Princess wedding dresses: when Made in Italy goes royal

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«Snap Italy has prepared for you a special ranking of the Princess wedding dresses rigorously designed by Italian designers. Let’s find out more about when Princesses wore Made in Italy…»

Wedding dresses, as you know, are able to excite and make even the most skeptical women dream. And if we talk about Princess wedding dresses, shining eyes are guaranteed! Despite the many changes (historical, political and social), royal families around the world still have a special appeal for many of us. Proof of this is the great media attention given to royal couples all over the world.
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In these months, in fact, we are in full royal wedding fever. After William and Kate’s dream wedding, the rebel prince Harry announced his official engagement with the beautiful American actress Meghan Markle. People from the United Kingdom and fans around the world have literally gone mad after the announcement, and the first bets have already begun regarding the couple, the ceremony and the royal family.

Bets and polls have also involved the wedding dress that Meghan will wear on the big day: what style will she choose? How many outfits will she have? And above all, who will be the  designer? Usually royal brides are very “patriotic”, and wear the creations of a stylist in their country. However, the origin of the  royal bride  (who is American, even if she will shortly be getting a British citizenship) has reshuffled the cards, and many have speculated that his choice could fall on some American house, or maybe French or Italian!

After all, it would not be the first time that some  Italian maison is called to create princesses’ wedding dresses! Let’s see together what  royal wedding  had Made in Italy dresses as the protagonists

BEATRICE BORROMEO in GIORGIO ARMANI, VALENTINO e ALBERTA FERRETTI

The young  royal bride  has chosen five different dresses to celebrate her marriage with Pierre Casiraghi. It starts with a white dress decorated with rhinestones signed by  Valentino, worn during the pre-party. For the civil wedding, the bride has chosen a simple dress, in shades of wisteria, always signed by Valentino. The day before the religious wedding, the couple organized a party, and Borromeo wore a white lace dress made by Alberta Ferretti. Then we arrive at the religious ceremony, with a long-sleeved white dress by  Giorgio Armani, with a long train and embroidered along the entire length. Finally, still a creation of King Giorgio for the reception at the Rocca di Angera: a romantic and refined white dress, with a long train and entirely pleated. One of the most beautiful princess wedding dresses.

CHARLENE OF MONACO in GIORGIO ARMANI

For her marriage to Prince Albert of Monaco, former swimmer and model Charlene Wittstock chose a dress designed by  Giorgio Armani. The choice was not a surprise, given that the Italian designer had taken care of the princess’s look before the wedding. What amazed the audience, however, was the simple and modern line of the dress, far from the classic wedding dresses of the princesses: the dress was in ivory satin, clean cut, without too many frills, and embellished with precious details. A simple and sophisticated look, one of the most charming princess wedding dresses.

CLOTILDE OF SAVOIA in VALENTINO

Former actress Clotilde Courau wore a dress designed by Valentino Garavani. A very sober and elegant style: the dress was white empire cut, with lace and embroidery, entirely made of white silk georgette embellished with draped sleeves and supported by satin ribbons. The four-meter long veil was held by a diadem of the House of Savoy in diamonds and pink garnets, which had once belonged to Elizabeth of Savoy, Duchess of Genoa, born princess of Saxony.

ELISABETTA D’ASBURGO-ESTE in VALENTINO

Roman wedding for Amedeo d’Asburgo-Este and Elisabetta Rosboch von Wolkenstein, who were married on 5 July 2014 in the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. The dress was very classic, but extremely elegant: a trapezium and bustier skirt,  with lots of embroidery and decorations. A cloud of lace and silk plumetis. Superb!

MADELEINE OF SWEDEN in VALENTINO

For her marriage to the American  Christopher O’Neill,  the Princess of Sweden asked the Italian designer Valentino Garavani to make a princess wedding dress for her. Classic cut, with a long train and so much Chantilly lace. But the highlight was the veil, made in organza and five meters long, which went to complete one of the wedding dresses of the most beautiful princesses of recent years.

MARIA CHANTAL OF GREECE in VALENTINO

Maria Chantal Miller, fashion designer, illustrator and writer for children, daughter of the founder of Duty Free Shops,  married Prince Pavlos, the eldest son of Constantine II of Greece. Worthy of a queen and at the same time modern, with an  estimated cost of 225,000 dollars, the wedding dress was ivory silk and has the shape of a tulip. The dress was also embellished with floral embroidery and applied roses on the bodice and skirt, which required the work of 25 embroiderers.

MARIA JOSÈ DEL BELGIO in SARTORIA VENTURA

Let’s jump back almost 88 years, and arrive at the wedding of Maria Josè of Belgium with Prince Umberto Di Savoia (future king Umberto II of Italy), held on January 8, 1930. The bride wore a white dress rolled in silver packaged by the Sartoria Ventura, while the veil was a gift from the Belgian people for the princess.

Little historical curiosity: at the time of wearing the princess wedding dress Maria José discovered that the lace sleeves were crooked. It was necessary, therefore, to cut them and (on the advice of the then tailor Fernanda Gattinoni) the bride covered her arms with long white gloves.

MAXIMA D’OLANDA in VALENTINO

Maxima was a beautiful winter bride when on 2 February 2002 she became the wife of Willem Alexander of Orange-Nassau von Amsberg, then a hereditary prince of the Netherlands. Valentino created for her one of the best princess wedding dresses. Mikado‘s heavy silk dress had a high collar, very tight three-quarter sleeves and a flared skirt with lace side panels and a long five-meter train. The silk veil that exceeds in length the train was entirely embroidered with floral motifs.

TATIANA SANTO DOMINGO in  MISSONI e VALENTINO

Tatiana Santa Domingo chose a Missoni dress for the civil ceremony that took place in the Sala del Trono of Palazzo Grimaldi. It is the most nonconformist of all the princess wedding dresses: white with a V-neck and short sleeves, the silk dress was embroidered with raffia and macramé lace, and reflected the bride’s young, modern and vaguely hippy style. Under her dress Tatiana wore flip-flop sandals and on her head a chaplet of flowers.

For the religious ceremony, held in winter, the bride opted for a more classic Valentino dress, designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. The peculiarity of the dress lies in the ivory cape in double cashmere with a mink inner hood. A really perfect winter bride!

Raffaella Celentano

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