Without a doubt, Audrey Hepburn had it going on. Once upon a time, starlets like her and Grace Kelly had sex appeal... and class. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.
Elegance personified….
Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer walk arm in arm on their wedding day 1954. Pierre Balmain, who launched his fashion house in 1945, designed the tea-length frock that Hepburn wore for her first trip down the aisle. The now-iconic dress featured a flared skirt, puff sleeves, a high collar and a satin sash fashioned into an oversized bow in the back.
Despite turning to a couture designer for her wedding look, it’s possible that Hepburn’s dress was not a custom design. Sean Ferrer told Vanity Fair that “knowing how quickly” his parent’s wedding was put together, the actress’s dress “was probably something off the rack.” He added, “She was kind of quick to make decisions.”
Hepburn’s bridal accessories were a mix of traditional and modern. While she paired her puff-sleeve dress with elegant elbow-length gloves, a popular accessory at the time, she decided to forego the tradition of wearing a veil and instead donned a flower crown. The actress also chose not to have a bouquet, carrying a missal down the aisle instead. This was a common accessory for religious brides at the time, as Grace Kelly also carried one for her 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier III.