The Top 20 Movie Wedding Gowns

The Top 20 Best Movie Wedding Gowns

This hubpage looks at the top 20 movie wedding dresses. The idea is that the woman had the intention of getting married even if she doesn't actually get married while wearing the gown in question.

The gowns were ranked by beauty (which is super subjective, I know), how they reflect the character/movie and how memorable they are in the cultural landscape.

I also tried to keep the gowns to the white or very soft shades of color for this list. This list focus on wedding gowns from Western wedding convention for bridal gowns.

List is subject to change (changing the list means new polls)

Number #20

Jennifer Grogan, Marley and Me

This dress is more suited for a beach wedding but having set against the snow makes it feel more romantic. Tt features a layered neckline with lace and ruffles. The shawl adds a bit more romance to the overall look.

Gown designed by Coral Gables

Number #19

Maggie Carpenter from Runaway Bride

Reluctant Bride Maggie Carpenter dons a few gowns in the film but it’s the last gown that is the perfect mix of romance and low-key elegance.

With it’s off the shoulder neckline, a-line silhouette and lovely beading it is both stunningly refined and charming.

Gown designed by Amsale

Number #18

Isolde from Tristan and Isolde

This gown was originally created for a version of 1001 Nights and was changed for Tristan and Isolde. Despite it not being design for this film it is such a lovely costume and it oddly fits into the movie.

It a light green clock that has slightly darker stripes sewn on to the fabric. The sleeves are gathered. The underdress is a pinkish gold tone with brighter gold details.

Gown designed by Maurizio Millenotti

Number #17

Georgiana from The Duchess

The Costumes in The Duchess all capture the opulence of 18th century English nobility. It was this gold tone wedding dress that Georgiana wears for a brief moment that was used for the film's promotion.

It is rich gold tone, stunning embellishments and hip petticoat makes it very memorable and beautiful.

And just look at the perfect 18th century silhouette achieve though undergarments called panniers.

Gown designed by Michael O'Connor

Number #16

Viola De Lesseps from Shakespeare in Love

Much like The Duchess, Shakespeare in Love captures the opulence of English nobility but this time it is in the 16th century.

Viola's wedding gown is orange-gold with lots of lace details, stunning sleeves and prominent collar. The fabric on the over-layer looks to be made from velvet while the silver under-layer is heavily patterned.

Gown designed by Sandy Powell

Number #15

Bella Swan from Twilight Saga; Breaking Dawn

This dress is quite simple yet elegant in its streamline silhouette and lace details. The open back of the gown is where the drama is and gives it a little bit of an edge.

Gown designed by Carolina Herra

Number #14

Katherine Banks from Father of the Bride 1950

This one-off gown is a prime example of the 50's demur elegance. It has a lace collar, draped shirt and framing neckline detail.

Gown designed by Edith Head

Number #13

Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility

Marianne wears a lovely and charming 19th century gown for her wedding at the end of the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility.

It features an empire waist, 3/4 sleeves and a matching bonnet. The gown is enhanced by its embellishment which is made from straw. Straw as elegant, who would have thought? It does work with Marianne's sense of romantic sensibilities.

Gown designed by Jenny Beaven

Number #12

Manon from Manon de Sources

Towards the end of Manon de Sources (which is the continuation of Jean de Florette, which is French cinema's answer to The Godfather), the titular Manon dons an elegant art deco style gown for her wedding.

It features a streamline silhouette and cowl neckline. It's made complete by the lace veil which is the classic 1920s cap style of wedding veils.

Gown designed by Sylvie Gautrelet

Number #11

Giselle from Enchanted

This gown takes the princess gowns aesthetic to the extreme and then up a notch again.

It has big puff sleeves, full princess ballgown with underskirt of ruffles and an over skirt of embroidery. It’s a very memorable gown and was used in the film's promotion.

Gown designed by Mona May

Number #10

Sophie from Mamma Mia

This gown is a perfect example of care-free femininity with its soft ruffles, lace and tulle elements. It has an empire waistline, an asymmetrical neckline, blue beading, and an ankle hemline.

Gown designed by Ann Roth

Number #9

Emma from Bride Wars

Bride Wars is by no means a good movie but the two wedding dresses to appear in it are both lovely.

Of the two Emma’s is the less cliché princess variety and more elegant and refined. The gown is devoid of embellishments with the sole point of interest being the trumpet silhouette and the twisted off-centered neckline.

Its restrained simplicity makes it elegant and interesting,

Gown designed by Vera Wang

Number #8

Justine from Melancholia

The first half of Melancholia centers around depressed and fragile bride, Justine's, wedding. It was inspired by Shakespeare's Ophelia with its delicate and fragile style. It’s a strapless gown with gather tier and a lovely flower bolero. The bolero makes this gown.

Gown designed by Manon Rasmussen

Number #7

Princess Mia from The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Prim and elegant perfectly describes Princess Mia's lovely wedding gown that she wears in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

It has an off-the-shoulder lace neckline that extend into 3/4 lace sleeves and onto the bodice. The silhouette is a classic A-line that pools beautifully to the floor. And being the royal that Mia is this gown has a long and dramatic train.

It's an amazing gown from not good movie. Well more of good guilty pleasure type of movie.

Gown designed by Gary Jones

Number #6

Ellie from It Happened One Night

Spoiled Ellie dons this stunning bias cut gown with flutter sleeves and flower details along the neckline. It also has a lovely long veil. The gown appears to be made from dreamy satin.

Gown designed by Robert Goosson

Number #4

Christine Daae from The Phantom of the Opera

Christine Daae was forced into this gown by the Phantom. It has an off shoulder neckline with short sleeves. It has an asymmetrical overskirt that drapes around the side and covers the underskirt that is covered in ruffles.

Gown designed by Alexandra Byrne

Number #4

Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride

Princess Buttercup dons a blue gown that has an empire waist, flower details and flowing long sleeves. The fabric has a sheen and is patterned with white florals. It also has delicate beading on the neckline and the sleeves. It was used in the film promotion.

Blue was a popular color choice for brides during the middle ages.

Gown designed by Phyllis Dalton

Number #3

Padme Amidala from Star Wars Episode II

Padme's wedding gown is stunningly beautiful without being too grand.

It has a clean silhouette that was inspired by the Edwardian era. It was made from Edwardian lace bedspread. The dress has a low v-neckline, an a-line silhouette, long flutter over-sleeves and lace veil.

The dress is covered in seed pearls.

Gown designed by Trisha Biggar

Number #2

Cinderella from 2015 version of Cinderella

This gown is both classic and very youthful. The silhouette is elegant and and the sheer neckline and sleeves give it an understated quality. The youthfulness comes from the pop of color from the embroidered flowers throughout the gown.

The asymmetric neckline with the embroidery in the shoulder is a great surprising detail.

It is the perfect gown for the kind poor girl turned royal.

Costume design by Sandy Powell

Number #1

Fleur Delacour from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

There is some controversy around this gown as it looks very similar to a 2008 Alexander McQueen gown but be it tribute or copy it's still gorgeous.

The soft ruffle skirt and the lace phoenixes are a lovely contrast to each other. It's dramatic with out being too over-the-top.

Gown designed by Jany Temine

Wedding Poll

Which on of these wedding gowns do you like the best?

Jessicab on September 28, 2020:

I dont know if it is a wedding dress but Danelles (Barrymore) white dress in Ever After

Lauralynn on February 15, 2019:

I ‘m with you Izzy. I’m a big fan of Maria’s dress from SOM, but I Love Padme’s veil!

Izzy on March 18, 2018:

Padme's wedding dress is really gorgeous . Maria's wedding dress in The Sound of Music should be in this list too. :)

DGbreezin on February 06, 2016:

I always liked the wedding gown from "So I Married an Axe Murderer." The dress that Danielle wears to the ball in "Ever After" is memorable, though I don't recall if it's definitely her mother's wedding dress. Also, the wedding dress from "Outlander" is gorgeous.

RiverCygnet (author) on July 28, 2015:

you're right, I need to update.

Laura on July 14, 2015:

Why is Cinderella's dress not an option in the poll?

HathawayLover on October 18, 2014:

I can't believe you dissed Princess Diaries 2!! #hathawayforever

Laura Brown from Ontario, Canada on May 31, 2014:

My favourite might be the other dress from Bride Wars. Hard to choose but I did think the other dress was very elegant and understated. It's the one I remembered.

AmyLOrr on April 08, 2014:

This lens is wonderful. All the dresses are so pretty - I picked Princess Mia's dress because I would most likely wear that. Fleur Delacour's dress is also beautiful :)

Rose Jones on March 09, 2014:

Loved your lens - Pinned to my weddings board. I voted for Fleur Delacour's dress, but I also loved Viola De Lesseps and all of them really.

LoriBeninger on July 20, 2013:

You are so observant of the gorgeous details in movies! I love these "Top" series you have composed!

anonymous on July 13, 2013:

All the dresses were beautiful and so glad to see dresses that weren't strapless. Strapless dresses are not very flattering on most body types and will be so glad to see the style go away. There is nothing worse than a fat bride in a strapless dress.

anonymous on October 23, 2012:

I really like Fleur Delacour's wedding dress from Harry Potter. In the book, it is nearly impossible for a phoenix to die. When a phoenix dies, it bursts into flames, rises from the ashes shortly after, and forms another body for itself. I really love the phoenix details on the dress. It is the symbol of eternal. Great for every weddings :D