Here Come The Brides, Wearing The Most Iconic Wedding Dresses In Film History
For many brides, their big day means looking and feeling like an absolute movie star. So, why not look to the big screen for some wedding dress inspiration? Throughout history, movies have showcased some very iconic dresses -- Elizabeth Taylor's Father of the Bride dress, anyone?
Whether it's the vintage The Sound of Music gown worn by Julie Andrews or the dramatic Vivienne Westwood dress Carrie Bradshaw wears in SATC, wedding dresses are some of the most unforgettable costumes in movies. Scroll through to see vintage, quirky, and stunning wedding dresses that are some of the most iconic in film.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Although the wedding dress in Hunger Games: Catching Fire was a ruse by President Snow to get a reaction out of Katniss, we can't help but marvel at its beauty. The design is so unique and different, perfectly fitting the personality of the protagonist.
Designed by Tex Saverio, the dress had many moving parts. It was adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals, layers upon layers of organza, and, of course, the two silver flames that go over Katniss' shoulders. The piece was the perfect fantasy-inspired number for the parade of tributes. But we'd be lying if we said the black Mockingjay dress wasn't cooler.
Audrey Hepburn Stunned In Funny Face
Audrey Hepburn earned her place as a fashion icon when her character Jo Stockton wore this wedding gown in the film Funny Face. Now considered a retro look, the dress, short veil, and ballerina flats fit the '50s-era film perfectly.
The gown was designed by Hubert de Givenchy and featured a drop-down waist, fitted silk bodice, Sabrina neckline, and tea-length skirt that consisted of layers and layers of tulle. The dress stole the show. The cap sleeves just finish off the elegant number and left Hepburn looking stunning.
Julie Andrews' Dress In The Sound Of Music Was Demure And Elegant
One of the most iconic movie wedding dresses was the one worn by Julie Andrews' character Maria in the critically acclaimed film The Sound of Music. Designed by Dorothy Jacobs, the gown featured a modest V-neck, a while silk collar, and buttons going up both the long sleeves as well as the bodice.
Maria's wedding-day look was completed with a long and flowing veil. The dress was so popular that it sold for $23,040 at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills back in 2013, even though it was covered with water stains from being in storage!
Crazy Rich Asians Featured An Over-The-Top Gown
For the lavish wedding in Crazy Rich Asians, of course, an over-the-top dress was going to go hand-in-hand with the bride, Araminta Lee. Obviously, an heiress to a billion-dollar resort chain is only going to have the best when it comes to her wedding day.
And when the day came, she didn't disappoint. Interestingly, this amazing dress is actually not a dress at all, but rather a jumpsuit designed by Mary Vogt that features a ten-foot-long train. But that isn't even the best part. This jumpsuit-dress is bedazzled in thousands of Swarovski crystals.
Ooh La La! The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I
Say what you will about the Twilight movies, but there is one thing a lot of people can agree on: Bella's wedding dress in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I is stunning. Although the front is a bit bland, solid ivory with not much detail, the back is something else altogether.
The Carolina Herrera-designed dress is made of crepe satin and French Chantilly lace. The back, on the other hand, features sheer fabric with 152 buttons running the length of Bella's spine all the way to the train. The delicate lace and buttons on the sleeves are just an added bonus!
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Featured A Dress Fit For A Queen
As a lot of the world will tell you, there is nothing quite like a royal wedding. And when that wedding just so happens to be Princess of Genovia Mia Thermopolis', it's all the better! In The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Mia proves to the country of Genovia that she doesn't need a man by her side to rule.
And she did it while wearing this amazing wedding dress designed by Gary Jones. The piece is elegant with its long lace sleeves that fall just below the shoulder, making Mia look every bit the regal queen she is.
In The Proposal, The Dress Was Both Modest And Alluring
If you haven't seen the rom-com The Proposal, here's a little background. Margaret is a big-time book editor in New York, but she's Canadian and her visa is up. To stay, she decides she's going to marry her American-born assistant, who also happens to be Ryan Reynolds. There's a lot more that goes into the story, but we're here for this wedding dress.
For designer Catherine Marie Thomas, finding a design that was sexy and beautiful even though it covered every inch of Bullock's body. The result, this gorgeous ivory four-ply silk charmeuse piece, with dolman sleeves, a high neck, and decorative buttons going down the spine.
The Dress In Mamma Mia! Was Inspired By A Statue
Set on a beautiful Greek island, Mamma Mia!takes the simple island life vibe and throws it into the design of Sophie's wedding dress. According to dress designer Ann Roth, she was very inspired by a certain Grecian statue. Roth said, "I was inspired by statues of Athenian maidens at the Acropolis, known as korai, as well as the sea and its reefs."
It's not hard to see the inspiration layered throughout the dress, with its silk ribbons, tiers of beaded tulle and lace, and, of course, the crystal and seashell headdress that held the lovely veil.
Pure Romance In Romeo And Juliet
Nothing says romance quite like Romeo and Juliet. It's classic, timeless, and when the remake has a young Leonardo DiCaprio playing Romeo, you know it's going to be swoon-worthy. That's why Juliet's elegant yet straightforward secret wedding dress was perfect for their special day.
Designed by Catherine Martin, the sleeveless dress is a simple silk piece with a button-up bodice. The costume designer then decided to add white gloves, just to give the ensemble a bit more of a feminine touch. The updo completed the look, allowing for Juliet to show off her long neck.
Father Of The Bride Featured An Elaborate Design That Inspired Elizabeth Taylor's IRL Gown
When it comes to on-screen wedding dresses, nothing is more iconic than Elizabeth Taylor's gown in the original 1950 film Father of the Bride. The design was elaborate, stunning, and everything that a movie wedding dress should be. Needless to say, fashion designer Helen Rose knew what she was doing.
The gown had a nipped-in waist, and many layers of fabric to make up the extravagant skirt. Of course, the "wow factor" on this gown is the high lace neckline that adorns a lacy Peter-Pan collar. Taylor even used this dress as inspiration for her first wedding gown.
Of Course, Bride Wars Had Some Amazing Dresses
Bride Wars was a different kind of romantic comedy, pitting two best friends against one another because they chose the same date for their wedding. At least they both picked beautiful gowns for their special day. Ironically, for two brides who wanted nothing to do with one another, they both chose designs by Vera Wang!
Kate Hudson's character, Liv, opted for a sleeveless dress with a full tulle skirt and a sweetheart neckline. Anne Hathaway's character, Emma, on the other hand, had a dress made to look timeless and handed down by her mother. A simple reflection on the character's hopeless romantic personality.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones Had A Dress With An Unusual Headdress
After playing the will-they-won't-they game for the entire plot of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Padme and Anakin finally get illegally married. And what better location than on the senator's gorgeous home planet of Naboo. After all, there is no sand, so obviously, Anakin is okay with the location.
But let's discuss Padme's iconic ornate, lace dress, designed by Trish Biggar. The leave headdress, as well as the gown, was actually fashioned out of a vintage lace bedspread! At least the spread had a dual purpose and didn't sit in the attic collecting dust!
The Enchanting Gown In Enchanted
When it comes to the iconic wedding dress Amy Adams wears in the movie Enchanted, let's just say she had a lot of training. That might sound weird but bear with us. The dress weighed 45 pounds and it took professional stuntmen to teach Adam's how to properly move in it so she didn't injure herself!
The Mona May-designed dress was meant to reflect a Disney princess gown, with the cinched waist, huge puffy sleeves, and the hoop skirt that held around 20 layers of petticoats and ruffles. Even though it looks beautiful on-screen, Adam's said the experience of wearing it was "grueling."
Vivienne Westwood Was The Perfect Designer For Carrie Bradshaw's SATC Gown
For fashionista Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, one look at herself in this iconic wedding gown was all the convincing she needed to "say yes to the dress." The Vivienne Westwood gown is multi-tiered, sleeveless, and the perfect shade of ivory against the character's pale complexion.
Of course, Carrie accessorized, opting for Swarovski crystal-embellished Christian Dior Extreme Gladiator Heels with a silk tulle veil and green feather headpiece. The dress was so popular with fans of the show and movie that a shorter version of it was designed. It sold out within hours on net-a-porter.com!
Maggie Carpenter Saved The Best For Last In The Runaway Bride
If Maggie Carpenter is known for anything in the film The Runaway Bride, it's running away from grooms at the altar, leaving her with no choice but to grab another dress for her next attempt at marriage. Thankfully for us, her final piece was the best.
While Albert Wolsky designed most of the wedding gowns in the movie, the final one was actually bought at Saks Fifth Avenue. Amsale Aberra designed the beautiful number with off-the-shoulder sleeves, a scalloped sweetheart-neckline, fitted bodice, and full skirt. There are even buttons that run down the back of the gown. The piece perfectly fits Julia Robert's figure.
They Went With Vintage For The Vow
Although the wedding dress is a bit different, it is perfect for the character of Paige, the quirky artist in love with Channing Tatum's Leo. And considering they had an illegal ceremony in the middle of a museum, it's safe to say the shorter dress was definitely chosen for "runaway purposes!"
Regardless, she looks adorable in the vintage Betsey Johnson blush number. The flirty little dress has ruching at the bodice paired with a full skirt adorned with flowers. Matched with a short light pink veil and a charming bouquet, this bride is ready to say, "I do."
Simple And Sleeveless In 27 Dresses
After always being the bridesmaid and never the bride, Jane finally gets her big day at the end of the rom-com 27 Dresses. Of course, it takes nearly two hours to get there, but at least we got there and had some laugh along the way. Oh, and we also got to see Katherine Heigl wearing this simplistically beautiful wedding dress!
Amsale designed the sleeveless dress, and it features a simple V-neck and column skirt. Even though there isn't much detail going on, The updo with the white lilies pulls everything together for the lovely beach wedding.
We Only Saw A Dress Fitting In The Notebook
Even though Allie never walks down the aisle, making her way back to her true love Noah, she does get fitted for this stunning vintage gown. And let us just say we're sorry for those odd folks who wanted to see her marry the "other guy." That just wasn't going to happen.
The Karyn Wagner designed gown is full-on lace, with a bit of sheer on the chest to showcase the covered buttons. Allie looked stunning in the gown, and we can only hope she used some of its inspiration for her actual wedding dress that we don't see on-screen.
So '80s In My Big Fat Greek Wedding
After kind of giving up on herself for a bit, Toula finally gets her act together, giving herself a makeover and letting herself fall in love with an Italian man (gasp!). Everything is well and good until the family gets involved in wedding planning. Then, it turns into a Big Fat Greek Wedding -- which isn't a horrible thing!
Unfortunately for Toula, her dress skates on the edge of the '80s and poufy wedding dress territory, thanks to designer Michael Clancy. But all of the tulle and ruffles in the world wouldn't keep the smile off of this bride's face!
We Love The Quirky Dress In Love Actually
No matter what you think of Keira Knightly's character Juliet in the film Love Actually, you must admit that her wedding gown was very different, if not quirky. Ironically, the sheer number is actually pretty tame for what the director wanted her to wear -- a crop top! Thankfully, designer Joanna Johnston put her foot down.
During an interview with Grazia, Johnston said, "I told [the director], 'You don't want a bare tummy going into church!' So I went for a sheer, layered style instead with petal details underneath; gauzy and multi-layered." And don't forget the funky feathers outlining the collar!
