For her marriage to Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti in 1969, Audrey Hepburn wore head-to-toe white. The monochromatic look extended from her headscarf, fashioned from the same fabric as her simple, collared dress, down to her stockings and flats. As the couple was married in January in Morges, Switzerland, it’s likely that the headgear and legwear were not only for aesthetic purposes, but for warmth as well.
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For her wedding to fellow rocker Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani chose a custom pink and white haute couture gown from designer John Galliano for Dior. The dress simultaneously called to mind a classic, fairy-tale creation, while alluding to Stefani’s punk-rock sensibilities with the vibrant pink skirt. To top it off, the bride went with a traditional antique lace veil.
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Then-socialite Jacqueline Bouvier opted for a rather traditional dress from a not-so-traditional designer when she married future President John F. Kennedy. The wedding gown in question was made of over 50 yards of ivory silk taffeta, and took designer Ann Lowe, an African-American dressmaker based in New York, nearly two months to make. It featured a bouffant skirt intricately detailed with tiny wax flowers. As for headgear, the soon-to-be fashion icon opted for a simple lace veil—a hand-me-down from her grandmother.
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For her 1954 wedding to Joe DiMaggio at San Francisco’s City Hall, Marilyn Monroe opted for an ensemble that was relatively demure. She wore a button-up dark brown skirt suit with an ermine fur collar, which added just a hint of flair.
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For their intimate wedding ceremony in Los Angeles, both Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi wore designs by Zac Posen. Ellen sported an all-white ensemble—a button-up shirt and vest over pants—while Portia wore a backless, halter gown with a flowing tulle skirt that channeled a fairy-tale princess.
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Few rock ‘n’ roll weddings will be remembered as vividly as that of Mick Jagger to burgeoning style icon Bianca Jagger, thanks in large part to what the bride wore. The Nicaraguan stunner opted for a wide-brimmed white hat, adorned with flowers and outfitted with a sheer veil, as well as a plunging white Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo jacket and long skirt with nothing underneath.
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For her recent wedding to Henry Hager at the Bush family’s Prairie Chapel Ranch, Jenna Bush donned a stunning Oscar de la Renta gown possessing a traditional cut—but far less conventional organza with embroidered detail. Their May 10 wedding took place outside, which may explain why her train is relatively short.
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The union of Mariah Carey and music producer Tommy Mottola took place on June 5, 1993 in Manhattan. The bride wore a romantic Vera Wang gown made of duchesse satin and was accompanied by a 27-foot-long train.
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Grace Kelly’s marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956 was no small affair. The event was dubbed “the wedding of the century” (30 million people tuned in to watch the event on television). MGM wardrobe designer Helen Rose designed the actress’ lace-heavy gown (Kelly was under contract to the studio at the time). The dress, which featured a fitted bustier and full skirt, was ornamented with lace lovebirds and thousands of seed pearls.
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Nicole Kidman’s white Balenciaga wedding dress, which she wore to marry Keith Urban in 2006, consistently tops ‘best of’ lists. The creation from designer Nicolas Ghesquiere melded tradition with high fashion—the ivory one-shouldered gown featured a small puffed shoulder and a sleek, timeless silhouette.
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Like the nuptials of Grace Kelly, the late Lady Diana Frances Spencer’s wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981 was also dubbed “the wedding of the century.” The ceremony, which took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral, was nothing short of epic proportions. The then-20-year-old Diana wore a custom dress designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel. The gown was straight out of Cinderella, embellished with seemingly endless lace, embroidery, sequins and pearls, and topped of with two huge puffed sleeves and a frilly neckline. As for the train, it trailed a full 25 feet behind the bride.
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For her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wore a now-iconic dress designed by Cuban-born, New York-based Narciso Rodriguez, before the designer left his position at the helm of Calvin Klein to start his own line. Exceedingly simple, Bessette-Kennedy topped off the white sheath dress with a low bun, a look that was understated yet elegant.
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Wallis Simpson was famous for always being impeccably dressed, and at her wedding in 1937 she didn’t disappoint. The bride wore a sleek, floor-length dress designed by Mainbocher, which was dyed a shade of pale blue intended to offset the Duchess’ eyes. The Duchess had such an effect on contempory style that her wedding dress, which is now at the Metropolitan Museum, spawned countless copies.
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Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sex and the City alter-ego wore a glamorous Vivienne Westwood gown for her aborted wedding to Mr. Big in the show’s big screen debut. The champagne-colored silk dress had a built-in corset and dramatic skirt with an asymmetrical hem.
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