Jackie Bouvier Kennedy: What “Iconic Bride” list would be complete without the legendary Jackie Kennedy? This is the woman who captured the heart of then U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy and became the First Lady to the 35th President of the United States. Jackie became a style icon, and her wedding dress is the most photographed in U.S. history. Even today her elegant style continues to inspire women of all ages.
Audrey Hepburn: Classic American film star Audrey Hepburn married American actor Mel Ferrer in September of 1954. Hollywood gossips said it would never last, but the couple stayed together until 1967. Hepburn’s gown features a tiny waist, wide sleeves, and full skirt that are all classic Audrey.
Marilyn Monroe: Marilyn Monroe is known for her sultry screen image, but when it came to her wedding attire for her marriage to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, she chose a dark brown suit accented by an ermine collar and embellished by a delicate corsage of white orchids. The couple exchanged vows in a judge’s chambers in San Francisco City Hall on January 14th, 1954.
Grace Kelly: When American actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956 it was dubbed the “Wedding of the Century”, and is still considered one of the most beautiful weddings ever. Kelly’s gown was designed by Helen Rose, who had dressed her in “High Society” and “The Swan”. The gown was the most expensive dress that Rose had ever made.
Elizabeth Taylor: While the famed actress has been married eight times, it was her marriage(s) to Richard Burton that have her on our list. Liz married Burton first in 1964, then again in 1975. For their first marriage, the couple made an unannounced journey to Montreal where they married in a low-key ceremony on March 15th, 1964 in the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The bride opted to wear an empire-style chiffon gown in daffodil yellow. In her hair, the star wore lilies of the valley and white hyacinths.
Priscilla Presley: This woman married “The King”. Iconic enough? The wedding between Elvis and Priscilla Presley took place on May 1st 1967 in one of the most decadent suites of the Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas. Despite the fact that the couple was so famous (or maybe because of) the ceremony only lasted eight minutes! The couple’s first dance was reportedly to “Love Me Tender”, and sadly the marriage only lasted six years.
Yoko Ono: While no one could say that Yoko Ono made for a conventional bride, none could argue that she was an iconic one. For her wedding to John Lennon in 1969 in Gibraltar, she wore a short mini skirt, knee socks, and sun hat. And that’s nothing. For the honeymoon, the couple retired to the presidential suite of the Amsterdam Hilton and remained there for seven days for what they called a “bed-in” for world peace. Go figure.
Bianca Jagger: Bianca Jagger met Rolling Stones front man, Mick Jagger at a Rolling Stones party in France in 1970. In 1971, the two wed in French Riviera town St. Tropez in a civil ceremony which took place in the town hall. This may not sound too “iconic”, however just think about it. This woman got Mick Jagger, infamous ladies man, down the isle. They were married only seven years, but still.
Princess Diana: When you think of iconic weddings, there is no doubt that the image this princess bride comes to mind. Diana Spencer wed Prince Charles of Whales in 1981. The gown was created by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel, and was made of ivory silk and taffeta and featured 10,000 hand-sewn pearls and sequins. It also had a 25-foot-train, and drew gasps from the crowd as Diana entered Westminster Abbey.
Carolyn Bassette Kennedy: Carolyn Bassette married JFK Jr. on September 21st 1996 in a simple ceremony on Georgia’s Cumberland Island with only 40 guests. While she may not have been as well-known as her famous mother-in-law, she was certainly able to channel some of her legendary style on her wedding day. The bride chose a simple yet chic white sheath dress by Narcisco Rodriguez, complimented by a sleek bun and red lipstick.
Victoria Beckham: David and Victoria Beckham wed on July 4th,1999, and was widely hailed as the wedding of the year. The ceremony was held at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland and was attended by her fellow Spice Girls (Minus Geri Halliwell) and many other stars. Posh wore a dramatic champagne colored Vera Wang gown and David dressed in all white. The pair looked stunning on their special day and are still a driving focal point in the media today!
Courtney Cox Arquette: Famous “Friends” actress and her “Scream” co-star David Arquette wed on July 3rd 2000, and they’re still going strong! Not bad for a Hollywood wedding, eh? Courtney’s dress was unique, as she opted for a dress with full-length sleeves at a time when you rarely see a bride in anything but a sleeveless gown. Courtney’s gown was a Valentino design, and was simple and stunning with a plunging neckline and crisp white silk, accessorized by a bouquet of red roses.
Jennifer Aniston: Who could forget the famed marriage between “America’s Sweetheart” Jennifer Aniston and Hollywood Heartthrob Brad Pitt? Although their divorce is almost as famous as their marriage, Jen still made a gorgeous bride! Aniston’s dress was designed by Lawrence Steele, and was a full-length white silk tulle halter dress studded with tiny pearls. The $1 million dollar ceremony was held on July 29th 2000 in a Malibu Mansion.
Gwen Stefani: On September 14th 2002, No Doubt lead singer Gwen Stefani wed rocker Gavin Rossdale at St. Paul’s Covent Garden in London. Stefani wore a custom-made pink and white wedding dress by John Galliano, accented by an antique lace veil. The ceremony included only a handful of family and friends. The bride arrived over an hour late with her father Dennis in a white Rolls Royce, while the groom waited patiently outside with his sheepdog Winston!
Liv Tyler: Although Liv Tyler took a low-key approach to her wedding gown for her marriage to Royston Langton in 2003, she looked simply stunning in her empire-line Alexander McQueen dress. Beautiful.
Melania Knauss Trump: On January 22, 2005 Melania Knauss wed Donald Trump in Palm Beach Florida. Melania wore a $100,000 Christian Dior gown with over 1,500 hand-stitched crystal rhinestones and pearls, and had a 13 ft train, a 16 ft veil. All in all, the dress took over 1,000 hours to make! Donald and Melania’s lavish ceremony was certainly one for the books! Then again, when “The Donald” is the groom, who can be surprised?
Nicole Kidman: Aussie Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban threw quite the wedding celebration on June 25th 2006 in Nicole’s native Australia. The bride wore a puff-sleeved Balenciaga and Christian Louboutin shoes. With her red hair dyed blonde, Nicoled looked the part of a lovely, ethereal bride.
Katie Holmes: Katie Holmes confessed that when she was younger she always dreamed of marrying Tom Cruise, and in 2006 her dream came true! Their wedding ceremony took place at Odescalchi Castle in Italy (although Scientology vows were exchanged privately in CA days before this ceremony as Italian law does not recognize Scientology vows as legally binding). Katie’s dress was an Armani design fit for a princess and suitable for her fairytale wedding in a castle to her prince!
Liz Hurley: Elizabeth Hurley’s wedding to Arun Nayar in 2007 was a celebration with multiple ceremonies that reflect the couple’s backgrounds. Their first ceremony took place in Sudley Castle in Gloucestershire with Sir Elton John walking the bride down the isle, and then continues with Hindu ceremonies in Mumbai and Jodhpur. With so many ceremonies, Liz found herself in need of more than one dress! The most photographed however, was a swan-like gown by Donatella Versace. For the Indian ceremonies, Liz wore couture sari’s that were also designed by Versace.
Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres: Day-time TV queen Ellen DeGeneres and long-time girlfriend Portia de Rossi exchanged personal wedding vows in front of their closest friends and family in August of 2008. Both brides wore designs by Zac Posen and exchanged rings by Neil Lane amid candles and flowers by Mark’s Garden.
Ivanka Trump: In October 2009, Ivanka Trump said “I Do” to upcoming real-estate mogul Jared Kushner in an over-the-top Jewish ceremony in New Jersey. The bride wore a Vera Wang wedding gown, designed to resemble Grace Kelly’s, a $45,000 hair clip, $130,000 diamond drop earrings, and a $90,000 Art-Deco inspired bracelet from her own jewelry line.
