The Most Memorable Wedding Dresses from Hollywood Designers

A Hollywood costume designer creates clothes that fit the character and help move the story along. And sometimes the script calls for a wedding. But whether the brides live happily ever after or get cold feet and leave the groom at the altar, the gowns they wear live long in the memories of movie fashion fans!

Here are some of our favorites:

It Happened One Night – The lady in this lovely 1930’s Robert Kalloch design presents a paradox. Underneath the demure exterior, tenderly trimmed with white roses and yards of airy tulle, is a fiery and spoiled socialite who runs away not just from her father, but from the altar, too! Maybe it’s a good thing, though, because Claudette Colbert ends up with Clark Gable.

Father of the Bride – It was THE classic comedy about weddings and called for a classic wedding dress. Designer Helen Rose created an elaborate satin gown which was folded and tucked back at the waist to reveal a full lace underskirt. This was complemented by a lace neckline, long fitted sleeves and a flower headdress with full length veil. This bride is the apple of her father’s eye and the dress underscores this! The tiny waist and full skirt epitomized 1950’s glamour and underscored Elizabeth Taylor’s status as a fashion icon.

Frankenstein – In 1931, chic and slinky was in, even if the vehicle is a horror movie. In this early Frankenstein flick, Mae Clarke wore a Vera West ensemble featuring a close-fitting head dress and glamorous satin heels. The soft lace, the demure headpiece, blonde hair and gauzy veil – these design elements all work in tandem to provide a stark contrast to the dark and disturbed monster.

Bride of Frankenstein – We can’t mention Frankenstein without featuring what is probably the most iconic wedding dress ever to appear in a movie, and it’s not because of it’s beauty. In this tragic horror film, the Monster is introduced to his bandaged, manufactured bride, brought cruelly into existence by men seeking to harness the powers of God. Vera West created this simple but iconic tunic dress with sleeves opened to reveal the wrappings underneath.

Random Harvest – Here’s a couple that doesn’t have two nickels to rub together, but they’re happy and at peace. Marrying her beloved “Smithy,” a kind and gentle victim of amnesia from the war, Greer Garson can only afford this sweet and simple ensemble designed by Robert Kalloch. If you’ve never seen this gem of a romance, I think you’ll really enjoy the highly unusual plot and satisfying love story!

Gone with the Wind – It’s a beautiful design for sure, with flowers and leaves that look like they are floating off the skirt, but have you ever wondered why it looks a tad big on Vivien Leigh? Designer Walter Plunkett was a stickler for details and he knew that Scarlet opted to marry young Charles Hamilton in a hurry, so quickly that she had to borrow her mother’s wedding dress. Therefore, it would have not only been too big for her, but also twenty years old in terms of style (hence the huge gigot sleeves from the 1820’s).

How to Marry a Millionaire – Lauren Bacall sported this snappy, fashionable Travilla design as Schatze Page in the 1953 comedy. The unforgettable design featured an off-the-shoulder fit-and-flare style with irridescent sequins, and a heavy satin lining.

Sense & Sensibility – For this 1995 film adaptation of the Jane Austen novel, costume designer Jenny Beavan used 1800’s design elements like a straw-worked collar and ornate beaded trimming. The cream wedding ensemble, paired with its adorable bonnet and veil, perfectly complemented Kate Winslet’s warm and rosy coloring.

The Princess Bride – It was made in the 1980’s but features Phyliss Dalton’s medieval-inspired designs. Pretty much everything about the wedding scene is epic – the music, the clergyman and the fact that is interrupted by swashbuckling – but Robin Wright was especially memorable as the forlorn “princess bride” in a heavy velvet and pearl gown of pale blue satin and a silver crown. Her long soft curls and flowing butterfly-wing train give an almost angelic appearance.

The Quiet Man – Maybe it’s one of my favorites because it’s one of the best movies ever made, but Maureen O’Hara’s lovely, old fashioned lace overlay wedding dress is absolute perfection in this story of a “quiet” man who comes back home to Ireland and meets the girl of his dreams. Even more meaningful is the fact that Irish lace has always been a beloved part of the country’s needlework tradition.

Hello Dolly – Her dress had to be just as over-the-top as the main character Dolly Levi was. Is she wearing her wedding cake on her head? Designer Irene Sharaff certainly delivered with this stunning costume, and it looks so pretty with Barbra Streisand’s flawless complexion!

Sound of Music – Who could ever forget that glorious scene, as Maria goes sailing down the aisle to be the bride of Captain VonTrapp, she who once had on eye on being the bride of Christ? The ivory satin gown created by Dorothy Jacobs had timeless appeal and clean lines, with a simple but dramatic floor-length tulle veil.

Funny Face – In this fun musical about a bookworm-turned model, Audrey Hepburn modeled a ballerina-length wedding dress created by Givenchy; it was designed to turn heads, and change trends! The dropped waist, tight bodice and layered tulle skirt all emphasized the slim and dainty form of former ballet dancer Audrey Hepburn. Her accessories included gloves, kitten pumps and pearl earrings. The veil was draped in an unusual shoulder-length hooded style and trimmed with a smart white bow. Unlike many costumes in Hollywood, this one appeared in several memorable scenes, including a sunny sequence with Hepburn and Astaire dancing on the lawn of an ancient church.

The Razor’s Edge – Oleg Cassini made this elegant allover lace wedding gown for his (then) wife Gene Tierney. It was originally intended for their actual wedding, but they decided to elope!

The headpiece combines a lace cap and halo-shaped hat covered in matching lace. A slim tulle veil is attached and falls gently to the floor.

Philadelphia Story –  Designer Adrian was an expert at creating gowns not just for the woman, but also for the character. The “look” he successfully captured in Tracy Lord was her journey from icy, lofty socialite to a woman with a warm and sympathetic heart. Her ruffled organza wedding dress is crisp and cool, with a floor-length profile to accentuate her statuesque bearing. Yet there’s also a hint of feminine softness about it, because the bride is starting to melt. Jilted fiance George describes her this way in the film: “You’re so cool and fine and always so much your own. There’s a kind of beautiful purity about you, Tracy, like a statue.”

High Society – High Society was a 1950’s remake of The Philadelphia Story, this time starring Grace Kelly. The delicate tea-length dress with sheer organza sleeves and floral embroidery was designed by the talented Helen Rose. Since this wedding was not socialite Tracy Lord’s first rodeo, the gown isn’t the usual classic white. The good news is that she reconciles with her husband, and their marriage is blessed again!

The Black Orchid – Here’s another dramatic design with sheer sleeves, designed by cinema fashion veteran, Edith Head. It has the look of a ballerina with a princess neckline, v-waist and full tulle skirt. The flower accents in Sophia Loren’s hair perfectly complement her dark locks and exotic looks. Fittingly, Loren plays a widow who makes and sells artificial flowers to support herself and her son.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – The newest movie included in my line-up is probably not a surprise to you because it features a futuristic wedding dress that was purposely designed to turn heads in a different sort of way; it actually turns into something entirely different. An imaginative design by Indonesian Tex Savario, the gown features a skirt layered with waves of organza and chiffon, laser-cut bird feather accents and a Swarovski-crystal studded bodice. Rising up from Katniss Everdeen’s shoulder is a sparkling metal ornament which signifies fire and flame. Speaking of fire, the Hunger Games contender reveals her defiant “Mockingjay” persona as she begins to twirl around.

How’s that for a grand finale!

What’s your favorite Hollywood wedding dress or wedding movie?