The Most Bridal Oscar Red Carpet Dresses of All Time

Show-stopping looks to inspire every bride.

Audrey Hepburn

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While we love watching the Oscars, truthfully, we love the Oscar dresses more! There are so many similarities between the Oscars red carpet and the wedding aisle, specifically as it pertains to all eyes on you and the paparazzi (or your guests) clamoring for the best photos. What's more, choosing the right dress is of the utmost importance for both occasions.

With Oscar night growing closer, we took a look back at our favorite wedding-worthy Oscar dresses ever to grace the Academy Awards red carpet. From Audrey and Grace to Penelope and Lupita, here are the most show-stopping, Hollywood looks to inspire every bride.

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Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy, 1954

Was Audrey Hepburn ever not setting trends? In 1954, Hepburn took home the Best Actress statue for her role in Roman Holiday while wearing a gorgeous bridal style. The actress chose a Hubert de Givenchy tea-length beige gown, embroidered with a floral pattern and accented with a thin belt.

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Grace Kelly in Edith Head, 1955

Everyone has their favorites when it comes to designers, and Grace Kelly was known to always sport an ensemble by Edith Head (the designer also famously created Princess Grace's wedding dress). To pick up her Best Actress Oscar in 1955, for her role in The Country Girl, Kelly chose a pale blue satin column dress by Head. While the color might not scream bridal, the style (not to mention the elbow-length gloves) certainly set wedding fashion trends.

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Anjelica Huston in Halston, 1975

To accompany Jack Nicholson to the 1975 Academy Awards, Anjelica Huston wore a statement-making Halston number that still remains iconic today. "Well, let's start with my dress: It was Halston, pale beige with pink iridescent sequins, like fish scales—sort of a mermaid dress. Even though I worked as a Halston model, I had gotten this dress at Neiman Marcus. The awards were on Friday, and [I bought it] on Wednesday," Huston once shared with Violet Grey.

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Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein, 1996

Another day, another major Gwyneth fashion moment. This time, 90s "It" couple Gwyneth Paltrow—who was then virtually unknown—and Brad Pitt made their Oscars debut, with Gwyenth drawing our attention in her sequined Calvin Klein slip dress. Very apropos for the decade, Gwyneth's silky barely-there, pale pink dress was paired with a matching pashmina.

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Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph Lauren, 1999

So many Gwyneth Paltrow Oscar looks, so little time. While we could call Gwyneth's 2012 caped Tom Ford white gown the most modern wedding dress to hit the Oscars red carpet, the actress's bubblegum-pink Ralph Lauren gown is also a classic. The simply tailored dress was the perfect inspiration for 1999 brides and has since inspired several bridal designers to replicate the look.

Frank Trapper

Charlize Theron in Gucci, 2004

She had been part of the Hollywood circuit for a while, but 2004 was Charlize Theron's star-making year. To accept that statue for Best Actress in Monster, Theron chose a golden metallic Gucci gown paired with 1920s-inspired finger waves, that made her a red carpet maven for the history books.

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Angelina Jolie in Marc Bouwer, 2004

Before she was Mrs. Smith, Angelina Jolie turned heads with her vixen-meets-Hollywood style. Clad in a satin Marc Bouwer halter gown (perfectly accessorized with a statement-making H.Stern necklace), Jolie was equal parts Greek goddess and glamour queen. No blood vials in sight.

Vince Bucci

Gisele Bündchen in Christian Dior, 2005

Bohemian brides should turn to Gisele Bundchen's 2005 Oscar appearance. The supermodel's strapless, gold-embroidered Christian Dior gown—that complemented her cascading beach waves and a glowing tan—was the ideal look for a boho beach wedding (no flower crown needed).

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Reese Witherspoon in 1955 Vintage Christian Dior, 2006

America's favorite southern belle looked every inch the part in a vintage Dior gown from 1955, as she accepted the Best Actress Oscar for her role as June Carter in Walk the Line.

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Michelle Williams in Vera Wang, 2006

Michelle Williams made everyone forget about her Dawson's Creek days as she glided onto the Academy Awards red carpet in probably one of our favorite award season dresses of all time, a mustard-colored Vera Wang gown. Picture it in white and you have yourself the most perfect 1920s-inspired wedding ensemble.

Steve Granitz

Marion Cotillard in Jean Paul Gaultier, 2008

Like Anjelica Huston before her, Marion Cotillard's Jean Paul Gaultier halter gown had a beautiful fish scale finish that made it immensely red carpet (and wedding) worthy. The French actress took home the Best Actress award for her star-making role, playing Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose.

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Penelope Cruz in Vintage Pierre Balmain, 2009

Penelope Cruz chose a classic Old Hollywood dress to accept her Best Supporting Actress award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. A strapless neckline and full skirt were accented by beautiful beading in the vintage Pierre Balmain look.

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Mila Kunis in Elie Saab, 2011

Who knew one dress could make you want to wear lilac to your wedding? Mila Kunis turned heads in a gorgeous lace-embellished Elie Saab number that had us rethinking a white wedding.

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Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture, 2013

Before she famously fell up the stairs at the 2013 Oscars, Jennifer Lawrence hit the red carpet in a bridal, blush-pink Dior Haute Couture gown. "I just woke up and tried on the dress, and it fit, thank God!" Lawrence told the press backstage after winning her first Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook. After the stumble, Lawrence kept her composure and blamed the dress: "Look at this dress! I tried to walk upstairs in this dress—that's what happened."

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Lupita Nyong'o in Prada, 2014

Ethereal and exuding innocence, Lupita Nyong'o's head-turning, pale-blue Prada gown was the kind to make Oscars history. Lupita emerged as a rising star on the red carpet even before she was announced as Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave.

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Jenna Dewan in Zuhair Murad, 2015

We love seeing Jenna Dewan on the red carpet. For the 2015 Oscars, she went full-on bridal—a very sexy bride at that—in a plunging Zuhair Murad column gown. Future brides take note, this is how you do modern wedding fashion the right way.

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Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell, 2016

While some of Gaga's early-career red carpet looks may not be fitting to walk down the aisle in (i.e. the meat dress), her recent award show looks have us hearing wedding bells. This jumpsuit look is both bridal and red carpet worthy given its dramatic overskirt and train. Styled with minimal jewelry and natural makeup, the getup was the perfect pairing for the aisle and the Oscars.

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Karlie Koss in Stella McCartney, 2017

Karlie Kloss opted to wear a modern Stella McCartney gown, that featured a high neckline and single-shoulder cape, for the 2017 Oscars. What's more, she also donned a blue ribbon pin, which many celebrities wore in support of the American Civil Liberties Union that year. While the supermodel ended up wearing a Dior couture gown to her actual wedding to Joshua Kushner in 2018, we would not have faulted her for being an outfit repeater if she rocked this sleek gown down the aisle.

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Saoirse Ronan in Calvin Klein, 2018

Pink wedding dresses are totally trending, so it's no surprise Saoirse Ronan's blush red carpet look was a standout for us. Ronan, who was nominated for Best Actress in a leading role for Lady Bird, was the picture of head-to-toe romanticism down to her matching shoes. “The whole thing was about lightness and light, and more timeless and fun," Ronan's stylist Elizabeth Saltzman told WWD. "There needed to be an element of something special, but it really had to do with it focusing on Saoirse and it being modern, but iconic and timeless.”

regina king
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Regina King in Oscar de la Renta, 2019

Regina King took home her very first Oscar, for If Beale Street Could Talk, in a stunning Oscar de la Renta gown. Keeping her slit high, accessories minimal, and shoes matching, all eyes were on the glowing star as she accepted the award.

Camila Morrone

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Camila Morrone in Carolina Herrera, 2020

In 2020, Camila Morrone tapped celebrated eveningwear and bridal designer Carolina Herrera for her gorgeous Oscar gown. The ensemble featured a drop-waistline, strapless neckline, and corset bodice, all tied together in an ivory hue. Not only did she shine on the red carpet that year, but her dress provides tons of inspiration for brides on the hunt for a modern wedding day ball gown.

Maria Bakalova

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Maria Bakalova in Louis Vuitton, 2021

Maria Bakalova evoked true bridal fashion in this Louis Vuitton number. We absolutely love the plunging neckline and full tulle skirt, two major trends in the wedding space today. Bakalova also donned a pair of chandelier earrings, a tennis necklace, and a diamond ring, all of which elegantly made her ensemble one of the best bridal-inspired red carpet looks of all time.

Zendaya

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Zendaya in Valentino, 2022

Leave it to Zendaya to wear an iconic, modern iteration of a two-piece bridal ensemble. Custom designed by Valentino's creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, the actress stunned in this cropped shirt and silver skirt duo. Contemporary brides, take note: you can never be too bold on your wedding day.

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