We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Yes it has to be this one, the star studded event of the year with a lavish reception to boot; the wedding of Hollywood Golden girl Elizabeth Taylor to Paris Hilton’s grandfather, hotel magnate Conrad ‘Nicky’ Hilton Jnr in May 1950. The young couple met at the Mocambo Nightclub in Los Angeles, California in October 1949 and were engaged by February 1950, her platinum and five-carat square-cut diamond engagement ring was purchased by Nick at George Headley’s in Beverly Hills. Unfortunately, their wedding was over nearly as quickly as their engagement lasted but we give this full marks for style, luxe and celebrity status.
Taylor already a veteran actress had recently finished filming ‘Father of the Bride when MGM gifted the services of costume designer Helen Rose who went on to famously create Princess Grace of Monaco’s iconic wedding gown.
The white satin gown was embroidered with seed pearls and beads.
“A sweetheart neckline was covered with a chiffon overlay to reveal just a hint of decolletage. A three-quarter length veil was attached to a cap garnished with pearls combined with a pearl tiara. To complete the all-white motif, the bride carried a bouquet of white orchids.”
The iconic gown was made up of 25 yards of shell-white satin sprinkled with bugle beads and tiny seed pearls trailed by 15 yards of satin train, the dress has an inbuilt corset which cinched Taylor’s waist to a tiny 20 inches on the wedding day. The matching veil is made of 10 yards of shimmering silk illusion net attached to a pearl-covered Juliet cap. Unfortunately the wedding lasted a short space of time but the dress is one of the most iconic wedding gowns of our era.
A traditional wedding for liz…
- Something old — a white lace handkerchief from her mother.
- Something new — a new penny inside her shoe.
- Something borrowed — a lucky amulet hidden in her pearl seed cap.
- Something blue — a tiny artificial nosegay of blue forget-me-nots hidden in her wedding gown. Some books state that Elizabeth wore a blue garter.
The Taylor-Hilton wedding reception was held at the Bel Air Hotel. Guests included Mickey Rooney, Ginger Rogers, Joan Bennett, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Spencer Tracy, Van and Evie Johnson, Esther Williams, Greer Garson, and Roddy McDowall enjoyed 100 cases of Dom Perignon and a five-tier vanilla-frosted wedding cake.
“The honeymoon in Europe lasted two weeks,” Taylor wrote in a 1965 memoir. “I should say the marriage lasted for two weeks. Then came, yours sincerely, disillusionment rude and brutal.”
Credits:
Daily Mail – Read more
Source: Kally. “FashionBride Icon — Elizabeth Taylor.” FashionBride.wordpress.com. 7/30/2008.
