15 Wedding Dresses From Movies That Have Become Absolutely Iconic

The "bird on her head" was questionable, but the dress was breathtaking.

Stephanie

• Published in Film & TV
• March 12, 2022

It's undeniable that a wedding dress is not just a dress. It's a statement, a precious piece of a love story, and, in some cases, a work of art.

So much so that we tend to become insanely invested in the wedding dress choices of our favorite TV and movie characters. We look to them for ideas and inspiration for our own special days, and we may even shed a genuine tear when we see them walk down the (pretend) aisle.

When Monica married Chandler on Friends, fans rushed out to buy the stunning House of Bianchi dress Courteney Cox wore for the much-anticipated wedding episode. Monica's simple, white, A-line dress with its deep V-neckline and wide sleeveless straps is still popular with brides today.

And who could forget the stunning Vivienne Westwood gown Carrie Bradshaw wore when she married Mr. Big in Sex and the City? The "bird on her head" was questionable, but the dress was breathtaking.

There are so many unforgettable Hollywood wedding dresses it's almost impossible to narrow them down to just a few. But (of course) we were up to the task, so keep scrolling to take a look at 15 of the most iconic wedding dresses from movies.

1. Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City

When Carrie finally married Big in Sex and the City, the wardrobe department had no choice but to impress with their choice of dress for the fashion queen. And they didn't disappoint!

The stunning Vivienne Westwood princess gown worn by SJP in the film was nothing short of breathtaking. Of course, the choice of headpiece was somewhat questionable, but we were willing to overlook it for that dress.

2. Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride

Julia Roberts wore several wedding dresses for her role as Maggie Carpenter in Runaway Bride. But the Amsale Aberra gown she wore at the very end when she finally tied the knot - that was our favorite!

3. Jennifer Lopez in Monster-In-Law

The princess-cut Saeyoung Vu Couture dress JLo wore in Monster-In-Law suited her perfectly. Of course, there aren't many dresses that wouldn't look good on JLo, but we think this one was particularly stunning.

4. Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in Bride Wars

Who doesn't love this movie? Bride Wars is an iconic chick-flick of the best kind, and the wedding dresses we all waited for at the end of the film were well worth the anticipation.

Kate Hudson looked incredible in a classic Vera Wang tulle dress with sweetheart neckline. And in contrast, Anne Hathaway looked equally stunning in her modern, mermaid-cut gown.

5. Dakota Johnson in Fifty Shades Darker

Dakota Johnson looked absolutely beautiful in the Monique L'huillier gown she wore during her wedding to Christian Gray in Fifty Shades Darker. The dress was made almost entirely of lace and revealed only Dakota's shoulders.

6. Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge

Nicole Kidman stunned as Satine in Moulin Rouge, and the wedding dress she wore designed by Catherine Martin was the perfect choice. It's no surprise with an incredible wardrobe team such as that one!

7. Katherine Heigl in 27 Dresses

Poor Katherine Heigl was always the bridesmaid and never the bride in 27 Dresses. But when it was finally her turn, she didn't disappoint in this beautiful Amsale gown.

8. Blake Lively in The Age of Adaline

In The Age of Adaline, Blake Lively got married in the 1920s. The dress she wore perfectly represents that era, and, let's face it, Blake couldn't look bad if she tried!

9. Jennifer Garner in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

When Jennifer Garner walked down the aisle in this beautiful Denise Wingate dress, she took our breath away. The scene from Ghosts of Girlfriends Past made us want to go out and fall in love immediately.

10. Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Okay, there's no way we could make a list like this one without including Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries sequel. The whimsical, off-the-shoulder gown designed by Gary Jones is the perfect choice for Mia's royal wedding.

11. Natalie Portman in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Natalie Portman looks incredible in this Trisha Biggar gown for her Star Wars wedding. Funnily enough, Biggar says she found the lace for the dress on "an old bedsheet."

12. Clémence Poésy in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

When Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour got married, this magical dress by Jany Temime took our breath away. The black lace gown features two peacocks looking at each other.

13. Lily James in Cinderella

Designer Sandy Powell wanted to stick with a fairytale style for Cinderella and Prince Philip's wedding. And, as you can see, she succeeded with this beautiful dress worn by Lily James for the film.

14. Kristen Stewart in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1

The silk, mermaid-cut gown Bella wore to marry Edward in Twilight was designed by none other than Carolina Herrera. Kristen Stewart looked beautiful in the elegant gown.

15. Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games

The futuristic dress Jennifer Lawrence wore in The Hunger Games was a bit out there, but Katniss pulled it off like only she could. Designed by Tex Saverio, the dress featured waves of tulle with metal detailing.

When it comes to weddings, be they real or just what Hollywood portrays, details like the dresses tend to really capture people's attention. No matter where you are from, weddings tend to invoke feelings in you.

Which one of these stunning gowns is your favorite? Would you wear Katniss Everdeen's sci-fi bridal gown, or are you more of a classic, Carrie Bradshaw princess kind of bride?

As always, we would love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share them in the comment section.

Stephanie