When one of Hollywood’s leading actresses became Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace of Monaco, the world was abuzz with excitement, and understandably so. The couple, who met in May 1955 at the Cannes Film festival, married after a year-long courtship amidst much media interest.
The couple had two celebrations – a civil ceremony on 18 April 1956 in the Palace throne room, and a lavish religious wedding the day after for 600 guests, at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco. Here, the things we loved.
The venue
The couple solemnised their marriage at the stately Prince’s Palace of Monaco, and had the religious ceremony at the St. Nicholas Cathedral. Both venues exuded glamour and majesty, with towering pillars, imposing structures, and walls of priceless art (for the former), and made the perfect setting for the wedding of the century.
Photo: www.instagram.com/wedpicsapp
The venue
The couple solemnised their marriage at the stately Prince’s Palace of Monaco, and had the religious ceremony at the St. Nicholas Cathedral. Both venues exuded glamour and majesty, with towering pillars, imposing structures, and walls of priceless art (for the former), and made the perfect setting for the wedding of the century.
Photo: www.instagram.com/thewedlist
The gown
The showstopping gown, which was a gift from Grace’s former studio, MGM (by costume designer Helen Rose), set the standards for regal, romantic and lavish wedding dresses of all time. The dress, which took six weeks to make along with three dozen seamstresses, featured rose point lace over silk net, heavy and silk taffeta, thousands of seed pearls, as well as a Shakespearean Juliet cap with orange blossoms and a veil.
The dress has since inspired many royal and celebrity dresses, most notably the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton’s A-line design by Alexander McQueen, and heiress Nicky Hilton’s romantic Valentino lace ballgown.
Photo: Pinterest
The wedding cake
The royal cake, a gift to the newlyweds from the pastry chefs at Monte Carlo’s Hotel de Paris, was a towering six-tier affair with ornate elements. A pair of live turtledoves were also released from the cake, as the prince cut into it with his sword.
Photo: Pinterest
The first car ride as a married couple
The couple were driven around the beautiful coast of Monte Carlo in an open top Rolls Royce convertible car, a gift from the people of Monaco.
Photo: Pinterest
Star-studded guestlist
The list included royalty and celebrities including American actress Ava Gardner (above), American entrepreneur and hotelier Conrad Hilton, Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones of Britain, former Minister of Justice of France Francois Mitterand, Aga Khan, Ex-King Farouk of Egypt, Randolph Churchill, the Duchess of Westminster, Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and his wife, Jacqueline Onassis (formerly Kennedy), Gloria Swanson and the Apostolic Nuncio of Paris Monseigneur Paul Marella.
Photo: Pinterest