We are starting a series of publications about legendary weddings that have gone down in history. This time we remember how Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly married Rainier Grimaldi in 1956 - the marriage of the movie star and the reigning prince of Monaco was immediately called the “wedding of the century.” Be inspired by a ceremony that still captivates brides around the world.
Engagement
The prince proposed to his chosen one on Christmas Eve. Already on January 5, 1956, at a press conference, Grace Kelly showed the world her engagement ring: instead of the traditional one large stone, there were several small diamonds and scarlet rubies on it - the color of the red and white flag of Monaco.
A month later, Kelly received a second engagement ring: a Cartier white gold jewelry with the famous 10.5-carat diamond, which the prince presented to her on the set. According to legend, he did this because the first ring with rubies seemed too simple for Grace.
What is the dispute about?
There is one more detail that will maximally emphasize this style - a bouquet of lilies of the valley. Kate Middleton did the same, which caused a wave of discussions in fashion circles, which at that time actively began to compare these two outfits.
Perhaps Grace's dress served as the basis for creating Kate's image, but many of the details were individual, taking into account her, and the outfit went down in fashion history as one of the most beautiful.
But the princess and her costume designer Helen Rose also took as a basis a certain 20th century ball gown from “High Society” and to it they added long sleeves, a high neckline and an elongated train.
Closed ceremony
Grace Kelly became the official wife of Prince Rainier III of Monaco on April 18, 1956. At the closed civil ceremony there were few invitees, the circle of guests consisted of the closest people - the princess wore a powder-pink ensemble of a closed jacket and a fluffy skirt. The hem was decorated with expensive French alençon lace, and Grace's head was decorated with a miniature “Juliet.”
Wedding of Grace Kelly and Rainier III
The daughter of very rich parents, the niece of a Pulitzer Prize winner, the girl entered high society from childhood (ironically, this is the name of the movie star’s last film) and could count on the most brilliant match. However, when she first stepped onto the stage as a six-year-old child, Gracie dreamed of theater and cinema, not imagining herself in any other form. A talented and very beautiful girl managed to fulfill her dream and become a famous actress, the highest-grossing artist of the early 1950s. But in 1955, the movie star met a real prince on a white horse and returned to the path that was destined by fate itself. The Prince of Monaco and the Hollywood star met on the French Riviera in 1955, when Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief was filmed here. According to legend, the young people fell in love at first sight, and two months later, on Christmas 1955, the ruler of Monaco proposed, which the Oscar winner happily accepted. On January 5, the bride and groom held a press conference at which they announced that the wedding of the Monegasque prince and the Hollywood queen would soon take place. The wedding of Grace Kelly and Rainier III took place twice - at a closed ceremony on April 18, 1956 and the next day for residents of the principality, guests of Monaco, as well as television viewers who watched the broadcast of the magnificent celebration.
The princess's status meant that the actress would have to end her film career, so the MGM studio, with which the artist had a contract, decided to carry out the latest project with Grace Kelly in the title role. The wedding expenses fell almost entirely on the shoulders of the film studio (about $50 million), in return for which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer received exclusive rights to photography and video broadcasting, which brought the studio substantial income (the television broadcast audience was 30 million viewers). The main lucky recipient of the wedding ceremony should be considered Prince Rainier III, who not only married the Hollywood queen, but also received a free wedding as a gift and, thanks to the global advertising he received, subsequently managed to turn the poor principality into a tourist Mecca.
Video of Grace Kelly and Rainier III's wedding
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Wedding
The public wedding took place the very next day. In his honor, the streets of Monte Carlo were crowded with people: more than 20 thousand residents of the principality gathered at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, where the wedding took place. Residents of the city were offered wedding food and free champagne. There were about a thousand official guests, including representatives of European royal families, politicians, billionaires and movie stars.
Grace was taken to the wedding ceremony by ship, and her exit was accompanied by a scattering of armfuls of white and red carnations - they were thrown directly from a helicopter. Parked near the wedding tent was a custom-made Rolls-Royce convertible - it was a gift to the couple from the subjects of the principality.
At the gala dinner after the ceremony, Rainier dealt a crushing blow with a sword to a luxurious six-story cake in the shape of a palace - a tribute to the traditions of the court. The wedding cost 45-55 million dollars, securing the status of a secular Mecca for the small principality.
What changed?
Today changes in silhouette are practiced quite successfully.
So, there are already outfits with full skirts, flounces, A-line, “Mermaid”, short, but at the same time they are united by a lace bodice with a neckline, as well as a train provided even in short styles.
Legendary wedding dress
The image of the Princess of Monaco has become a standard for brides for many years. Her main dress was created by Metro Goldwyn Mayer MGM film studio designer Helen Rose from antique Belgian lace purchased by Prince Rainier from the state museum. Three dozen tailors worked on the outfit for six weeks: 125 meters of hand-woven material in ivory, pearls, silk taffeta and a lace tiara in the hair with wax and paper orange blossoms required meticulous professional work.
The complex hem of the dress created the effect of a magical haze, and the veil was specially made as transparent as possible, because the actress’s face was supposed to be visible in the photographs. Today, the cost of the outfit is estimated at about 300 thousand dollars, and you can see it with your own eyes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
At the same time, Grace Kelly did not have a bouquet as such in her hands. According to tradition, she ascended to the altar with a prayer book decorated with beads and semi-precious stones, holding in her hands only a laconic armful of lilies of the valley.
Why is the outfit so attractive?
Grace Kelly's wedding dress is reminiscent of the Renaissance style, when pomp and pomp were in fashion. It is unlike any other. This dress is a work of art as it is made in a very intricate way.
A wide belt emphasizes the waist, and the skirt is made in the shape of a bell; this shape allows the girl to look like a fragile and delicate princess.
It is almost impossible to replicate such a dress, but brides of all times try to sew an outfit that is at least a little reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s dress.
Princess Eugenie
Nothing was known about Princess Eugenie's dress before the wedding. Traditionally, the royal lady chose British designers: the creative duo of Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vaux, designers of the Peter Pilotto brand, worked on the wedding dress. Eugenia was probably inspired by the image of Meghan Markle, because she relied on a laconic design and simple cut. The cream-colored dress, made from a mix of jacquard silk, viscose and cotton, featured long sleeves, open shoulders and an open back. The outfit was decorated with embroidery depicting shamrocks, thistles, roses and ivy, which was made by craftsmen in Como, Italy. The open back symbolized Eugenie's acceptance of her body: scars from the operation that the royal lady underwent at the age of 12 are visible on the princess's body.
Happy together
The Principality flourished, and Rainier was happy. And Grace?
At first, definitely. She liked to play the role of a princess, participate in events in this role, and do charity work.
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The people of Monaco loved her, although she made them nervous. The couple's first child in 1957 was a girl, who was named Carolina . But Rainier reassured the people: don’t worry, there will be a boy. Prince Albert was born in 1958 , Monegasques began to idolize Princess Grace.
But still they were too different. Calm and balanced Rainier preferred the silence of home, while Grace's temperament required intense emotions. Tell me, what kind of emotions can there be in family life if the husband’s main hobby is collecting stamps?
Rainier was indeed an avid philatelist and in his later years even became an honorary member of the European Academy of Philately. But over time, Grace could no longer see her husband fiddling with pieces of paper instead of spending time with her and the children.
In 1965, a second daughter was born, who was named Stefania .
Offers came from Hollywood to resume her acting career, but in Monaco they believed that their princess should not appear on screen unless it was a protocol shoot.
Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Jennifer Aniston's wedding dress (July 2000)
Unlike the marriage itself, Jennifer Aniston's wedding dress was perfect. It was designed and sewn by American Lawrence Steele from snow-white silk and tulle, decorated with hundreds of tiny pearls.
Jen's hair was tucked under a veil and she wore leather Manolo Blahnik sandals. The two bridesmaids wore green silk dresses and the groomsmen wore Prada suits.
Everything is simple, elegant and very expensive. Five years later, after her divorce from Brad Pitt, trying to get rid of depression, Jennifer gathered her friends and staged a ritual burning of her wedding dress in the backyard of her house. So now there are only memories of him.
4. Princess Diana's wedding dress (July 1981)
The history of this dress is very unusual: the design was carried out by unknown young fashion designers David and Elizabeth Emmanuel. “One day we got a call from Vogue magazine and asked if we had any beautiful blouse. We found one thinking we needed it for publication. But it turned out that Diana Spencer, the future Princess of Wales, was looking for a new blouse.” Diana liked the thing so much that soon the bell rang in David and Elizabeth's studio. “I picked up the phone,” Elizabeth recalls. - It was Diana. She quietly asked if we would agree to sew a wedding dress for her. As if we could say no.
The most amazing thing is that this order was not even formalized: not a single letter or inspector came from Buckingham Palace. Diana also went to fittings alone, only once she came with her mother. And all three months while the work was going on, the windows and roofs of neighboring houses were covered with paparazzi.
But only on the wedding day did the world see a luxurious dress with a whalebone corset, puffed sleeves, a diamond belt and an incredibly long - eight-meter - train. The meringue-colored silk taffeta was hand-embroidered with ten thousand pearls and gold sequins. In addition, an exact replica of the dress was made “in reserve.” It’s scary to even think about how much Princess Diana’s original outfit costs, if its copy was sold at auction for 175 thousand dollars.
7. Priscilla Presley's wedding dress (May 1967)
Priscilla was wearing a long, floor-length, loose dress of a very simple cut, with a cowl collar and transparent sleeves embroidered with small beads. Priscilla's mother bought it, but the bride, not too pleased, spent several days altering the outfit by hand.
The luxurious hairstyle was decorated with a small crown of fake diamonds and a heavy long veil. The King of Rock and Roll did not like the bride's dress at all. He considered it too simple, uninteresting and not in keeping with his, Elvis, status.
However, Priscilla claims that all this is evil gossip. “Elvis loved the way I looked on our wedding day. We were both very nervous and didn't know what we should each wear. And when we saw each other leaving the rooms, fully dressed in our wedding dresses, we were very emotional. He said, “Sattnin, you look beautiful.”
The dress was just in the style of that time. I chose it because it was floaty and romantic. It was feminine.
Catastrophe
On September 13, 1982, the 1980 Rover SD1 (3500V8) in which Grace and Stefania were driving lost control, went off a sharp turn and fell onto the side of a mountain.
Stefania's condition did not raise any concerns, but rescuers removed Grace unconscious and with serious injuries. On September 14, she died in a hospital in Monaco.
The broadcast of her funeral was watched by 100 million viewers. The funeral ceremony, which was attended by movie stars, politicians and members of royal families, again drew the world's attention to Monaco.
Rainier was scary to look at. “With the death of the princess, emptiness entered my life,” he would say later. Always cheerful and energetic, he aged in a few days.
Only in fairy tales can a prince revive his beloved with a kiss of love. Even the biggest miracle could not bring Grace back.
Rainier III, Albert, Caroline, Stephanie, Nancy Reagan and Robert Adams at the unveiling of the Princess Grace monument at the National Portrait Gallery in October 1986. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Makeup and hairstyle
Surprisingly, even the princess’s hairstyles are echoed to this day:
- Smoothed hair gathered in a wavy bun is famous;
- hairstyle styled “Like Grace”, which is also worn by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands
Below is a master class that will undoubtedly help you with this:
3. Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress (September 1953)
The future Mrs. Kennedy wore a dress made by African-American Ann Lowe, the family designer for the Roosevelts and Bouviers. The work took two months and 50 meters of silk taffeta.
The silhouette is classic (narrow bodice, full skirt, decorated with woven ribbons and tiny flowers). Jackie also wore a lace tiara with fresh orange blossoms and a veil that her grandmother wore to her wedding. The bride's neck was decorated with family pearls, and her wrist was a diamond bracelet, given the day before by her future husband.
The bouquet consisted of pink and white orchids and gardenias. Jackie's dress turned out to be the most photographed dress in history. But the first lady herself did not like her outfit at all. As her daughter Carolyn once admitted: “Mom wasn’t very happy with the dress. She thought it looked like a lampshade."
