The Greatest Royal Wedding Dresses Throughout Recent History

Shannon Quinn - August 21, 2021
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Every girl grows up dreaming of being a princess in a fairytale wedding. Dozens of Disney movies tell the story of a prince and a princess falling in love. And for a select few women out there, this dream of becoming a princess actually comes true. Here at Home Addict, we’ve put together some of the most amazing royal wedding dresses that have appeared in the past few decades. It’s wonderful to see the transformation of wedding dress styles from modern to vintage. What’s your favorite? Do you prefer a more modern flare? Or is timeless, classic elegant more your style? Check out these dresses and decide for yourself.

The wedding day of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Credit: Getty Images

50. Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle in 2018

One of the biggest events of 2018 was the wedding of Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle. Technically, Meghan and Harry have had their royal titles taken away from them, which we know from the tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey. Harry still holds his title as the Duke of Sussex, but he is no longer a Prince. This means that he can’t step in line for the crown, and neither can his children. But at the time of their wedding in 2018, Meghan and Harry were still known as His and Her Royal Highness. And their ceremony was still fit for a prince and princess, despite all of the controversy that would crop up in the press.

Meghan’s engagement ring was Harry’s custom design from a jeweler called Cleave and Company. Her dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, who created the dress for Givenchy. This plain, solid white dress had long sleeves off the shoulder. Meghan worked closely with Clare, who created sketches of the custom dress to ensure that it would be exactly what she always dreamed of on her wedding day.

As the sister to a duchess, Pippa Middleton’s wedding had a royal flair. Credit: Getty Images

49. The Wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews in 2017

Pippa Middleton is famously known as the sister of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. She married a hedge fund manager named James Matthews on May 20th, 2017. Because she was connected to the royal family, it was considered the most important high society wedding in all of 2017. Kate’s dress was a lace gown created by a British couture designer named Giles Deacon. According to PopSugar, her dress cost a whopping $52,000. Soon after, ASOS and other fashion brands started selling a similar dress in the $200 range, which made it more affordable. Countless numbers of women started to to copy her style for their own wedding day. In addition to the dress, Pippa also wore Manolo Blahnik shoes, a Maidenhair Fern tiara, and a hairpiece by Robinson Pelham.

The ceremony was held at St Mark’s Church in Englefield. Prince George and Princess Charlotte were part of the bridal party, which was absolutely adorable. As the maid of honor, Kate Middleton made sure that the children behaved and that everything went smoothly with the ceremony. They had a total of 350 guests, and the ceremony was estimated to cost around $1 million when all was said and done.

The wedding of Prince Ernst August and Ekaterina Malysheva. Credit: Getty Images

48. Prince Ernst August of Hanover, Jr. and Ekaterina Malysheva in 2017

On July 8, 2017, Prince Ernset August of the German House of Hanover was married to his Russian bride, Ekaterina Malysheva. Before she became a princess, she made her career in London as a fashion designer. She owns a brand called EKAT, which produces high end jumpsuits. Obviously, she couldn’t wear her own designs to a wedding! For her own wedding day, she chose to wear a dress designed by Sandra Mansour. The gown was made with Chantilly lace, beading, and small pink detailing.

The wedding took place in the prince’s ancestral home of Hanover, Germany. They said “I do” in front of 600 guests at the town’s Market Church. In addition to those guests, members of the public who were waiting outside of the barriers to celebrate their prince’s wedding as well. Once the ceremony was over, they had not one, but two private receptions. One was a luncheon at the Herrenhauser Gardens, and the night time reception party was at Marienburg Castle. Since Ekaterina was a commoner, you could say that this is a modern day Cinderella story.

The beautiful golden rose wedding dress worn by Princess Maria Theresia von Thurn and Taxis. Credit: Getty Images

47. The Wedding of Princess Maria Theresia von Thurn und Taxis and Hugo Wilson in 2014

Many of you will have never heard of Princess Maria Theresia von Thurn und Taxis. She’s a German princess and member of the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis. The family owns one of Europe’s largest private estates. Maria is a visual artist and journalist. And when her father died in 1990, she and her siblings inherited 36,000 hectares of land. Because of this, she is considered one of the most wealthy landowners in Europe.

In 2014, Maria married Hugo Wilson, who is a visual artist from London. They had a Catholic ceremony at ​​St. Joseph’s church in Tutzing, Germany. Maria’s dress was a scoop neck gown that was painted with golden roses. There isn’t much information out there explaining who designed the dress, or how much it cost. But it’s very different from the traditional wedding dresses we see worn by European royalty. However, the style is very fitting of the artist she truly is.

The prince and princess of Belgium, Lili and Amedeo. Credit: Getty Images

46. Belgium’s Prince Amedeo and Elisabetta Rosboch von Wolkenstein in 2014

On July 5th, 2014, an Italian journalist named Elisabetta Rosboch von Wolkenstein married Prince Amedeo of Belgium. Before getting married, she worked for Bloomberg in New York City under the name Lili Rosboch. The prince is the nephew of King Philippe, and sixth in line for the throne. They were dating for 7 years before they finally decided to tie the knot. Even though Elisabetta was still descended from a rather aristocratic family, and her mother was a Countess. Now, she gets to celebrate a new life as a princess of Belgium. This wedding went a bit under the radar in terms of international wedding events, but it was still a royal wedding all the same.

Elisabetta wore an amazing ivory gown designed by Valentino. The dress was made with point d’esprit tulle with embroidered lace. Her tulle veil was 5 meters long, also accented with Chantilly lace. One of the most breathtaking parts of her outfit was Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara, which was borrowed from her new grandmother-in-law Queen Paola.

Princess Madelaine of Sweden and her husband Christopher O’Neill. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

45. Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O’Neill in 2013

On June 8, 2013, Princess Madeleine of Sweden married a banker named Christopher O’Neill. Madeline is the youngest daughter of the King and Queen of Sweden. So while it’s not likely that she will ever become the Queen, she was still able to have a star-studded wedding fit for a royal.

The ceremony took place at “Slottskyrkan”, which is the chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Her dress was made by Valentino. It is off-the-shoulder, made with pleated silk organza and Chantilly lace. During the ceremony, Madeleine was walked down the aisle by her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf. Even though he could have taken the title of “Prince”, Christopher O’Neill declined the offer. He prefers to continue living as a banker and private citizen.

Princess Hayu’s Indonesian wedding went on for three full days. Credit: Getty Images

44. Prince Notonegoro and Princess Hayu of Indonesia in 2013

The wedding of Princess Hayu and Prince Notonegoro of Indonesia went on for not just one, but three days. Every day had more stunning outfits than the last. So this photo above doesn’t even do the wedding justice. On one of the days, there was a bathing ritual where the bride wore a cape full of woven flowers.

Even though this was a royal wedding, it’s not likely that these two will descend to the throne of Indonesia. Prince Notonegoro is an executive working for the United Nations, and Princess Hayu is the fourth daughter of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. As the daught of the Sultan, he spared no expense to make sure his daughter and son-in-law had a magical wedding day to remember forever.

Princess Claire of Luxembourg wore a gorgeous lace gown designed by Elie Saab. Credit: Hello Magazine

43. Prince Felix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg in 2013

On September 17, 2013, Prince Felix of Luxembourg married a German woman named Claire Lademacher. They were married in front of 350 guests at their civil ceremony, which was held at Villa Rothschild Kempinski in Taunus, Germany. This ceremony was meant for family and friends, and it had very few members of the public in attendance. However, there were still plenty of cameras around to capture the event.

After the civil ceremony, they had a religious ceremony in the South of France at a church called the Basilique Sainte Marie-Madeleine in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume. Claire’s embroidered Chantilly lace gown was designed by Elie Saab. It had a soft, feminine silhouette that was absolutely stunning. Now, the couple continues to live in the South of France, where they raise their two children.

The wedding day of Prince Rahim Aga Khan and American supermodel Kendra Spears. Credit: Getty Images

42. Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Kendra Spears (Princess Salwa Aga Khan) in 2013

Here is yet another example of a Khan marrying an American supermodel! Prince Rahim Aga Khan married Kendra Spears on August 31, 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. Kendra Spears looked stunning in her ivory and gold dress. The gown was created by an Indian designer named Manav Gangwani for his “Timeless” collection.

They had a private ceremony at Bellerive Castle. It’s a stunning residence along the shore of Lake Geneva, Switzerland. After getting married, Kenda Spears took on the new name of Princess Salwa Aga Khan. Prince Rahim is the eldest son of Aga Khan IV, who is a spiritual leader in the Muslim world. So it makes sense that they had a Muslim wedding.

The beautiful wedding day of Stephanie de Lannoy and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg. Credit: Getty Images

41. Stéphanie de Lannoy and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg in 2012

Next on the list is the wedding of Belgian duchess Stephanie de Lannoy and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg. The two-day long wedding took place on October 19th and 20th, 2012. Their civil ceremony happened the day before the Roman Catholic wedding at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City. The wedding is said to have cost 500,000 Euros or $585,600.

Stephanie’s gown was an ivory dress designed by Elie Saab. It featured three-quarter length sleeves, and it had a 13 foot long train. Her veil was made of silk tulle. Instead of a suit, Prince Guillaume wore a Luxembourgish military uniform. After the ceremony was over, the couple stood on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace to exchange a kiss in front of their adoring public.

An elaborate ceremony held for Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah. Credit: Getty Images

40. Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah and Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini in 2012

Princess Hajah Hafizah is the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the world, the Sultan of Brunei. So it would only make sense that she had an incredibly spectacular wedding to her husband Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini in 2012. The celebrations went on for an entire week, and much of it was held in the 1,700 room palace.

There isn’t much information online about who designed Princess Hajah’s dress, but we do know that it was made of a gold brocade and covered in crystals. Her husband, Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini, wore a matching gold suit that was also embroidered. The ceremony was held in front of 3,000 guests, but it was a very brief 20 minutes compared to the multiple days of partying that continued afterwards.

The famous wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Credit: Town and Country Magazine

39. Prince William and Catherine (Kate) Middleton in 2011

You couldn’t have a list about royal weddings without including Prince William and Kate Middleton’s ceremony in 2011. It’s been estimated that 2 billion people around the world watched the ceremony live, or saw photographs of their wedding online. If you missed it, there is still a 3-and-half-hour long video on YouTube ensuring that you don’t miss any details. Like many other royal weddings, they said “I do” in Westminster Abbey.

Kate’s dress was designed by a woman named Sarah Burton, under the Alexander McQueen label. The needlework was so precious, that the people working on the project had to wash their hands every 30 minutes to make sure everything was perfect. In the end, the dress ended up costing $400,000. After getting married, Kate took on the title of Her Royal Highness as well as The Duchess of Cambridge.

Walking down the aisle with Charlene Wittstock and Albert II of Monaco. Credit: Getty Images

38. Charlene Wittstock and Albert II of Monaco in 2011

On July 2, 2011, Albert II, Prince of Monaco married Charlene Wittstock, who is a former Olympic swimmer from South Africa. The couple met after a swimming competition in Monaco in 2000. Albert II is the reigning Sovereign Prince of Monaco, under the house of Grimaldi. This means that Charlene became the new Princess of Monaco.

Charlene Wittstock’s gown was designed by Roberta Armani, who is the niece of Giorgio Armani. According to Vogue, it took three different seamstresses over 2,500 hours to sew the 80 meters of off-white duchesse silk organza. The dress had 40,000 Swarovski crystals sewed into the dress, as well as 20,000 mother-of-pearl teardrops. Making the dress for a princess was such a huge responsibility, Armani actually decided to make two copies of the dress, in case something happened to the first!

Colorful wedding clothes fit for the Dragon King. Credit: Getty Images

37. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (Bhutan’s ‘Dragon King’) and Jetsun Pema in 2011

On June 4, 2011, the youngest “Dragon King” of Bhutan- Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck married his wife, Jetsun Pema. At the time of their wedding, Jetsun was only 21 years old, so they became the youngest king and queen duo in the history of their country.

Jetsun’s wedding dress is called a “kira”, which is the national dress of Bhutan. It was made of colorful, luxe silk fabric. The video of their wedding was played in front of 700,000 people, who watched the young couple get married. Of course, it also made international news.

Happy faces on the Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling of Sweden. Credit: Getty Images

36. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling in 2010

Victoria, The Crown Princess of Sweden, is yet another royal who decided to marry a commoner. Her husband is Daniel Westing, who worked as her personal trainer. As the princess, Victoria is the heir to the Swedish throne, and will eventually become Queen. She’s also distantly related to the British royal family, and Queen Elizabeth’s third cousin.

On her wedding day, Victoria wore an off-the-shoulder gown made by a designer called Pär Engsheden. The ceremony took place at Stockholm Cathedral. There was a bit of a stir of controversy, because Swedish tradition demands that the bride and groom walk down the aisle together on their wedding day. But Princess Victoria wanted to be escorted down the aisle by her father. Despite the small hiccup, the wedding still went off without a hitch.

Prince Joachim of Denmark and Marie Cavallier on their wedding day. Credit: Getty Images

35. Prince Joachim of Denmark and Marie Cavallier (Princess of Denmark) in 2008

On May 24, 2008, a woman named Marie Cavallier married Prince Joachim of Denmark. After the wedding was finalized, she became Her Royal Highness Princess Marie, Countess of Monpezat. The two were wed at Møgeltønder Church, and a banquet was held at Schackenborg Castle.

Marie’s dress was designed by the Spanish and Italian brand called Arasa Morelli. It had a sweetheart neckline and a laced tulle veil. In the wedding photo above, you can see how happy she is, as she radiates beauty on her wedding day. Her husband, Prince Joachim, is wearing the official military uniform of Denmark. He also has all of the medals he has earned during his time of service in the military.

After years of love in the shadows, Charles Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles. Credit: Getty Images

34. Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005

If you’ve seen The Crown, then you already know about the drama behind the affair of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. The pair were in love for years, but kept apart by Charles’ royal duties. Finally, they were able to get married in 2005. Camilla wore a light blue chiffon dress, as well as a blue and gold dress coat designed by Anne Valentine. Most weddings to a prince include wearing a crown, but Camilla wore a golden feather headdress instead, designed by Ellen Tracey.

After the wedding, Camilla Parker Bowles became the Duchess of Cornwall. Unfortunately for her, she can never become the Queen. Instead, her title will become “Princess Consort” whenever Charles Prince of Wales becomes the new King of England. However, this has sparked some debate ever since. Many members of the public don’t believe that she deserves the title, since their affair was very public. Only time will tell what happens next.

Japan’s Princess Nori on her wedding day to Yoshiki Kuroda. Credit: Getty Images

33. Princess Nori of Japan (Mrs. Sayako Kuroda) and Mr. Yoshiki Kuroda in 2005

This next story is and example of true love, because it’s a reverse royal wedding. Princess Nori of Japan was Emperor Akihito’s only daughter. But instead of marrying a member of the Japanese aristocracy, she chose to marry a commoner named Yoshiki Kurodda. He is a government official, and they met when she was a young girl.

On her wedding day, Princess Nori wore a very minimalist western style a-line dress. Now, the happy couple lives a very normal life in a rented apartment in Tokyo. She’s now called Mrs. Sayako Kuroda, rather than princess. There was a rule that if a princess marries a commoner, she would lose all of her status. Despite this, Princess Nori still chose love and marriage over a title.

The royal wedding of King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano. Credit: Getty Images

32. King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano in 2004

Kin Felipe VI of Spain married his wife, Queen Letizia Ortiz on May 22, 2004. Before becoming the Queen of Spain, Letizia worked as a journalist on ABC and a news anchor on CNN. On the day of their wedding, they were merely the prince and princess, but became King and Queen in 2014.

The Queen’s gown was made by a couture designer named Manuel Pertegaz. It was an open collar dress made with embroidered silk and gold. There was also a 15-foot train that followed behind her. The future king wore a Spanish military uniform with a blue sash, as well as his military medals. There were married at a chapel in Madrid, Spain. After the wedding, they hosted 330 guests at El Pardo Palace.

Beautiful Claire Coombs walks down the steps during her marriage to Prince Laurent of Belgium. Credit: Getty Images

31. Prince Laurent of Belgium and Claire Coombs in 2003

On April 12, 2003, Prince Laurent of Belgium married a woman named Claire Coombs. She is the daughter of a British businessman who’s lived in Belgium since she was 3 year old. Since Laurent was the youngest child of King Albert and Queen Paola, this has been the last royal wedding Belgium has seen, until the next generation grows old enough to get married.

Claire’s dress was made by a designer named Edouard Vermeulen under the Belgian brand Natan. It was an off-the-shoulder gown that would go on to inspire the dress in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. There have been a few scandals surrounding their marriage, but they still remain married and are raising their children together.

The wedding of King Mohammed VI and Princess Lalla Salma. Credit: Getty Images

30. Princess Lalla Salma and King Mohammed VI of Morocco in 2002

On March 21, 2002, another couple was making history in Morocco. For the first time in the country’s history, the wife of a Moroccan ruler was given a title. Princess Lalla Salma was once an engineer before she became the future Queen. She was married to King Mohammed VI, and their relationship was acknowledged publicly to the world. Normally, the King is a polygamist, and takes on many wives behind closed doors. So this marriage was seen as being very modern and progressive.

Princess Lalla Salma’s wedding dress was white and gold, and she wore a golden tiara. Letting her hair down, she radiated confidence and beauty.During her reign as Queen, Princess Lalla Salma did a lot of charity work. She founded the Cancer Prevention Association Center of Morocco, as well as worked with fighting AIDs. As a member of the royal society, she became well known in high social circles. The couple would have two children together. But they eventually got a divorce years later.

Beautiful photo Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby on her wedding day. of Credit: Getty Images

29. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby in 2001

If you’re looking for a true Cinderella story, this next one fits the bill. Mette-Marit Tjessem was a single mom and a waitress. She met the Crown Prince Haakon at a music festival years before she was ever married or had her first child. The two were reunited, and love found a way. Their ceremony took place on August 25, 2001 at Oslo Cathedral. Their marriage was controversial, and called “unconventional” in the press.

Princess Mette-Marit’s wedding dress was very modest and understated. But it also looks very similar to the dress Meghan Markle would eventually wear years later. It was designed by Ove Harder Finseth from Norway. Thankfully, Mette-Marit was able to avoid all of the obstacles and still earned her title of Her Royal Highness.

Waving to the crowd on the wedding day of King Letsie III. Credit: Getty Images

28. King Letsie III of Lesotho and Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso (born Anna Karabo Motšoeneng) in 2000

Anna Karabo Motšoeneng was the first commoner to marry into the Royal Family of Lesotho. This made history in the small African country, and she was given the new name Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso. Since this was a modern Cinderella story, it became famous among the commoners as they celebrated her victory.

Their wedding on February 18, 2000, was massive, with 40,000 guests. As you can imagine, it needed to be held at a Maseru football stadium. One of the most prominent guests at their wedding was Nelson Mandela. Anna wore a long sleeve gown that was embroidered with jewels from head to toe. Since becoming Queen, Masenate Mohato Seeiso has become active in charities. She is especially passionate about fighting AIDS in Africa.

The beautiful wedding photo of Prince Maximilian and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein. Credit: Shutterstock

27. Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein in 2000

Prince Maximilian, is the second son to the reigning prince of Liechtenstein, Hans Adam II. When it was announced that he was going to marry a woman from Panama named Angela Gisela Brown, it made history. This is because she is the first person of African origin to marry a European royal. They were married on January 29, 2000, at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in New York City.

The gown was actually designed by Angela herself. She also wore a Kinsky Tiara with a beautiful veil. Many people have compared her dress to Meghan Markle, since they are both relatively plain-looking white gowns with long sleeves.

A very happy wedding day of Prince Edward and Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones. Credit: Getty Images

26. Prince Edward and Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones in 1999

On June 19, 1999, Prince Edward married a woman named Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones. The wedding ceremony took place at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. In case you didn’t know, Prince Edward is Queen Elizabeth’s youngest child. He was dubbed the Earl of Wessex just a few hours before his wedding took place. They decided that they didn’t want the wedding to become a state occasion to be televised like many other members of the royal family. This meant that members of the press were not invited, and they kept it intimate with family and friends.

Edward met his wife Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones at a tennis game in 1993. And a few years later, she was presented with an engagement ring worth £105,000. Her dress was designed by Samantha Shaw. It was meticulously hand made and dyed silk organza with 325,000 crystal and pearl beads sewn onto the garment.

A big smile from Princess Marilène van den Broek. Credit: Getty Images

25. Prince Maurits of Holland and Marilène van den Broek in 1998

On May 29, 1998, Holland’s Prince Maurits married a woman named Marilène van den Broek, who is another member of the Dutch Royal Family. (Don’t worry, they’re both distantly related enough to make it acceptable.) Before getting married, Marilène earned her MBA and worked in marketing for several years. The two royals were wed at the Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn. The reception was at the same location.

Marilène’s dress was designed by a Belgian dressmaker named Pierre Yves. It was made of eggshell white silk duchess. She wore a wide collared jacket on top of the dress, which had tiny delicate buttons sewn onto the garment.

The wedding day of Infanta Cristina of Spain and Iñaki Urdangarin. Credit: Getty Images

24. Infanta Cristina of Spain and Iñaki Urdangarin in 1997

On October 4, 1997, Infanta Cristina of Spain (also known as Princess Cristina) was married to a professional handball player named Inaki Urdangarin. Cristina is the youngest daughter of King Juan Carlos I. So, she may never become the Queen of Spain, but that doesn’t make her wedding any less royal. Once she was married, Cristina was declared the Duchess of Palma de Mallorca.

Cristina’s gown was created by a Spanish label called Lorenzo Caprile. It was a custom-made off-the-shoulder gown with long sleeves. Unfortunately, the couple’s happiness would be short-lived. Years later, Cristina was found guilty of fraud running a company with her husband. Because of this, her Duchess title was taken away from her.

Beautiful flower girls and page boys following the crown prince and princess of Greece. Credit: Getty Images

23. Marie-Chantal Miller and Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece in 1995

On July 1, 1995, Marie-Chantel Miller married Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece. The wedding had 1,500 guests and reportedly cost $1.5 million. All of this was paid for by the bride’s father, who is a billionaire entrepreneur and sailing champion. This was such a large wedding of high society people, that it was considered to be the largest gathering of royals since the wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip!

Even though Marie was born a commoner, her family’s wealth could afford her a dress worthy of a princess. Marie-Chantel’s Valentino gown was a massive undertaking. For four months, 25 people had to painstakingly assemble 12 different types of lace on ivory silk. The train was also made with 4.5 meters of Chantilly lace. It cost $225,000 to purchase, and it’s truly one of a kind.

A gorgeous wedding photo of Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones and Daniel Chatto. Credit: Getty Images

22. Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones and Daniel Chatto in 1994

On July 14th, 1994, Lady Armstrong Jones married Daniel Chatto. In case you don’t know, Sarah is Princess Margaret’s daughter. So while she may never ascend to the throne, she is still a close relative of the British royal family. The ceremony took place with 200 guests at a church in London called St Stephen’s Walbrook. Many of those guests were members of the royal family, including Princess Diana, Prince Charles, and the Queen.

Sarah’s dress was designed by a British man named Jasper Conran. The dress was made of silk crepe chiffon, while the underskirt was made of both light and heavy satin organza layers. There was also an extra layer of silk crepe. She also wore the Snowdon Floral Tiara, which was a gift from her parents.

The wedding day of Prince Naruhito of Japan and Princess Masako. Credit: Getty Images

21. Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan and Princess Masako in 1993

On June 9, 1993, Princess Naruhito of Japan married Princess Masako at the Imperial Palace. The kimono she wore on her wedding day is called the juni-hito, which means “12-layered garment”. It’s exclusively worn by the aristocratic women of the court in Japan. The kimono was red and green, and it looked difficult to move in. Her husband also wore a red robe with a black hat, and the two of them carried on this historic tradition.

Later, for the First Audience Ceremony, Princess Masako wore a western style wedding dress, pictured above. They continued on with the ceremonies and photographs. Later, they drove around Tokyo waving to the crowd on their way to their home, Togu Palace. They are now officially the 126th Emperor and Empress of Japan.

The very 80’s style wedding photo of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Credit: Getty Images

20. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986

On July 23, 1986, Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson. They were wed in Westminster Abbey. Like most royal weddings, it had a star-studded guest list, including Princess Diana and the groom’s brother, Prince Charles. Little Prince William was just 4 years old at the time, and he acted as a page boy in the wedding.

The dress was designed by a British courtier named Lindka Cierach. It was an ivory duchesse satin gown that was beaded by hand. There are many different shapes embroidered into the dress like waves and anchors to honor Andrew’s career in the Navy. And if you look closely at photos of the back, you can see that the 17 foot long train features a large beaded letter A, for her husband Andrew.

The famous wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Credit: Getty Images

19. Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981

One of the most expensive and extravagant weddings of all time was the nuptials of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981. The ceremony was televised to the world, with 750 million people watching. It’s also one of the most expensive and luxurious weddings in the world. Back then, the wedding cost $48 million. With modern inflation, that’s more like $125.3 million.

Princess Diana’s wedding dress is iconic. It was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The puffy princess gown was made with silk taffeta. They also included handmade Carrickmacross lace which once belonged to Queen Mary. The train was huge, spanning 25 feet long. There were also sequins, and 10,000 pearls embroidered into the gown.

Grace Kelly’s daughter, Caroline of Monaco on her wedding day to Philippe Junot. Credit: Getty Images

18. Princess Caroline of Monaco and Philippe Junot in 1978

Later on this list, we talk about the tragic ending of Grace Kelly, who married the Prince of Monaco. But on June 29, 1978, her daughter Princess Caroline was able to marry a banker named Philippe Junot. Instead of having a wedding ceremony in an outside venue, Caroline used the courtyard of her own home, the Royal Palace of Monaco. This was her first wedding, and Caroline would go on to have two more.

Caroline’s gown was designed by Marc Bohan, who was working under the Christian Dior line at the time. The bodice was made with lightly embroidered organdie and a sheer lace bodice. She also wore an adorable flower crown fitting of the 1970’s. Many people commented how this gown was very modest compared to her mother’s wedding dress decades before. One interesting tidbit about her wedding dress is that the sketches were leaked to the press just a few days before the wedding. So the House of Dior started making last-minute changes to get ahead on the story.

Queen Noor on her wedding day to King Hussein of Jordan. Credit: Getty Images

17. Queen Noor and King Hussein of Jordan in 1978

Lisa Halaby became the very first American woman to marry a king of an Arab country when she married King Hussein of Jordan in 1978. Educated at Princeton University, Lisa studied architecture and did a lot of charity work. She was working in Jordan at her father’s company called Arab Air Services, and she met her future husband at the airport. Once she was married, her name was changed to Queen Noor. At first, this was seen as being very controversial, because Jordan had never seen a white and non-Muslim become Queen. However, as time went on, she continued to do charity work and show her love for her new country.

On her wedding day, Lisa wore a gown designed by Marc Bohan for Dior. It had cowbell sleeves, and fine lace details. Looking at the photos from the 1970’s, you can clearly see that this dress design must have been trendy at the time. Instead of bridesmaids, Queen Noor had a traditional Muslim wedding where she was the only woman present at the ceremony. When she got older, Lisa wrote a book called Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life.

The beautiful wedding photo of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Silvia Sommerlath. Credit: Getty Images

16. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Silvia Sommerlath in 1976

On June 19, 1976, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia Sommerlath said “I do” in front of the cameras. This was Sweden’s very first televised royal wedding, and the first time in 200 years that a woman married a reigning king. The couple met during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. During interviews, they said that they “just clicked” and were inseparable ever since.

Silvia’s white dress was very minimal, with long sleeves. She also wore the Cameo Tiara that had once been a gift from Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife Josephine in the 19th century. But this wedding was historical for so much more than the dress. ABBA performed the song “Dancing Queen” on stage for the very first time! It’s been a hit ever since.

The somber wedding photo of the Aga Khan IV and Sally Croker-Poole. Credit: Getty Images

15. Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, and Sally Croker-Poole (Salimah Aga Khan) in 1969

A British supermodel named Sally Croker-Poole married Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV in 1969. Before marrying the Khan, Sally was married to Lord James Charles Crichton-Stuart, and received the title of “Lady”. She was even one of the very last debutantes to be introduced to the Queen back in 1958. So, since she was young, Sally was put up as a candidate for an aristocratic marriage.

Going from a Lord to a Prince was a serious upgrade! After their marriage at the prince’s house in Paris, she received the title of Salimah Aga Khan. Her wedding outfit is made of embroidered silk, and it’s very modest. There was also a headdress during the ceremony, rather than a tulle veil you’d see in western weddings. Sally and Prince Shah were married for 35 years. They had three children together, and ruled together. However, things eventually ended badly when they got a divorce in 1995.

The gorgeous wedding of fashion designer Diane von Fürtsenberg. Credit: Getty Images

14. Diane von Fürtsenberg and Prince Egon von Fürstenberg in 1969

Many of you will have heard of Diane von Fürtsenberg, because she is a famous fashion designer and icon. But did you know that she also married a Prince? On her wedding day, Diane was actually three months pregnant. But you would never be able to tell, since she chose to wear a loose cotton dress fitting of the style of the 1960’s. The dress was made of cotton, and the belt was made with colorful, beautiful ribbons. It was designed by a man named Marc Bohan, who worked with Dior.

The marriage would not last forever, unfortunately. The couple got divorced in 1981. But in an interview with People Magazine, Prince Egon said that Diane made the Von Fürtsenberg name famous. It wasn’t his royalty that did it, but rather the fact that she was such a famous fashionista. She is still known as Diane von Fürtsenberg even though they divorced so many years ago.

Wedding ceremony of Sonja Haraldsen and Prince Harald V of Norway. Credit: Getty Images

13. Crown Prince Harald V of Norway and Sonja Haraldsen in 1968

The wedding of Crown Prince Harald V of Norway and Sonja Haraldsen could be seen as a “Cinderella Story”, because she was simply a commoner. Normally, royals only marry people who were from a noble background. So this couple paved the way for future royal couples to marry commoners as well.

After dating for 9 years, the couple was married on August 29, 1968. Sonja Haraldson’s wedding dress was considered to be very simple, but elegant. She purchased it from Molstad, which is a clothing store in Oslo. This might not be as impressive as some of the other women on this list who had famous designers create couture gowns. However, it goes to show that even budget wedding dresses can look amazing enough for a royal wedding.

The beautiful wedding day of Princess Margrethe II of Denmark. Credit: Vogue Australia

12. Crown Princess Margrethe II of Denmark and Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat in 1967

Later on this list, we’re going to get into the scandalous story of Princess Anne Marie of Denmark. However, her sister, Crown Princess Margrethe II, had a far more traditional wedding at a more appropriate age. The wedding ceremony of Princess Margrethe of Denmark and Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat took place on June 10, 1967. Henri was a French diplomat working in London, and his aristocratic background was impressive enough for him to marry a princess and future queen.

As the reigning Queen of Denmark, she chose to go with a gown designed by Jørgen Bender. He is a famous Danish designer who also worked on her sister’s wedding gown as well. The silk dress has a square neckline, with a long train. There were deep pleats at the hips, and a flared skirt. Her silk train was 20 feet long. When the ceremony was over, the couple appeared on the balcony of Amalienborg Palace to wave at 25,000 people who had showed up to celebrate her wedding day.

Wedding day of Princess Beatrix and Claus van Amsberg. Credit: Getty Images

11. Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands and Claus von Amsberg in 1966

On March 10, 1966, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands married Claus von Amsberg, who was a German diplomat. The two said their vows in front of the Mayor of Amsterdam at Gijsbert van Hall during the civil ceremony before having the religious ceremony in a church. That very same day, Claus Amsberg received the title “Prince of the Netherlands”.

Princess Beatrix’s dress was designed by Caroline Bergé-Farwick of Maison Linette, a dressmaker who created gowns for the Dutch royal family. The silk duchesse gown had a high neckline, and a very long train. It was considered to be a very modest dress, especially by royal standards. However, its modesty is very similar to the future wedding dress of Meghan Markle.

Wedding of Princess Anne Marie of Denmark, and her husband King Constantine II. Credit: Getty Images

10. Princess Anne Marie of Denmark and King Constantine II of Greece in 1964

King Constantine II of Greece married Princess Anne Marie of Denmark on September 18, 1964. This wedding is historic, because it was the first and only time any Greek Monarch got married when he was already on the throne as King. Even though these two were from Denmark and Greece, they were actually third cousins. Another scandalous detail about the wedding is that they first met when Anne was only 13. Constantine proposed when she was only 15, and her parents withheld consent. So he waited for her to finish her High School education, and reach her 18th birthday.

The couple was married in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. Princess Anne Marie’s dress was created by a Danish designer called Jørgen Bender. The dress has long sleeves, and is belted above the waist. It’s very modest and classic, and suits the young blushing bride. Her “borrowed” item was the veil, which belonged to Princess Margaret of Connaught, Anne Marie’s grandmother. It was made of Irish lace, and was worn at her grandmother’s wedding in 1905.

Wedding of Hope Cooke and Palden Thondup Namgyal. Credit: Getty Images

9. Hope Cooke and Palden Thondup Namgyal (The Crown Prince of Sikkim) in 1963

Hope Cooke was a beautiful American student who attended Sarah Lawerence College. She became the “Gyalmo” or Queen Consort when she married Palden Thondup Namgyal, who was the Crown Prince of Sikkim in 1963. At the time, Sikkim was considered to be the smallest country in Asia. Hope Cooke’s new title became Her Highness The Crown Princess of Sikkim. Later, she became the Gyalmo of Sikkim once her husband took his place as the King.

On her wedding day, Hope’s dress was a red Sikkimese kho, which was customary during Buddhist weddings. By 1973, Sikkim was no longer its own kingdom, and it merged with India. Because of this, the couple was no longer considered royalty. After this happened, Hope returned to the United States and enrolled their two children in New York City schools.

The wedding of Queen Fabiola and King Baudouin of Belgium. Credit: Getty Images

8. Queen Fabiola and King Baudouin of Belgium in 1960

On December 15, 1960, Queen Fabiola married King Baudouin of Belgium. The ceremony took place in the Royal Palace of Brussels at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. As the story goes, the King asked an Irish nun named Sister Veronica O’Brien to help find him a perfect wife. She brought back a nurse named Fabiola, who was the perfect Catholic, Spanish, and aristocratic wife of his dreams. In 1960, TIME magazine called her “Cinderella Girl”, because of this amazing story.

Queen Fabiola’s drop-waist wedding dress was designed by Cristóbol Balenciaga. If that sounds familiar, it’s because he was the founder of the famous fashion brand Balenciaga. The ivory satin and mink trimmed dress became so famous, it’s even on display at the Balenciaga Museum in Spain. While many of us have never heard of this wedding, it’s still one that is solid in the history books of Belgium.

The wedding day of Anne Abel Smith and David Liddell-Grainger. Credit: Getty Images

7. Anne Abel Smith and David Liddell-Grainger in 1957

Many of you may have never heard of this wedding, because it involves lesser-known royals. Anne Abel Smith was the cousin of Queen Elisabeth, and the granddaughter of Princess Alice. Her sister was Princess Betrix of the Netherlands. The wedding took place in Windsor Castle in St. George’s Chapel. Anne wore a long sleeved satin ball gown on her wedding day to David Liddell-Grainer. He was formerly a member of the Scots Guards.

According to the Associated Press Archives, the royal cousin’s wedding was filled with members of the royal family. Some of the guests included the Queen and the Queen Mother, the Duchess of Kent, and Prince Michael. Even though Anne was not a princess herself, she was still given the royal treatment. As long as you’re connected with the royal family, you’re going to have a spectacular wedding day.

Actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainer of Monaco. Credit: Getty Images

6. Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer of Monaco in 1956

Grace Kelly was a famous actress who captured the hearts of millions. Many men dreamed of being with her, but only one could capture her heart. Grace first met her future husband on the French Riviera in 1955 while she was filming To Catch a Thief. Grace retired from acting in favor of becoming a princess. However, she and her husband tragically died in a car accident in 1982.

On her wedding day, Grace Kelly wore a gown created by a costume designer from MGM named Helen Rose. It shouldn’t be surprising, considering that Helen designed several gorgeous dresses for Grace in movies like High Society and The Swan. Helen Rose used antique lace, 25 yards of silk taffeta, and 100 yards of silk netting. The dress became so famous, that it inspired future wedding dresses of celebrities. Kim Kardashian, Ivanka Trump, and Kate Middleton all designed their wedding dresses to look like Grace Kelly.

The Kennedy family is considered to be apart of American Royalty. Credit: Getty Images

5. Jacqueline Onassis and John F. Kennedy in 1953

Technically, the Kennedy family doesn’t hold any royal title or wear a crown, because they’re from the United States. Here in the United States, if your family is rich and sophisticated enough, it’s just as good as being a royal. The wedding of future President John F. Kennedy to Jacqueline Onassis was an incredibly high-profile event. They were married on June 25, 1953 at St Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island. It has been estimated that they had between 750 to 800 guests, but some sources claim it was as high as 1,200.

Jackie’s dress was designed by a woman named Ann Lowe, who wasn’t very well known She was an African American designer from Alabama who specialized in creating dresses for elite families. Ann was the low-key dressmaker for the likes of other American families like the Rockefellers and DuPonts. Just ten days before the wedding, the dress was almost destroyed in a flood. That could have spelled out tragedy for the Kennedy wedding, but it was saved from experiencing water damage. This was years before John F Kennedy became President of the United States, but it was clear on that day that he had a bright future ahead of him.

Beautiful Queen Soraya of Iran wore a custom Christian Dior gown on her wedding day. Credit: Getty Images

4. Shah Mohamed Reza Pahlevi and Queen Soraya of Iran in 1951

Both Shah Mohamed Reza Pahlevi and Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari were married once before, but that didn’t stop them from getting remarried. These two royal divorcees came together for yet another show-stopping royal wedding. According to reports, she was rushed into a second marriage, because it was necessary for her to keep her crown. Soraya became the new Queen of Iran from 1951 to 1958. Even though it was their second wedding, Soraya was given a beautiful royal wedding that she deserved.

On her wedding day, Queen Soraya of Iran chose a custom wedding gown by fashion designer Christian Dior. The dress was made with 37 yards of silver lame, because a Queen deserves that, of course. It was embellished with 20,000 feathers, and 6,000 diamonds. The dress itself was worth more than what many people in her country had to their name. Even though the pictures make the day look idyllic, Soraya was actually sick with typhoid. She had to wear a woolen vest and socks to keep her warm up until the last minute. Years later, when doctors confirmed that she could not produce an heir to the throne, they divorced.

Rita Hayworth and Aly Khan’s wedding day. Credit: Getty Images

3. Rita Hayworth and Aly Khan in 1949

Many of you might recognize Rita Hayworth, who was a famous movie star in the 1930’s and 40’s. Her beauty and talent brought her to the attention to Prince Aly Khan. This was Rita Hayworth’s third marriage, so she chose to go with a more modest wedding dress for husband number three. This is traditional for second or third marriages, because white is supposed to be reserved for a virgin wedding. Rita’s wedding dress was inspired by Christian Dior’s 1947 New Look collection. The dress was in ice blue crepe. had long sleeves, a long skirt, and she topped it off with an elegant hat.

As you can imagine, the story was a heyday for the press. Cameras were flashing, because everyone wanted to know more about the Hollywood starlet who married a prince. If you’re curious, you can still watch the news coverage of their wedding day in front of the mayor when she became a princess. Unfortunately, this royal wedding didn’t spell out “happily ever after” for the actress. Rita was married to the prince from 1949 to 1953, which is when they divorced. She continued to act in films long after her divorce and eventual new marriages.

The wedding of King Michael and Princess Anne. Credit: Getty Images

2. King Michael of Romania and Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma in 1948

Once upon a time, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma was a Macy’s sales girl. She also served her country proudly, because she volunteered for the French army in World War II. When she was married, she transformed, because she is actually a real Danish princess. She wore a gown covered with rose colored tulle with an eleven foot long train that required 3 pages to carry it down the aisle! She was married to Prince Michael of Romania, who would later become the future king.

At the time, the King and Queen of Romania was deposed by the Communist party. Because of this, they weren’t even allowed to enter their home country until 1992. Since they needed to flee the country, both of them were married in Athens, Greece. Several royals from other European nations attended the wedding to show their full support. Many people in Romania still loved the royal family, despite the fact that it was now Communist. So they were still curious to know as much as they could about the royal wedding.

It took seven weeks to make Queen Elizabeth’s dress. Credit: Getty Images

1. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1947

Last and certainly not least is the famous wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1947. When people in the media simply say “The Queen”, they’re always referencing Queen Elizabeth II. At least, this is true here in the United States, because our nation was once occupied by the British.) There is even the TV series about her life called The Crown on Netflix, which includes a visual retelling of her wedding day. Obviously, you can’t have an article about royal weddings without Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Her Royal Majesty’s wedding gown was designed by Norman Hartnell, who created a dress made of duchesse satin as well as Chinese silk. At the time, the silk was purchased from China because it was the most politically correct thing to do. Since this happened not long after World War II, they kept away from both Japanese and Italian silks, considering that it was still far too soon to support them. The dress design was inspired by Botticelli’s painting Primavera. Queen Elizabeth even saved up her ration cards to pay for her own dress, but it was still far from normal. It took 350 women seven full weeks to work on and complete the gown.

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