Best celebrity wedding dresses of the 1980s

Princess Diana and Prince Charles

On July 29, 1981, Princess Diana and Prince Charles walked down the aisle in front of more than 3,000 guests in what was dubbed “the wedding of the century.” In addition to the guests gathered at St. Paul's Cathedral, a record-breaking 750 million people watched in 74 countries around the world.

For her big day, Princess Diana wore an ivory gown designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel that took three months to make and featured a 25-foot train, puffy sleeves, a ruffled neckline, and lace trim.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

Since we first met in 1981 Dear friends, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were married in April 1988, when Wilson wore a knee-length dress with a tulle veil.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall

When Julia Louis-Dreyfus married Brad Hall in 1987, she took inspiration from another very famous bride of the '80s.

“I got married in 1987 and my wedding dress was very inspired by Princess Diana. I was never a big fan of Princess Diana, but her wedding dress was amazing,” she said. Seinfeld Star explained in her episode Smarter than me Podcast.

“it is Room with a view “It was atmospheric, and I was obsessed with the movie. Princess Diana's dress had these puffy sleeves and double layers of lace at the cuffs,” she continued. “I totally stole it from my own dress. It was like a study of everything terrible that was going on in the '80s. Well, that's not fair. It wasn't bad, but it was very '80s.”

Diana Ross & Arne Naess Jr.

Diana Ross married Arne Naess Jr. in Switzerland in 1986. The Supremes frontwoman wore a silk dress with layered lace sleeves and a matching cape. The couple remained married until 2000.

Christie Brinkley & Billy Joel

Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel married in 1985 on a ship in New York Harbor before about 150 guests.

“Brinkley claimed they chose a beach wedding because of their mutual love of the ocean, but Joel would have been closer to the truth if he'd said they went by boat to avoid the press,” People magazine reported in its April 1985 cover story, reporting their first joint interview.

For the celebration, the bride wore a white satin dress with ivory lace and gold tulle by Norma Kamali. The couple were married until 1994.

Samuel L. Jackson & LaTanya Richardson

Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson both opted for all-white outfits for their wedding in 1980. To celebrate their 43rd wedding anniversary in 2023, Jackson posted a tribute to his longtime love on Instagram.

“Happy Anniversary,” he wrote on a photo of the couple, adding that 43 years had flown by. He later captioned a video of the two dancing, “I think we can make it 43 more!!! Everlasting Love!!!!!!”

Jon Bon Jovi & Dorothea Bon Jovi

Those haircuts! Those bangs! Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Bon Jovi first met at Sayreville War Memorial High School in New Jersey in 1980 and eloped in Las Vegas in 1989.

“I had a No. 1 album, a No. 1 single, and I was playing three nights at the Forum in LA,” the Bon Jovi frontman said. Men's Health In 2010. “I turned to Dorothea and said, 'I have an idea. Let's go right now.' She said, 'You're crazy.' I said, 'Come on, what could be better than this moment?' So we took off to Las Vegas. I didn't tell anyone.”

Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh

Before the two appeared Harry potter Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh, who co-starred in Star Wars: Episode I, married in London in 1989. Thompson eschewed the traditional white dress for a colorful outfit with a matching headpiece. The couple divorced in 1996.

Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones

In 1988, ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky married actress and model Janet Jones in Edmonton in what CBC called a “wedding of royal proportions,” with “thousands” of onlookers gathering on the big day to get a sneak peek at the couple.

The bride's voluminous gown was accessorized with a tulle-adorned headpiece and an equally plentiful array of flowers.

Valerie Bertinelli & Eddie Van Halen

For his wedding to Valerie Bertinelli in 1981, rock singer Eddie Van Halen wore all white, as was the trend at the time. The actress's outfit was also very dated, featuring a lace bodice and matching headpiece. The couple divorced in 2007.