10 Royal Wedding Dresses to Inspire Your Wedding Day Look
Royal weddings have always been highly anticipated events. No matter who's walking down the aisle, the thing we look forward to the most is seeing the bride's dress. Royal brides have become fashion icons by wowing the world with beautiful gowns and sparkling jewels, no matter how simple or extravagant their wedding-day look might be.
For your own wedding, you want to look and feel like a princess, too -- and you should! Why not look to royal brides for inspiration? As fashion has evolved through the years, you might think some styles that were once lovely are now dated. But you don't have to follow a royal bride's look to the letter. We'll show you 10 looks we love and give you some takeaways to help define your personal bridal style.
10: Diana Spencer
Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in London's St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981. Her ivory gown has been called the world's most famous dress. It's known for its 25-foot train, made from 150 yards of silk. To this day, it's the longest train that's ever been worn at a royal wedding. The gown was made from six sumptuous fabrics, including silk taffeta and tulle crinoline, and cost about $14,000. David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who helped Diana get into her dress on her wedding day, designed the legendary gown.
TLC Takeaway: A variety of fabrics create a rich, unique look. Shop for gowns in fabrics that complement your style and the season, and add interest to plain gowns with textured fabric belts.
9: Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco on April 19, 1956. Her gown was designed by MGM studio costume designer, Helen Rose, and it was a gift from Kelly's movie studio. It took a team of more than a dozen seamstresses six weeks to complete the garment. The dress featured 125-year old Valenciennes rose-point lace, silk taffeta, 98 yards of tulle and bows that were fastened all the way down the train. With a high collar and small buttons trimming the bodice, it was a modest dress designed with a Catholic ceremony in mind. Kelly was released from her film contract in exchange for the studio's rights to film the ceremony in Monaco. Today, you can see the dress in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
TLC Takeaway: You don't have to be flashy to capture attention on your wedding day. Small details and embellishments, such as buttons and bows, can have a major (and classy!) impact.
8: Princess Victoria
Princess Victoria of Sweden was wed to athletic trainer Daniel Westling at Storkyrkan Cathedral in Stockholm on June 19, 2010. Her cream-colored gown was designed by Par Engshedan and made from duchess satin. It featured an off-the-shoulder neckline with a turned out collar, a V-shaped back and a 16 1/2-foot train that flowed from the gown at the waist. She accessorized with silk satin pumps with rhinestone buckles and the tiara that her mother wore at her own wedding in 1976. Her lace veil was also passed down to her from her mother.
TLC Takeaway: Wear vintage accessories for a classic look; styling your wedding-day ensemble with something borrowed from your mother adds sentimental value, too.
7: Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip on Nov. 20, 1947, at London's Westminster Abbey. Their wedding was widely celebrated, as it was the first royal wedding since World War II. According to some sources, the queen saved ration coupons in order to buy the fabric necessary for her gown. Designed by Norman Hartnell, the dress was made from ivory duchess satin and was decorated with thousands of white pearls, which were imported from the United States. Flowers covered the dress and 15-foot train. The bride wore a silk veil lent to her by her mother, which was held in place by her grandmother's tiara. Her shoes matched the fabric of her dress and were embellished with pearls and silver. Making a statement with simplicity, the queen wore a strand of pearls given to her by her parents.
TLC Takeaway: Find creative ways to make your wedding wardrobe meaningful to you. Have your dress custom-made with fabric from your mother or grandmother's wedding dress, or accessorize with items of significance.
6: Autumn Kelly
Autumn Kelly was wed to Prince Peter Philips, the oldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle on May 17, 2008. The bride's gown was designed by Sassi Holford and was inspired by the wedding dress that Grace Kelly wore when she married Prince Rainier. It was made from Italian duchess silk and French Chantilly lace, and it had a fitted bodice matched with a short-sleeved lace bolero. The A-line skirt had a modest train adorned with little lace bows, and it was pieced together with a silk, three-tiered waist sash. It took a team of 17 seamstresses to create the dress, which cost a total of $4,000. Kelly's veil was hand-embroidered and beaded, and it was held in place by a tiara given to her by her mother-in-law, Princess Anne. She donned pearl earrings and a simple pearl necklace given to her by her groom.
TLC Takeaway: When you order your gown, order fabric accessories, such as a bolero or a shawl, at the same time. This way, you guarantee that accessories will be be cut from the same fabric as your gown.
Princess Maxima was married to Prince Willem-Alexander on Feb. 2, 2002, in Amsterdam. Her long-sleeved ivory gown was designed by Valentino and had a train inset with embroidered flowers. Her veil also had a floral design and measured 16 feet -- as long as her train. Her tiara was perhaps the most special part of her wedding-day ensemble. The base was from a tiara worn by Queen Emma, and the stars that adorned it were adapted from one worn by Queen Emma's daughter, Queen Wilhelmina.
TLC Takeaway: Mix and match accessories to create a custom look for your big day. Try wearing multiple necklaces or stacking bracelets for a layered effect. Or, make a one-of-a-kind accessory by pinning your grandmother's cameo brooch and a swatch of lace from your mother's veil in your hair.
Princess Martha Louise was wed to Ari Behn on May 24, 2002, at the Nidaros Cathedral in Norway. Her two-piece gown was comprised of a simple A-line dress and a long jacket with a 10-foot train. The gown was made of white silk crepe and was sewn by Anna Bratland. Designer Wenche Lyche made the jacket from off-white duchess satin. Her veil was silk chiffon, and she wore a tiara that belonged to Queen Maud. The princess's entire ensemble was inspired by the Martha Lily flower, which decorated the cathedral at the wedding ceremony.
TLC Takeaway: Don't be afraid to go with a nontraditional, highly structured gown. Brides should wear styles they look good in -- and feel at ease in.
Princess Margaret was married to Antony Armstrong-Jones on May 6, 1960. Because of her petite frame, the princess didn't want an extremely lavish dress. She chose a white silk organza gown that was fitted at the bodice and fanned out at the skirt, which was made from 98 feet of fabric. In an effort to keep it simple, Princess Margaret opted for very little beading and embellishments. Norman Hartnell, the fashion mastermind behind Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress, designed it. Her tiara was bought especially for her at auction; it was previously owned by Lady Poltimore.
TLC Takeaway: Less is always more. Avoid overpowering details and embellishments, especially if you're petite or have a small frame. At your wedding, you want people to see you, not your gown.
Camilla Parker Bowles was wed to Prince Charles at Windsor's town hall during a civil ceremony on April 9, 2005. Designed by Robinson Valentine, her dress was knee-length and made of cream silk chiffon. The hemline was embellished with vertical woven discs, which were made in Switzerland. Camilla also wore a matching basket weave jacket made of oyster silk. The most eye-catching piece of her ensemble was her Philip Treacy straw hat, which was laid with ivory French lace and accented with feathers. She wore nude-colored shoes and carried a clutch made from embossed calf leather.
TLC Takeaway: If you're wearing an unforgettable accessory, let it take center stage. An overly done dress or too-sexy shoes will just compete for attention.
Princess Anne married Mark Phillips on Nov. 14, 1973, at Westminster Abbey. As Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter, her wedding was highly televised by ABC. The designer of her gown is unknown to this day, but it was stunningly beautiful with its smooth, silky silhouette, high collar and trumpet sleeves. While the gown was very modest, the pin-tucked bodice showed off the bride's very small waist. The gown didn't have many elaborate details, but the long, silk train was punctuated by flowers outlined in pearls and silk. Princess Anne wore her grandmother's tiara and a simple veil.
TLC Takeaway: A modest dress doesn't have to be a snooze-fest. Show off just one of your amazing features (legs, collarbone, arms or waist) instead of all of them.