12 Stunning Wedding Gowns Worn by Royal and Aristocratic Brides

We always fancied royal weddings because it is the closest thing we could get for fairytales. But above all, it's the wedding gown that always catches our attention in a society  wedding.

Royal wedding gowns over the years have encompassed tradition, whilst still embracing the ever changing trend in fashion. 

Here are the 10 most stunning wedding gowns we have seen so far, worn by royal and aristocratic brides in modern times.

1. Lady Charlotte Wellesley

Topping our list is the elegant wedding dress worn by the glamorous Lady Charlotte Wellesley. She is not only a gorgeous goddess sashaying in this splendid wedding dress, she also epitomizes a modern woman who knows her sense of style.

Lady Charlotte Wellesley and billionaire husband, Alejandro Sto. Domingo

Lady Charlotte is the daughter of Princess Antonia of Prussia and Charles Wellesley, the 9th Duke of Wellington. Her husband is a billionaire, Columbian-American businessman and philanthropist, Alejandro Sto. Domingo. 

Lady Charlotte and her father, the 9th Duke of Wellington

The wedding took place on May 28, 2016, in Illora, Spain, followed by a reception at her father's nearby estate. The ceremony was attended by King Juan Carlos of Spain and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. 

Lady Charlotte and her father, the 9th Duke of Wellington

The pretty aristocrat, a direct descendant of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom through Princess Vicky, wore a gorgeous structured off-the-shoulder gown designed by Emily Wickstead.

2. Countess Stephanie de Lannoy

Born to the aristocratic family in Belgium, Countess Stephanie de Lannoy married the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Prince Guillaume, on October 20, 2012, in Luxembourg. 

Princess Stephanie on her wedding day

She was every inch an enchanting princess on her wedding day, wearing a timeless, ethereal silver dress designed by Elie Saab.

The Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

A dreamy gown for a glamorous aristocrat. It was embellished with 50,000 pearls  and threaded with ethereal silver that made the dress sparkled at the stroke of sunlight. Truly captivating.

The Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

The skirt was embossed with 80,000 transparent crystals. The flattering A-line hem, with a fitted bodice, highlighted Stephanie's slender figure. A low-set chignon twisted around her splendid ivory silk tulle veil, held in place by her family tiara.

3. Mary Donaldson

Mary Donaldson, an Australian-born Advertising executive, met Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They wed on May 14, 2004 in Copenhagen.

Mary Donaldson on her wedding day

She wore a fabulous ivory satin gown custom-made her by Danish designer, Uffe Frank. The splendid pleated dress has a scoop-neck design with three-quarter length sleeves. 

Prince Frederick and his bride, Mary Donaldson

She donned a new tiara gifted to her by Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik. It has small diamond hearts and fleur-de-lis motifs. However, she wore a royal family heirloom, her veil. 

Her veil was loaned by Queen Margrethe II, originally belonged to Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden, whose daughter, Queen Ingrid, was the mother of the current Danish queen.

4. Claire Lademacher

The second son of Grand Duke Henri, Prince Felix of Luxembourg, wed his German-born girlfriend, Claire Lademacher, on September 21, 2013, a day after their civil ceremony, at the Basilique Sainte Marie-Madeleine in Saint Maximin La-Sainte-Baume, France.

The bride looked stunning in her Elie Saab beautiful ivory long-sleeve lacey dress, intricately embroidered with Chantilly lace floral and glittery silver thread.

Claire Lademacher on her wedding day

Claire's wedding dress is identical to the wedding gown worn by her sister-in-law, Princess Stephanie, in 2012. We love this magnificent dress of Claire as much as we love Stephanie's dreamy wedding gown. Both captivating, elegant and dreamy.

The sisters-in-law's identical wedding dress

5. Princess Eugenie of York

Princess Eugenie of York was so fabulous on her wedding day, not only because she wore a magnificent wedding dress but because her appearance was unique. She did not wear a wedding veil!

Princess Eugene and Jack Brooksbank. Getty Images

It's rare for a bride not to wear a veil on her wedding day and Princess Eugenie did just like that. Her reason? Something sentimental.

Princess Eugene on her wedding day

She wanted to show the scar at his back. The scar was the result of her scoliosis surgery when she was still a kid. 

She wanted to send a message of hope and awareness to everyone with the message of healing both physically and emotionally. 

She only wore a Greville emerald Kokoshnik tiara loaned to her by her grandmother, the Queen. Her exquisite wedding gown was designed by British designers, Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos. 

Princess Eugene wore a statement wedding dress

A long-sleeve, off-the-shoulder dress with a deep neck V cut, revealing her back.  dress included significant hand-made symbols like a Thistle for Scotland, a Shamrock for Ireland, a York rose, and Ivy, to symbolize the House of York and Ivy cottage in Kensington Palace, where she lived.

6. Victoria, The Crown Princess of Sweden

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wed Daniel Westling, her gym trainer, on June 19, 2010, at the Stockholm Cathedral in Sweden. 

The Crown Princess and her husband

It was a state wedding attended by government officials and who's who in the world of royalty, primarily because she is an heir-apparent. Royal women wore sash and tiaras, while royal men wore suits and their royal regalia.

The bride and her father, King Carl XVI Gustav

The princess wore a magnificent white bespoke satin wedding dress designed by Par Engsheden. Her dress was a fresh breather from the lacey and long sleeves style worn by most royal brides.

Princess Victoria's dress is a modern cut but so fabulous! We love the bodice design and how the neckline folded all the way to her back. Simple and yet classy and elegant. CP Victoria opted to wear her mother's wedding tiara, the iconic Cameo Tiara.

7. Charlene Wittstock

Former Olympian swimmer, Charlene Wittstock of South Africa, wed the Sovereign Prince of Monaco, Albert II, on July 1, 2011, civilly, at the Throne room of the Prince's Palace.

Their religious wedding ceremony followed the next day, July 2, held at the beautiful courtyard of the Prince's Palace.

Charlene wore a gorgeous off-the-shoulder ivory satin wedding dress created by Italian fashion designer, Giorgio Armani.

The stunning wedding ensemble was adorned with 40,000 swarovski crystals, embroidered with 20,000 mothers of pearl and gold. The fairytale and elaborate design completed Charlene's stunning look.

But unlike other royal brides, she did not wear a tiara on her wedding day. Traditionally, no Monegasque royal brides wore a tiara on their wedding day.

8. Catherine Middleton

When Kate Middleton arrived at Westminster Abbey for her wedding to Prince William on April 29, 2011, we did not expect to see a vintage design. We thought she would wear something modern like an off-shoulder dress or bolder than that.

Kate Middleton in her Alexander McQueen gown

However, it was so stunning to see the intricate details of her wedding dress. The lacey top was so elaborate and we fancied the pleated skirt!

The wedding dress was custom-made by Sarah Burton of the fashion house, Alexander McQueen, It was an ivory pleated dress with a V-cut neckline. The long train and flowing skirt completed the vintage look.

Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Getty Images

The bodice incorporated floral motifs cut from machine-made lace, which were then appliquéd on to silk net. On the back were 58 buttons of gazar and organza, which fasten by means of rouleau loops. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after the wedding ceremony

The skirt, underskirt trim and bridal train also incorporated lace appliquéd.  The main body of the dress was made in ivory and white satin gazar. The full skirt design echoed an opening flower, with soft pleats which unfolded to the floor, forming a Victorian-style semi-bustle at the back, and finishing in a short train measuring just under three meters in length.

9. Lady Gabriella Windsor

Lady Gabriella, or Ella to the Royal Family, wed British financier, Thomas Kingston, on May 18, 2019, at St. George's Chapel, Windsor.

Lady Gabriella Windsor on her wedding day

It was the last family event attended by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, before the pandemic began. 

lady Gabriella and Thomas Kingston

Apart from being the first cousin of The Queen, her father, Prince Michael of Kent, is also the son of Princess Marina, who was a first cousin of Prince Philip.

Lady Gabriella and her father, Prince Michael of Kent

On her wedding day, she wore a gorgeous wedding dress created for her by Italian designer, Luisa Beccaria. 

It's a stunning tulle wedding gown, fitted at the front and had different layers of blush and cream. 

Lady Ella wore a family heirloom tiara, the Kent City of London Diamond Fringe Tiara, originally belonged to her grandmother, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.

10. Lady Helen Windsor

Lady Helen Windsor is the only daughter of Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, Queen Elizabeth II's first cousin, and Katharine, Duchess of Kent. She wed art dealer, Timothy Taylor, on July 18, 1992, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.

Lady Helen Windsor and Tim Taylor. Getty Images

She wore a stunning structured off-the-shoulder dress in gold embroidery details designed by one of Princess Diana's favorite designers, Catherine Walker. 

Lady Helen Windsor on her wedding day

Lady Helen's wedding dress was a Tudor style with a bodice flared out to a full skirt. She  accessorized it with a diamond and pearl necklace. Her veil was held in place by a fringe tiara diamond that previously belonged to her grandmother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.

11. Duchess Sophie of Wurttemberg

Duchess Sophie of Wurttemberg belonged to the old royal family in Europe whose descent can be traced up from the Kings of Wurttemberg, a defunct kingdom in Germany.

Duchess Sophie of Wurttemberg

Her father, Prince Philipp, is the son of Duke Carl of Wurttemberg, the current head of the royal house of Wurttemberg, while her mother is Duchess Marie-Caroline of Bavaria, younger sister of Princess Sophie, the Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein.

In September 2018, she married French aristocrat, Count Maximilien d'Andigne, followed by a Catholic wedding ceremony on October 20, 2018, in Tegernsee, near the Bavarian Alps in Germany.

Duchess Sophie of Wurttemberg

She wore a beautiful white satin dress in a long-sleeve and scooped bodice. She accentuated it with a chic lacey veil held in place with a family tiara.

12. Maxima Zorreguieta

The current Dutch Queen Consort, Maxima (born Maxima Zorreguieta), who hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina, wed King Wilhelm-Alexander, then the Prince of Orange, on February 2, 2002. 

Now the King and Queen of The Netherlands

Her stunning ivory silk wedding gown was designed by celebrated Italian fashion designer, Valentino. It was made of ivory Mikado silk in a cowl neckline and three-quartered sleeves.

The style is classic, sexy, and sophisticated for a winter wedding. The skirt had panels of embroidered lace, flared out from the sides of the empire-line bodice.

Wedding of then Prince of Orange and Maxima Zorreguieta

Maxima, a former investment banker, exuded charm and elegance on her wedding day wearing this gorgeous Valentino classic gown. She completed her mesmerizing look with a Dutch family heirloom, the Star Diamonds Tiara.