The Fascinating History Behind Grace Kelly's Wedding Dress

Their love story was a fairytale, Hollywood queen Grace Kelly marries real-life royal Prince Rainier III of Monaco. 30 million people around the world tuned in to watch the couple tie the knot at Saint Nicholas Cathedral on April 19, 1956. Adored for her classic and understated style, the Oscar-winning American actress changed the landscape of bridal fashion when she walked down the aisle.

Her breathtaking wedding dress remains one of the most iconic of all time that continues to inspire brides around the world to this day. It was estimated to have cost $65,200 to be made at the time which is the equivalent of €685k today. While it is one of the most expensive wedding dresses ever the actress didn’t pay a cent for it and it has a fascinating story behind it.

American actress Grace Kelly arrives at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, for her wedding to Prince Rainier III, Monaco, 19th April 1956. Photo by Joseph McKeown/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Grace Kelly’s Wedding Dress Journey

She received her wedding dress as a gift from her studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). It was designed by Academy Award-winning costume designer Helen Rose, who had created Grace’s wardrobe for four films including her last ever movie High Society which was released three months after she was married.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, it took a 35-member team six weeks to complete the gown which included dyers, seamstresses, hand embroiderers, and sketch artists.

Photo by George W. Hales/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

It was a lace wedding dress that inspired millions more and it set a new benchmark for conservative bridal gowns. Her gown was a masterpiece of intricate design and it was crafted from twenty five yards each of peau de soie and silk taffeta, antique Brussels lace, wax flowers, thousands of handsewn pearls, and more.

The silhouette exuded pure elegance with a high neckline, long sleeves, a seamless bodice that took two seamstresses a month to re-embroider two separate pieces together, a cummerbund and a dramatic bell-shaped skirt.

Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

The design was shrouded in secrecy up until two days before their wedding.

Two months after saying ‘I do’, the princess donated the glorious gown and many of her bridal accessories to the museum in her hometown, the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

It was the creme de la creme of design and it shows, it has stood the test of time and has inspired many iconic celebrity and royal brides including Kate Middleton, so you know you’re doing something right!