, and was paired with a dramatic full-length veil and vintage-inspired headpiece.
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Diana, Princess of Wales
The wedding: Diana, Princess of Wales married Prince Charles at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1981.
The dress: The bride wore an ivory silk taffeta dress designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. Valued at the time to be worth £151,000, the dress was decorated with lace, sequins, hand embroidery and 10,000 pearls, and featured a 25-foot train – the longest in royal wedding history. LB
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Kate Moss
The wedding: Kate Moss married Jamie Hince at St Peter’s parish church in Southrop in July 2011.
The dress: The bride wore a custom-made gown by John Galliano, which was exhibited in the Victoria & Albert museum in 2014 as part of it’s exhibition of wedding dresses. Speaking of the gown, Kate later said she had wanted “a classic Galliano, those chiffon ’30s kind. I’ve lived in his dresses for years, and they just make me feel so comfortable. But it’s so much more couture, couture, couture. Oh, my God, the work that’s going into the dress!” Of creating the gown, Galliano said, “She dared me to be John Galliano again. I couldn’t pick up a pencil. It’s been my creative rehab.” LB
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Salma Hayek
The wedding: Salma Hayek married François-Henri Pinault in Venice in 2009.
The dress: Hayek wore a ball gown with embellished bodice designed by Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière. LB
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Katie Holmes
The wedding: Katie Holmes married Tom Cruise in Italy, 2006.
The dress: Holmes wore an silk and lace gown by Giorgio Armani. The off-the-shoulder style was adorned with Swarovski crystals which took 350 hours to place. LB
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PA Photos23/49The Duchess of Cornwall
The wedding: Camilla Parker-Bowles married Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guild Hall followed by a service at St George’s Chapel, and a reception thrown by the Queen at Windsor Castle in April 2005.
The dress: The Duchess of Cornwall wore a floor-length blue and gold coat over a coordinating chiffon dress by Anna Valentine, and finished the look with a gold feathered headdress. NP
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Patrick Demarchelier24/49Miranda Kerr
The wedding: Model and Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr married Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel in their backyard in Los Angeles, 2016.
The dress: Inspired by the iconic gown worn by Grace Kelly, Kerr wore a Haute Couture Dior gown designed by Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri. Appliquéd with lilies of the valley, Kerr’s satin dress was altogether a demure design: “A dress that fully covers you creates a sense of purity and mystery,” Kerr said, referencing the high neckline and full-length sleeves of her Dior bridal gown. “I’ve had a lot of fun with fashion, and I used to be more wild, free, bohemian. But in this period of my life, my style is more pulled back.” LB
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David Bastianoni25/49Chiara Ferragni
The wedding: Super-influencer Chiara Ferragni married singer and X Factor judge Fedez in a viral wedding in Sicily, 2018.
The dress: Working with Maria Grazia Chiuri, Ferragni wore not one but two haute couture Dior dresses. For her ceremony, Ferragni walked down the aisle in a crochet jumpsuit featuring long sleeves and a high neck, with a full-bodied tulle skirt over the top. The overall look required 400 metres of fabric and took more than 1,600 hours to make. “We made a crochet jumpsuit that recalls the ancient practice of southern Italy and France, where the technique is strongly associated to a female tradition,” Chiuri told Vogue. For the reception Ferragni changed into a pale pink tulle and silk organza evening gown. See more from Chiara Ferragni’s wedding here. LB
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Gwen Stefani
The wedding: Gwen Stefani married Gavin Rossdale in Covent Garden, 2002.
The dress: The bride wore a white and pink gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior. The unique dip-dyed dress was hand-painted and created bespoke for Stefani. After the wedding, Stefani donated the dress to the Victoria & Albert museum, saying it was “a piece of art” and it was exhibited in the museum’s 2014 wedding dresses exhibition. LB
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Michelle Obama
The wedding: Michelle and Barack Obama married in Chicago in 1992.
The dress: The bride wore an off-the-shoulder satin gown with a sweetheart neckline, accessorised with diamond drop earrings and a traditional veil.
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Emma Thompson
The wedding: Emma Thompson married Kenneth Branagh at Cliveden House in 1989.
The dress: Thompson wore a knee-length white, pink and green floral dress with puffed sleeves and a knee-length hem. A matching feather and tulle hat complete the look. While the colourful print bucks traditional, Thompson’s unique wedding look was perfectly on trend for the time. LB
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Hulton Deutsch29/49Sharon Tate
The wedding: Actor Sharon Tate married film director Roman Polanski at Chelsea Registry Office in London in January 1968. The newlyweds held their reception at the Playboy Club, with guests including Michael Caine and Joan Collins in attendance. The night ended with a trip to a Supremes concert.
The dress: Tate designed her yellow taffeta high-neck minidress herself, creating a look that combined Hollywood glamour with a hint of Swinging London. As was in vogue at the time, she dressed her hair with flowers and wore graphic eyeliner. The dress sold at auction for $56,000 in 2018.
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Princess Anne
The wedding: Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey in London, 1973.
The dress: Princess Anne’s Tudor-style wedding dress was made by Maureen Baker, chief designer for Susan Small, and featured a high collar and medieval-inspired flared sleeves.
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Bianca Jagger
The wedding: Bianca Jagger married Mick Jagger in St Tropez, 1971.
The dress: The bride decided against a traditional wedding dress, opting instead for a white skirt suit by Yves Saint Laurent. The designer had originally made a shirt for Bianca to wear under the jacket but it did not fit as she was four-months pregnant — so she wore nothing underneath instead. She kept the Riviera sunshine off with a wide-brimmed hat. LB
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Yoko Ono
The wedding: Yoko Ono married John Lennon in Gibraltar, 1969.
The dress: Ono wore a white minidress accessorised with a sun hat, over-sized sunglasses and knee-high socks.
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Cilla Black
The wedding: Cilla Black married her manager Bobby Wallis at Old Marylebone Town Hall, London, in 1969.
The dress: Black wore a long-sleeved red velvet smock dress by popular ’60s designer John Bates. LB
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Priscilla Presley
The wedding: Priscilla Beaulieu married Elvis Presley in Las Vegas, 1967.
The dress: The bride wore a silk chiffon babydoll dress with a beaded neckline and long sleeves. The dress was worn with a traditional 3-foot tulle veil and a tiara. LB
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SophieT / Instagram35/49Sophie Turner
The wedding: Game of Thrones actor Sophie Turner married musician Joe Jonas in the South of France in 2019 at Château de Tourreau in Provence. Guests in attendance included her GOT co-star Maisie Williams, Ashley Graham, the Jonas family and Priyanka Chopra. The couple had tied the knot officially at an impromptu ceremony in Las Vegas after the Billboard Awards, just before their big celebration in France.
The dress: The bride wore a custom Louis Vuitton gown by creative director Nicolas Ghesquière. The dress had long lace sleeves, a plunging front, an open back and a flowing train, and Sophie added a short lace-trimmed veil. Turner has since shared photos of a second, strappy form-fitting dress she wore on the day. At the Vegas nuptials, Turner wore a satin camisole with matching culottes and a comical veil.
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Raquel Welch
The wedding: Raquel Welch married Hollywood producer Patrick Curtis in Paris, 1967.
The dress: In true ’60s style the bride wore a white crochet mini dress with a three-quarter length white fur coat. LB
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Mia Farrow
The wedding: Mia Farrow married Frank Sinatra at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, 1966.
The dress: In typical mod fashion, Farrow wore a neat skirt suit with a double-breasted jacket and knee-length skirt featuring a box around the waist. Her shortly cropped hair and minimal makeup makes Farrow a bridal icon of the ’60s. LB
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Elizabeth Taylor
The wedding: Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Montreal in 1964.
The dress: Never one for a traditional wedding (or marriage), Taylor chose a short yellow chiffon babydoll dress with sheer long-sleeves for the wedding. The look was made slightly more bridal by weaving lilies of the valley into her hair. LB
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Princess Margaret
The wedding: Princess Margaret married Antony Armstrong Jones at Westminster Abbey in 1960.
The dress: The bride wore a tailored silk organza wedding gown by Norman Hartnell – the same designer behind Queen Elizabeth’s dress. The designer used more than 30 metres of fabric to create the gown. The dress was worn with the Poltimore tiara and a full cathedral veil.
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Elizabeth Taylor
The wedding: Elizabeth Taylor married her fourth husband, singer Eddie Fisher, in Las Vegas, 1959.
The dress: Taylor wore a short, hooded, forest green dress with matching shoes and a bouquet made up of orchids and baby’s breath.
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Grace Kelly
The wedding: Grace Kelly married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, at Monaco’s Saint Nicholas Cathedral in 1956.
The dress: The bride wore a silk taffeta and antique Brussels lace gown made by MGM costume designer Helen Rose. As one of the most iconic and timeless celebrity brides, a notable amount of work went into Princess Grace’s wedding dress including 25 yards of silk taffeta, 100 yards of silk net and hundreds of seed pearls. All together it reportedly took three dozen seamstresses six weeks to create the gown. LB
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Marilyn Monroe
The wedding: Marilyn Monroe married retired baseball player Joe DiMaggio in San Francisco in January 1954.
The dress: The Hollywood starlet wore a black skirt suit with a white fur collar for her second wedding, and carried a bouquet of white orchids.
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Audrey Hepburn
The wedding: Audrey Hepburn married actor Mel Ferrer in Switzerland, 1954.
The dress: The bride wore a typically full-skirted ’50s ballerina-length dress by Pierre Balmain. The romantic style featured a high neck, leg-o-mutton sleeves and a cinched waist with a bow at the back. Instead of a veil, Hepburn wore roses in her hair. LB
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Jacqueline Kennedy
The wedding: Jacqueline Kennedy married John F Kennedy on Rhode Island in 1953.
The dress: The bride wore a full-skirted off-the-shoulder ball gown by African-American designer Ann Lowe. She completed her look with little white gloves and a full veil. LB
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Elizabeth Taylor
The wedding: Elizabeth Taylor married Conrad “Nicky” Hilton in Beverly Hills, 1950.
The dress: The bride wore a dress by Helen Rose – the MGM costumier who designed Grace Kelly’s wedding gown. The dress bore a striking resemblance to the one Taylor wore in Father of the Bride, the costumes of which were also created by Rose. LB
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BENJAMIN WHEELER / PA IMAGES46/49Princess Beatrice
The wedding: Princess Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor in July 2020. The pair had originally planned to wed in May, but like many were forced to reschedule owing to the coronavirus pandemic. The bride’s grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, were among the scaled-down congregation.
The dress: Beatrice wore a silk moire Norman Hartnell dress first worn by her grandmother in 1962, which was altered by Angela Kelly. The Princess finished her bridal look with the Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara.
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Wallis Simpson
The wedding: Edward VIII abdicated his throne in December 1936 in order to marry Wallis Simpson at the Château de Candé in France, 1937.
The dress: The bride wore a pale blue dress with a nipped-in buttoned waist, a Cartier brooch at her neck and a halo-like hat. LB
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Queen Victoria
The wedding: Queen Victoria married Prince Albert at St James’s Palace in 1840.
The dress: Queen Victoria refused to wear her crimson robe of state to her wedding, instead opting to enhance her purity and visibility to the crowd in a white dress. Her shade of choice started the western tradition for brides wearing white on their wedding day.
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Instagram / @karliekloss49/49Karlie Kloss
The wedding: Karlie Kloss married Josh Kushner in an intimate ceremony in front of 80 guests in upstate New York on 18 October 2018. Eight months later, the couple threw a Wild West-themed celebration in Wyoming.
The dress: Kloss’s first bridal gown was a custom creation by Maria Grazia Chiuri for Christian Dior, featuring delicate sleeves and rouleaux buttons sewn down the back of the dress. When in Wyoming, the bride wore an off-the-shoulder white lace dress referencing the party’s Wild West theme. NP
