From Solange Knowles to Liz Taylor; a look back at the best alternative wedding looks

Fashion


From Solange Knowles to Liz Taylor; a look back at the best alternative wedding looks

By Stylist Team

11 years ago

The most important thing for many women when they're planning their big day is the dress. 

But with so much choice around, it's hard to make a decision on what you really want for your big moment, particularly if you're trying to avoid the classic strapless gown. 

From Gwen Stefani's pink dip-dyed Dior gown to Angelina Jolie's illustrated dress and Solange Knowles’ jumpsuit, we've put together a list of some of the coolest and most alternative celebrity wedding outfits, to give you inspiration for your own big day.

Gwen Stefani's John Galliano creation

After proposing on New Year’s Day in 2002, that same year on September 14th 90s golden couple, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale married at St Paul’s Covent Garden. According to reports on the day, Gwen arrived an hour late but she was well worth the wait for Gavin who said “God bless Gwen, she has saved me in so many ways.”

The dress was designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior and had shocking pink dip-dyed hem, which was said to echo Gwen’s bright pink hair from before the couple were together. The bride also loved her dress so much she wore it again when the couple had another ceremony a couple of weeks later for their big day, but this time in LA so their American friends could also celebrate. 


Kate Bosworth's custom-made Proenza Schouler silk dress

Organised by Martha Stewart Weddings, actress Kate Bosworth and her film director other half Michael Polish married on August 31 2013 in Philipsburg, Montana on a mountain top. While the theme was a very rustic vibe, the bride had two dresses to wear for her big day. One was a gorgeous and traditional Oscar de la Renta strapless gown but our favourite has to the beautiful  custom-made Proenza Schouler silk dress (pictured) which caught our eye. 


Audrey Hepburn's low-key dress

Audrey lived in Rome for twenty years, where she met and married Dr Andrea Dotti, an Italian psychiatrist, on18 January 1969 at age 39. For that wedding, she had been previously married to Mel Ferrer, she went for a chic pared-back dress with a high collar and empire line. 


Olivia Palermo's two-piece

Rather shockingly, not least because their wedding ceremony took everyone by surprise, Olivia Palermo married her fiance Johannes Huebl on June 30th this year, in a cashmere jumper with white shorts and a full tulle shirt overlay, which was all by Carolina Herrera. Despite this being an unusually pared-back look, we love it for being so original and the fact she went for two-pieces rather than a traditional gown.


Jerry Hall's Indonesian outfit

For Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger's wedding in 1990 in Bali, 10 years into their relationship, Jerry wore a traditional Indonesian wedding outfit including an amazing golden headdress.


Elizabeth Taylor's little yellow dress

First time round for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who married in 1964 and then later in 1975, Liz opted for a simple yellow dress, with flowers adorning her hair. 


Keira Knightley's simple Chanel frock

Keira won much admiration for choosing to wear this simple Chanel dress for her wedding to Klaxon's keyboardist James Righton on May 4th 2013. The couple wed in Mazan in the South of France, and Keira even decided to recycle the outfit again when she attended the SeriousFun Children's Network London Gala, Roundhouse on Dec 3rd of the same year.


Lady Mary Charteris' daring sheer gown

Designed by Pam Hogg, who is also a favourite of Lady Gaga, aristocrat Lady Mary Charteris’ wedding dress was made up of sheer panels on the body, with just a couple of panels covering her modesty, and a full skirt on the bottom. Mary married The Big Pink front man Robbie Furze in September of 2013.


Bianca Jagger's white suit

The ultimate alternative wedding dress. When Bianca Jagger married Rolling Stone Mick Jagger on May 12 1971, she was already four months pregnant with their only daughter Jade, and opted for a fitted white suit jacket and skirt. Often copied but never equalled. 


Katy England's pink and white stripey outfit

Getting married to Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie means you were probably never going to go for a traditional gown. Not only that his wife-to-be Katy England is also a respected stylist herself. So what do you wear to one of the most rock 'n' roll weddings ever? Alexander McQueen of course. The couple, who count Kate Moss as one of their closest friends, married at St. Margaret's Church, Betley on 29 July 2006.


Leah Wood's demure gown

When Ronnie Wood's daughter, Leah married Jack McDonald at Southwark Catherdral on June 21st 2008, she opted for a floor-length gown with long sleeves and beautiful detailing on the top. 


Alexandra Lena's spectacular fantasy-inspired gown

Getting married to Sean Parker, founder of Napster and billionaire, means that you can basically get whatever you want for your big day. The bride wore a beautiful Ellie Saab gown, and it was thought that Sean spent a whopping £6.3 million ($10 million) on the lavish affair. The couple married in a forest in Big Sur in June 2013.


Marilyn Monroe's black two-piece suit

This classic outfit worn by Marilyn Monroe at her wedding to Joe DiMaggio in San Francisco on January 14, 1954, is now considered iconic. It was a black two-piece suit with a white collar. 


Poppy Delevingne's tiered gown

This beautiful and elegant Chanel gown was worn by poppy Delevingne for her wedding to James Cook in May 2014. It was from the 2009 Haute Couture collection, and was updated by Karl Lagerfeld who has a strong relationship with Poppy Delevingne. Sister Cara Delevingne also wore a custom-made Chanel gown. 


Solange Knowles' jumpsuit

Ah Solange, what great taste you have. This jumpsuit was worn by the singer to her wedding to her video director partner Alan Ferguson, in a ceremony in New Orleans on 15th November this year. 


Solange Knowles' long ceremony dress

The 28-year-old bride then changed for the ceremony and wore a dress created by designer Humberto Leon for Kenzo, which was a floor-length gown with fitted cape. She accessorised with gold cuffs from Lady Grey and kept her hair natural. 


Shenae Grimes' black bridal dress

Actress Shenae Grimes, who starred in 90210, surprised many with her colour choice of black when she married British model Josh Beech in England on May 10 2013. However, before you go thinking that she bought this from the local goth shop, think again. This was from the Vera Wang Bride Fall 2012 collection, proving brides don't always have to go for white! 


Angelina Jolie's illustrated designer dress

Despite the fact that Angelina Jolie's dress was designed by Donatella Versace for Atelier Versace, she chose to included some of her children's illustrations on the gown and the veil. This made the wedding between her and Brad Pitt a truly unique affair, with a real family feel to the whole day. 


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