MomSkoop
Wedding dresses do more than just make a bride feel beautiful on her big day—they can capture the spirit of an entire era. From royal weddings watched by millions to Hollywood ceremonies that set fashion trends, certain bridal gowns have transcended their moment to become timeless inspirations. These twelve legendary wedding dresses continue to influence designers and brides-to-be, proving that true style is eternal.
1. Grace Kelly (1956)
The moment Grace Kelly stepped into Monaco’s Saint Nicholas Cathedral, her high-necked lace gown transformed bridal fashion forever. Created by MGM costume designer Helen Rose, the dress featured a fitted bodice, long sleeves, and a billowing skirt made from 25 yards of silk taffeta and antique Belgian lace.
The gown’s modest elegance reflected both Kelly’s Hollywood glamour and her new royal status. Kate Middleton’s wedding dress would later draw clear inspiration from this iconic design.
The most remarkable thing about Kelly’s gown? It looks as breathtaking and relevant today as it did over 65 years ago, proving that true elegance never goes out of style.
2. Jacqueline Kennedy (1953)
Before she became America’s most stylish First Lady, Jacqueline Bouvier captivated the nation in a wedding dress that embodied 1950s romance. Her off-shoulder portrait neckline gown featured 50 yards of ivory silk taffeta, creating that quintessential New Look silhouette with a bouffant skirt.
Designed by Ann Lowe, an African-American designer rarely credited at the time, the dress took two months and multiple seamstresses to complete. A disaster struck just days before the wedding when a pipe burst in Lowe’s studio, destroying ten dresses, including Jackie’s!
Lowe recreated the masterpiece in just five days, cementing its place in fashion history as the perfect embodiment of American aristocratic style.
3. Princess Diana (1981)
When Lady Diana Spencer emerged from her carriage at St. Paul’s Cathedral, her wedding dress instantly became the most famous bridal gown in history. The enormous ivory silk taffeta creation by David and Elizabeth Emanuel featured puffed sleeves, 10,000 pearls, antique lace, and that show-stopping 25-foot train.
Young brides everywhere rushed to copy Diana’s romantic, fairytale look. The dress embodied the over-the-top opulence of the early 1980s while still feeling quintessentially royal.
4. Meghan Markle (2018)
Meghan Markle’s wedding dress surprised royal watchers with its radical simplicity. The Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy design featured clean lines, an open bateau neckline, and a luminous silk cady fabric that used just six meticulously placed seams to create its shape.
Unlike previous royal brides, Meghan chose architectural minimalism over embellishment. Her 16-foot veil, however, incorporated floral emblems from all 53 Commonwealth countries, adding meaningful symbolism to the streamlined look.
5. Elizabeth Taylor (1950)
For her first wedding (of eight!) to hotel heir Conrad “Nicky” Hilton, 18-year-old Elizabeth Taylor wore a gown that defined post-war bridal glamour. MGM’s costume designer Helen Rose created a satin masterpiece with a cinched waist, full skirt, and sheer illusion neckline that highlighted Taylor’s famous hourglass figure.
Though the marriage lasted just 205 days, the dress’s influence endured much longer.
6. Priscilla Presley (1967)
When 21-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu married Elvis Presley in Las Vegas, her wedding look captured the free-spirited essence of the late 1960s. Her flowing silk chiffon gown featured long sleeves, a scalloped neckline, and pearl embellishments, topped with a dramatic three-foot tulle veil secured by a rhinestone crown.
Her iconic beehive hairstyle and heavy eye makeup completed the look that many modern brides still reference when aiming for vintage 1960s glamour.
7. Queen Victoria (1840)
Before Queen Victoria walked down the aisle in white silk satin, brides typically wore their best dress in any color. Her revolutionary choice—a cream-colored gown trimmed with Honiton lace—single-handedly created the white wedding dress tradition that persists nearly two centuries later.
Victoria chose white not as a symbol of purity but to showcase the exquisite handmade lace she wanted to support British industry. The dress featured a fitted bodice, full skirt, and off-shoulder neckline adorned with orange blossoms.
8. Bianca Jagger (1971)
Bianca Jagger redefined bridal fashion when she married Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, wearing a white Yves Saint Laurent smoking jacket—with nothing underneath! The tailored suit skirt hit below the knee, and she topped the look with a dramatic veiled sun hat instead of a traditional veil.
Four months pregnant at the time, Bianca’s unconventional choice perfectly captured the rock-and-roll spirit of the early 1970s. The Saint-Tropez ceremony drew celebrities and paparazzi in equal measure.
Her boundary-breaking outfit inspired generations of non-traditional brides to reject princess fantasies in favor of fashion-forward statements.
9. Audrey Hepburn (1954)
For her first marriage to actor Mel Ferrer, Audrey Hepburn chose a ballerina-inspired tea-length dress that perfectly reflected her graceful persona. The Pierre Balmain design featured a high neck, tiny waist, and full skirt that showcased her dancer’s frame.
Hepburn completed the look with elbow-length gloves and a crown of roses instead of a veil. The dress embodied the gamine charm that made her a style icon.
Her choice proved that wedding dresses needn’t be floor-length to make a lasting impression, inspiring generations of brides to embrace shorter hemlines for their big day.
10. Yoko Ono (1969)
When Yoko Ono married John Lennon in Gibraltar, her revolutionary bridal look consisted of a short white minidress, knee-high socks, and tennis shoes. She topped it with a wide-brimmed hat and signature round sunglasses, creating perhaps the most casual famous wedding outfit of the 20th century.
The couple’s “Bed-In for Peace” honeymoon garnered more attention than their actual wedding. Yet Ono’s anti-establishment outfit perfectly reflected both their impromptu ceremony and her avant-garde artistic sensibilities.
Her boundary-pushing choice empowered future brides to prioritize personal comfort and authentic self-expression over traditional expectations. The look remains an inspiration for counter-culture couples and artistic brides who view their wedding as a creative statement rather than a formal ritual.