Fashion

Royal wedding dresses: What did all the princesses wear on their big day?

19.02.2020

By Joan Kong

Royal wedding dresses: What did all the princesses wear on their big day?

Did you know that Queen Victoria started the white wedding dress trend? She chose to wear a white dress for her nuptials to Prince Edward in 1840, and it became a tradition that lasted ’til this day. Over the last century, royal wedding trends have heavily influenced the modern brides-to-be, especially when it comes to their bridal gowns. Below, we take a look back at all the captivating gowns throughout history, and if our roundup of 2020’s biggest bridal trends did not inspire your wedding look, maybe these designs will give you some inspiration.

In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II purchased Norman Hartnell’s wedding dress after saving up her post-World War II rations coupons. The ivory silk gown was embroidered with 10,000 pearls and featured a 15-foot star-patterned train, and was, no doubt, one of the most intricate looks on our list. Her aunt Wallis Simpson, on the other hand, was the only bride who went for an unconventional option. The wife of Prince Edward—who infamously abdicated his throne for her—wore a column dress in a “Wallis blue” shade that was named after eyes.

While many opted for designers from their respective countries to design their wedding look, some turned to famed couturiers to create their ultimate dream dress. Case in point: Valentino Garavani made Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and Queen Máxima of The Netherlands‘ gowns; Christian Dior designed for Queen Soraya of Iran and Queen Noor of Jordan; Elie Saab’s the man behind Princess Claire of Luxembourg‘s full-lace dress; and Beatrice Borromeo—the wife of Grace Kelly’s grandson Pierre Casiraghi—and Princess Charlene of Monaco both walked down the aisle in Giorgio Armani Privé designs. Last but not least, we’re shining the spotlight back to the iconic designs that continue to be emulated in years to come, such as Princess Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton‘s gowns that were made by Academy Award-winning costume designer Helen Rose and Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen respectively.

Scroll through the stunning royal wedding dresses over the years below:

For more bridal stories, click here.

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