Just 57 Movie Wedding Dresses I Have Some Opinions On

    Who will be #1?

    Hannah Marder
    by Hannah Marder

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Hellloooo party people! My name's Hannah, and I love weddings! You may remember my TV wedding dress ranking from a few weeks ago. Anyway, I'm back because there are sooo many movie wedding dresses to rank.

    Cinderella from Once Upon a Time in a ballgown as my #1
    ABC / Buzzfeed / Via buzzfeed.com

    Here's my #1 choice in the TV ranking, if you're curious!

    Disclaimer: I can't rank EVERY dress in cinema history, so I went with basically all the ones I could find and remember! Before you come for me in the comments, here's my criteria:

    1. Higher-ranked dresses were more iconic, timeless without being old-fashioned, and unique without being over-the-top (though some simple dresses made it high up by being well-executed and classic).

    2. Lower-ranked dresses felt either too basic or over-the top, or contained details or materials that felt cheap or out of place on the dress.

    3. I'm not taking into account whether or not this was an appropriate dress for the character — most of the time, the character chose the dress, so I'm going to assume it was a good fit for their character!

    4. And, of course, this is all just my personal opinion! I'd love to hear yours in the comments below!

    Let's begin!

    57. Lillian in Bridesmaids

    Lillian in a one ruffled shoulder dress with a glittery belt and matching ruffles going down the skirt
    Universal Pictures

    I mean, it was a joke in the movie that this dress was bad, so I feel like I'm not saying anything controversial here. It's just way too many ruffles. This is the dress Taylor was singing about when she said, "wearing a gown shaped like a pastry."

    56. Giselle in Enchanted

    Giselle in a princess ballgown with a back skirt part over a big ruffled skirt, giant puff sleeves, and a sweetheart neckline
    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    I do like princess dresses (as you'll see later in this post), but this one's just too much for me. Those sleeves are bigger than her head. And the ruffles!!

    55. Toula in My Big Fat Greek Wedding

    Toula in a long sleeve dress with thick lace and embroidering with a tulle skirt
    IFC Films / courtesy Everett Collection

    This is one of my favorite wedding movies, but this dress is just...let's just say it feels like the kind of thing you'd wear in wedding dress-up as a kid.

    54. Henrietta in Four Weddings and a Funeral

    Henrietta in a puff sleeve gown with a lace bodice and lace that continues halfway down over the skirt
    Gramercy Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    There's not much to say about this one but ditto. I do like the lace detailing on the skirt, though.

    53. Carrie in Four Weddings and a Funeral

    dress with big off the shoulder sleeves that connect to the bodice and an empire waist with a ribbon,m then a large bunched skirt
    Gramercy Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    Ditto again, but this one feels the most intricate and fancy, so it goes after the last dress!

    52. Julia in The Wedding Singer

    ballgown with low waist and big tulle skirt with small lace gloves, a v neckline, and short sleeves
    Mary Evans/NEW LINE CINEMA/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

    There...isn't much I like about this dress. The short sleeves, the statement necklace, the low skirt...just not my fave. I do like that it's sort of ballerina-esque!

    51. Paige in The Vow

    Paige in a short formal strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline, a thick band as the belt, and 3D flowers on the flare skirt
    Kerry Hayes/Screen Gems / courtesy Everett Collection

    This feels like something I would wear to a bat mitzvah. I mean, a CUTE dress I'd wear to a bat mitzvah, but still.

    50. Cosette in Les Misérables

    Cosette in a ballgown dress with a thin belt, a deep v neckline with sheet fabric over it, and huge puff sleeves
    Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    I like the front of this dress and the skirt is fine, but...those sleeves. I cannot.

    49. Lisa in Coming to America

    Lisa in a princess ballgown with the corset-like bodice ending in a v and with a sweetheart neckline with ruffles and glitter all over the tulle skirt
    Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection

    This is the kind of dress I pictured for my wedding when I was 6. Still, it's a lot of fun!

    48. Lucy in Two Weeks Notice

    Lucy in a mid-length flare dress with a 3/4 sleeve top that goes down to the waist
    Warner Brothers / courtesy Everett Collection

    I like that this feels sort of Audrey Hepburn, but the execution isn't as good as it could be. I wish the waist were a little higher and the skirt a bit longer, even if it wasn't full length.

    47. Ella in Ella Enchanted

    Ella in a loose v neck dress with loose sheer sleeves and a seam down the middle
    Miramax Films

    I want to like this because I love sheer long sleeves. But it's like it couldn't decide if it wanted to be fitted or loose.

    46. Tess in 27 Dresses

    Tess in a triangle bodice dress with a lace insert in the middle, a thick belt, a slight flare skirt, and spaghetti straps
    20th Century Fox

    I don't really like the triangle bikini-like top to this dress, or the spaghetti straps, or the thick band underneath. It just is sort of eh. The little insert is cute, though.

    45. Margaret in The Proposal

    a long sleeve silk dress with slightly poufy sleeves before a tighter part after the elbow, a high neck with triangle seams down the chest, and a fitted skirt
    Sam Emerson/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    You know what? This dress wasn't THAT bad once it was altered. I really love the satin. But I don't love the way the sleeves tighten after the elbows.

    44. Mia in The Best Man

    Universal Pictures

    I like the sheer sleeves, but I wish there was lace or something else to them. The sheer material also looks like it would be a bit stiff, and the rest of the dress is sort of eh.

    43. Fran in The Wedding Planner

    Fran sitting in a straight neckline strapless ballgown with a low waist and sequined bodice and very poofy skirt
    Sony Pictures Releasing

    This dress feels VERY 2000s, which is fair for a movie from 2001. Still, the glitter looks a bit cheap and it'd be better without the spaghetti straps and if the skirt started higher up. However, I like the neckline!

    42. Hannah in Made of Honor

    Hannah in a straight neckline ballgown dress with a bunched skirt and loose lace sheer sleeves
    Sony Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    I like the lace sleeves, but I feel like they should be more fitted, and I don't love that they don't match the color of the dress. The dress also feels a bit too prom-like.

    41. Bird in Soul Food

    Bird in a slight v off the shoulder neckline dress with lace sleeves with embroidered flowers at the shoulders and a cape-like back skirt
    20th Century Fox / Via youtube.com

    I would really like this if the sleeves didn't have those flowers at the top. I love the off-the-shoulder look with sleeves, and the train is really gorgeous.

    40. Jane in 27 Dresses

    v neck sleeveless sheath dress
    20th Century Fox

    This dress is fine, but it just feels so basic. I liked some of her bridesmaid dresses better!

    39. Emma in Bride Wars

    Emma in a one shoulder ruched dress with a short sleeve and a mermaid skirt
    Fox 2000 Pictures. All rights reserved./Courtesy Everett Collection

    I love a good mermaid skirt. But this one starts too high up for me, and I don't love the material of the ruching. Also, I wish it had no straps. One feels strange.

    38. Maria in The Sound of Music

    Maria in a collared long sleeve dress with a thin v at the top as the two sides of the collar go over each other with a flare skirt
    20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection

    I'd love this dress if it had a high-up, straight-across neckline at her collarbone. But...alas, this is not the case. I don't like the collar or the V-neck, but the rest is pretty.

    37. Justine in Melancholia

    Nordisk Film

    I love the skirt and the top is pretty, but those poufy flower sleeves are not for me.

    36. Elaine in The Graduate

    Elaine in a lace wedding dress with a large scallops neckline and long sheer sleeves with some lace and a somewhat loose sheath skirt
    Lawrence Truman Productions / Embassy Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    There's nothing I don't like about this dress, but there's nothing I love about it, either. I wish there was more lace on the sleeves, and that the skirt was either tighter or more flared.

    35. Zooey in I Love You, Man

    a simple tank dress with a sweetheart neckline and a loose bow belt with a pleated loose skirt
    DreamWorks / courtesy Everett Collection

    This one isn't my FAVORITE (it feels a bit dance costume-y), but for simple wedding dresses, it's cute. I like the strap placement and the top feels very delicate and pretty.

    34. Maggie in Runaway Bride

    Maggie in a dress with a satin flare skirt that has lace beaded embroidering halfway down and a long sleeve sheer lace bodice
    Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

    I love the top and sleeves of this dress! But the skirt feels like it couldn't decide what it wanted to be, so it changed halfway down. I'm also not in love with either of the skirt parts.

    33. Annie in Father of the Bride

    Annie in a satiny ballgown with lace scalloped trim and a lace sheer top over a sweetheart neckline bodice
    Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    It's basically the same story with this one. I like the top, but don't love the material of the bottom or the way it changes to lace. It's ranked above the prior because I like her hair and veil better.

    32. Elle in Legally Blonde 2

    Elle in a v neck strapless loose dress with a ruched waist
    MGM / courtesy Everett Collection

    I love that it's pink! And the sheer overlay is cute. But I don't love the ruching and it feels like the skirt should start a little higher up.

    31. Mary in About Time

    long dress with loose skirt and empire waist with a thin belt and scoop neckline with embroidered cap sleeves
    Universal Pictures

    Non-traditional wedding dresses can definitely be really pretty! I love the color of this and its simplicity, but it gets a few points off just because someone wore almost the exact dress to my prom.

    30. Juliet in Love Actually

    Juliet in a sheer long sleeve wedding dress with a short sleeve lace bodice and skirt underneath and a scoop neck and feathers at the shoulders
    Mary Evans/UNIVERSAL PICTURES / WORKING TITLE FILMS / DNA FILMS/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

    This is a dress I LOVE in theory, but don't love in execution. I love subtle feathers on a wedding dress, and the sheer aspects are really cool. But ultimately, the sheer material comes across a little stiff and the feathers a bit random.

    29. Mary in The Wedding Planner

    Sony Pictures Releasing

    Alright, now we're getting into dresses I really like! This dress is really pretty. It's a little more casual, but still formal. The neckline is gorgeous!

    28. Michelle in American Wedding

    A-line strapless dress with slightly poufy skirt and sheer sleeves with lace on the front of the bodice
    Universal / courtesy Everett Collection

    I like the dress, but the sheer sleeves (which you can't 100% see here) could use more detail!

    27. Corina in Always a Bridesmaid

    Black Waterhorse

    This isn't really my style, and I feel like the top should be a little more fitted where it goes into the sleeves. BUT, the detailing on the top is GORGEOUS. I especially love her headband/crown and veil. And the sheer skirt is really pretty.

    26. Shelby in Steel Magnolias

    Shelby in an off the shoulder gown with a v neckline and short embroidered sleeves and a pleated ballgown skirt
    TriStar Pictures/ Courtesy Everett Collection

    I actually really like this one. It feels very princess-y, and I love the details of the sleeves and the way they feel like a delicate extension of the top rather than an afterthought.

    25. Liv in Bride Wars

    20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection

    I like this with the belt, but once she loses it, the skirt feels like it starts a little low. Still, I love the pop of color!

    24. Marie in Marie Antoinette

    Marie in a scoop beck corset top ruffles dress with bows down the front, a giant wide skirt, and loose 3/4 sleeves with lace and ruffles
    Sony Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    Okay, I know. I'm not going to WEAR this. But....it's so sparkly, and not in a cheap princess costume kind of way. I would just love to wear this dress for an hour.

    23. Sophie in Mamma Mia!

    Sophie in a lacy ruffled layered dress with an empire waist and tank top straps
    Universal / courtesy Everett Collection

    There's kind of a lot going on with this dress, and I wish there were a little less. But I really love how romantic and bohemian it is! And her hair and crown are perfect.

    22. Cinderella in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

    Cinderella in a ballgown with a v neckline and off the shoulder tulle cap sleeves with a flare satin skirt
    Ron Tom / ABC /Courtesy Everett Collection

    This is the superior version of Cinderella, but not the superior Cinderella dress. It's pretty, but the sleeves are a bit too poufy for me, and I don't like how it goes all the way around her neck/back.

    21. Clare in The Time Traveler's Wife

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    A great simple dress (that's especially pretty from behind), but nothing super exciting!

    20. Sarah in Just Married

    Sarah in a mostly straight neckline strapless satin A-line dress with a bit of beading detail on the top
    20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    I like how simple and elegant this dress is, but it doesn't wow me or anything! The satin, however, is really pretty.

    19. Jasmine in Aladdin (2019)

    Jasmine in a corset like top with cap sleeves and a slightly square scoop neck with a v pattern going down to the waist and curtain-like skirt that opens in the center with a thin low waist belt and lots of embroidery
    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    This is a gorgeous wedding dress. It's so intricate and her crown and veil are gorgeous — I also like that it pays homage to her classic turquoise outfit.

    18. Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2017)

    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    I love the roses on this dress!! Very symbolic. I wish the sleeves went all the way down, but I love the neckline and the V cut of the bodice and the skirt.

    17. Jenna in 13 Going on 30

    Jenna in an a line straight neckline strapless simple wedding dress
    Sony Pictures Releasing

    This is such a great simple strapless dress, and is probably one of my favorite basic dresses on this list. I would definitely wear this, and it's perfect for Jenna!

    16. Bella in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1

    Bella in a satin sheath long sleeve v neck long dress
    Summit Entertainment

    Simple and elegant, with sleeves and a pretty neckline. Simple and understated, but pretty! Slight points off for feeling a little too mature for 18-year-old Bella.

    15. Candace in Think Like a Man Too

    Screen Gems

    I don't normally like short wedding dresses, but I'll make an exception for this one. The sheath skirt, the sweetheart neckline, the belt, the hair...it all comes together. It's really simple and sweet but also feels mature.

    14. Jenny in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    I love the structured bow, and the lace is really subtle. The way it goes above the bodice is also really pretty. I wish the skirt was more of a mermaid cut, but otherwise it's perfect!

    13. Sabrina in Jumping the Broom

    Sabrina in a strapless dress with a tight corset top and a bunched loose skirt
    Jonathan Wenk/TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    I really love the gathering of the skirt. It feels very romantic yet structured. The bodice is also really pretty — it could use a little something extra, but it's still beautiful!

    12. Cinderella in Cinderella (2015)

    Cinderella in a satin ballgown with a long train that has embroidered flowers on it and a high square neck strapless top with sheer sleeves under it
    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    i like how high this neckline is — it feels unique. And, of course, sheer sleeves are my fave, and that train is amazing!

    11. Aurora in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    This has got to be one of the most gorgeous trains of all time. I love the triangle bottom to the bodice, and the flower embroidery and blue tint are really pretty. Points off for the big flower crown.

    10. Christine in The Phantom of the Opera

    Christine in an off the shoulder corset top dress with short sheer sleeves and a bunched loose skirt
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    The gathering on the skirt is really pretty, and the bodice is beautiful. The sleeves are just the tiniest bit too big/long, and this isn't exactly my style, but it's absolutely gorgeous for a period dress.

    9. Anastasia in 50 Shades Freed

    Universal Pictures

    This delicate, thin lace is so gorgeous, and the neckline combines my two favorites (square/almost off the shoulder, and sweetheart). I do wish the skirt were more of a mermaid flare, but otherwise it's absolutely amazing.

    8. Mia in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

    Mia in a simple ballgown with a satin skirt and a staight neckline strapless top with lace sleeves over it with an off the shoulder scalloped neckline
    Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    This feels very similar to Anastasia's dress, except the lace isn't quite as delicate and the neckline is straight. Still, I LOVE the scalloped lace and the skirt, so it ranks above Anastasia's!

    7. Katniss in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

    Katniss in a cloud-like strapless ruffled dress with a flare bottom with many wide layers and a silver honeycomb like pattern that climbs up the top of the dress and above the shoulder
    Murray Close/Lionsgate / courtesy Everett Collection

    I feel like this one had to be in the top 10. While it certainly isn't understated, this wedding dress is absolutely iconic and has so many gorgeous facets to it. The silver structured detailing is my favorite part — so unique!

    6. Lisa in Madea's Family Reunion

    Lisa in a big strapless ballgown with a satiny skirt and a sweetheart neckline with a jewel detail trim
    Lions Gate Entertainment

    This is the princess dress of my dreams — I'm not exactly sure what makes it better than the other princess dresses, but the skirt feels the perfect amount of poufy, and the jeweling at the top of the neckline is parfait.

    5. Charlie in Monster-in-Law

    Charlie in a v neck strapless dress with tight corset top and slight flare satin skirt with gloves
    New Line Cinema

    I know it's really simple and maybe a little 2000s, but it also feels really timeless. The cut of the neckline is flawless and I love where her veil sits. The gloves are really just the cherry on top of a perfect elegant princess look. I also love the bridesmaid dresses.

    4. Fleur in Harry Potter and the Death Hallows: Part 1

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    This is absolutely one of my fave wedding dresses. It's so unique, and the black makes it so much edgier and more gothic. The material of the skirt falls gorgeously.

    3. Grace in Ready or Not

    Grace in a lace turtleneck long sleeve dress with a corset with boning underneath and a flowy tulle skirt
    Eric Zachanowich / Fox Searchlight Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    Out of any dress on this list, this is the one I'd be most likely to wear. I love that it's simple and sort of Victorian, and I love anything with a corset-like top and sleeves. I normally don't like turtleneck styles on wedding dresses, but it works here.

    2. Araminta in Crazy Rich Asians

    Araminta in a ballgown with a layered ruffled skirt with multiple materials like feathered lace, satin with beaded embroiderey, and tulle. The corset also has beaded detail and sheer sleeves and neckline
    Sanja Bucko / Warner Bros. Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

    THE DETAIL ON THIS DRESS!!! It perfectly blends so many different materials and textures and the beading is SO intricate. I also love the flowers on the veil. Perfection.

    1. And finally, Carrie in Sex and the City: The Movie

    Carrie in a strapless satin ballgown with a gathered 2 layer skirt and a sharp neckline that goes up to the armpits
    New Line Cinema / courtesy Everett Collection

    I don't know that I would choose a dress like this, but...come on. It's absolutely iconic. That champagne color, and veil, the neckline, the skirt...gorgeous. I need a photo shoot in this dress.

    That's it! Again, these are just my thoughts about a bunch of movie dresses. Please share some of your faves in the comments!