Spice things up with these steamy flicks.
Updated Oct 14, 2024The 22 Best Celebrity Wedding Reception Dresses of All Time
These trendy outfit changes are just as good as the original gowns.
Here at The Knot, we have a running list of the best celebrity wedding dresses of all time. For centuries, Hollywood stars and international royals have stunned in ball gowns, slip dresses, trendy frocks, and everything in between. But as much as we love seeing what celebrities wear to walk down the aisle, we'd be lying if we said we didn't appreciate a midday outfit change too. Plenty of celebrity wedding reception dresses have caught our eye over the years, from Hilary Duff's sparkly gold two-piece to Meghan Markle's slinky reception dress. If you're toying with the idea of getting a second dress for your wedding reception—or you just love looking at bridal fashion—keep scrolling to reminisce on the best celebrity reception dresses.
Meghan Markle's Reception Dress
STEVE PARSONS/AFP via Getty Images
We can't talk about celebrity wedding reception dresses without including Meghan Markle's. The Duchess of Sussex shocked the world when she stepped out in a simple three-quarter-length sleeve gown from Givenchy to wed Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in May 2018, as it was a clear departure from other royal wedding dresses of years past. After the ceremony, though, the bride opted for a sexier silhouette to dance the night away at Frogmore House. Meghan Markle's second wedding dress was a sleeveless high-neck gown designed by Stella McCartney, which she accessorized with her signature piecey updo. Though she kept the accessories to a minimum, she did add a pop of blue to her look with Princess Diana's famous aquamarine ring.
The public's reaction to Meghan Markle's wedding reception dress was so strong that it inspired McCartney to create an evening gown collection called "Made With Love," which included multiple limited-edition replicas of Meghan Markle's reception gown. "I am so proud and honored to have been chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to make her evening gown and represent British design," McCartney told Women's Wear Daily of the experience. "It has truly been one of the most humbling moments of my career and I am so proud of all the team on this stunning sunny royal day."
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
Sofia Richie's Reception Dress
After swapping vows with music executive Elliot Grainge in the South of France, Sofia Richie swapped her embellished lace Chanel wedding dress for another look by the luxury French fashion house. The bride changed into a structured white mini dress for the party, complete with the brand's signature camellia flower on the bodice. "I can dance, [and] I can move," the bride told Vogue of her second look before the nuptials. "I love it! It's traditional Chanel. I will be eating pizza and fries in this dress. Pray for this dress. It will be my life's mission to make sure nothing happens to it." Unsurprisingly, the frock turned out to be the perfect party outfit. In videos shared from the reception posted online, Sofia was seen dancing and singing with guests like Paris Hilton and her husband Carter Reum, her sister Nicole Richie and her husband Joel Madden, and his brother Benji Madden, who attended with wife Cameron Diaz. The Madden Brothers, who make up part of the rock band Good Charlotte, performed their hit "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous" during the after-party.
Naomi Biden's Reception Dress
What do you wear when you get married at the White House? Such was the question for Naomi Biden, granddaughter of President Joe Biden, who married Peter Neal on the South Lawn in November 2022. The bride began her wedding weekend in a trendy Danielle Frankel pantsuit for the rehearsal dinner. Next, she wore an ornate long sleeve lace gown by Ralph Lauren that was reminiscent of Gracy Kelly's, instantly solidifying it as one of our favorite celeb wedding looks of all time. Following the ceremony, she changed into a fitted strapless dress by Reem Acra for the reception entrance and cake-cutting ceremony. The bride paired her look with sheer bridal gloves and her own jewelry; pearls from her grandmother's collection were also sewn into the six-foot train.
Naomi Biden's next reception dress was, undeniably, perfect for the afterparty. She closed out the night in a fringe mini dress with bow tie straps from Markarian, which she styled with custom fringe shoes by Larroudé. "[Naomi] wanted something that was fun [and] that was going to be easy to change into after wearing all of her more formal looks for the ceremony and rehearsal dinner," Markarian founder Alexandra O'Neill told Elle. "She wanted something that had a lot of movement, that was going to be easy to dance in…It was really kind of the perfect combination of something that was fun, but also special and classic."
Hailey Bieber's Reception Dress
When you think of Hailey Bieber's wedding day, you likely envision the off-the-shoulder lace dress by Virgil Abloh, which was accessorized with a veil that had "'Till Death Do Us Part" embroidered on the hem. But the bride also wore two iconic reception dresses, one of which was reminiscent of Meghan Markle's second wedding dress. The bride's close friend and stylist Maeve Reilly shared snaps of both looks on Instagram. She first donned a custom Vera Wang silk charmeuse bias-cut dress, which had an asymmetrical cowl neckline and a plunging open back. Ever so stylish, she paired the look with white Converse. Hailey Bieber's third reception dress was a slinky high-neck Ralph & Russo dress with a fitted bodice and a sky-high slit.
Sophia Bush's Reception Dress
We'll never forget the colorful floral Monique Lhuillier ball gown Sophia Bush wore to marry Grant Hughes in June 2022, notably because it was so fashion-forward. Although she changed out of the gown for the reception, elements of its botanical design lived on in her reception dress, which was created by Emilia Wickstead. The bride opened up about the design experience on Instagram, writing, "[My stylist] and I sent her and the @lachambrehq team imagery of my ceremony gown, and ideated on how to create a through line while doing something unique and surprising. Thus, our waist cape was born."
The group landed on a strapless column dress with a crisp folded neckline and a cape lined with the same floral brocade pattern featured on her first wedding dress. She added that the "narrow and flexible" reception gown was inspired by a recent Emilia Wickstead look she had previously worn at an event, and was created in just a few weeks. "I am in awe of this kind of art," she added. "And I got to dance in it!? Hello?!"
Kate Middleton's Reception Dress
John Stillwell - WPA Pool / Getty Images
Yes, even Kate Middleton had a wedding reception dress! By now, you're probably quite familiar with the long sleeve lace Alexander McQueen gown she wore to swap vows with Prince William, which has become a significant silhouette in bridal fashion history. What you might not be familiar with, though, is her less-famous reception gown. The second look, also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, was an ivory satin A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline and a circle skirt. The royal bride accessorized her look with a glittery belt around the waist (a popular style at the time) and a fuzzy bolero jacket. She even let her hair down for the after-party, swapping her elegant half-up ceremony 'do for her famous bouncy blowout waves.
Hilary Duff's Reception Dress
Hilary Duff may be partially responsible for the rise of the bridal cape trend, which she sported to marry producer Matthew Koma in December 2019. The bride began her wedding day in a custom Jenny Packham dress, which featured a modern pointed shoulder detail and the aforementioned cape. After the ceremony, though, she opted for something sparklier: a glittering gold two-piece set with a cropped top and a floor-length skirt, undoubtedly a perfect choice for twirling on the dance floor.
Kate Upton's Reception Dress
The 2017 MLB World Series almost delayed Kate Upton and Justin Verlander's Italian destination wedding, as the Astro's pitcher and his team forced a rare Game Seven win. Luckily, though, he made it to Tuscany in time for their intimate vow swap. The bride first wore a long sleeve lace Valentino gown with a sheer top before changing to her reception dress: a draped, semi-sheer gown dripping in beads and embroidery by Christy Rilling Studio. Upton twisted her hair into a low bun with pearl accents and styled her ensemble with sparkly triangle diamond earrings. In a post on Instagram, the design team reflected on their role in the couple's wedding day, writing, "It was an honor to design collaborate and make the bridesmaids, flower girl, and reception gown."
Serena Williams' Reception Dress
While Serena Williams herself hasn't shared too many photos of her wedding day, her photographers blessed us with a peek at her glamorous reception dress. The tennis star first wore a strapless Alexander McQueen ball gown with a glittery cape to marry Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian at their Beauty and the Beast-themed wedding in New Orleans in November 2017. When it came time to start partying, the bride changed into two Versace outfits. The first was a floor-length beaded and feathered gown, which she wore for the couple's first dance (set to Tale as Old as Time, of course). Shortly after, she changed into a similar, shorter Versace dress with jewel-encrusted straps and a feathery skirt. To close out the night, she gave a nod to her athletic roots by sporting a pair of sparkly Nike sneakers.
Princess Eugenie's Reception Dress
It doesn't get more classic than Princess Eugenie's long sleeve backless Peter Pilotto ball gown, which she styled with a gorgeous emerald green tiara. Although it's one of our favorite royal wedding dresses of all time, we also have a soft spot for Princess Eugenie's reception wedding dress. She swapped her white ensemble for a blush pink Zac Posen silk chiffon gown, which discreetly paid homage to her roots with the family's symbol, the White Rose of York, embroidered on the shoulder and the back of the dress. "I wanted something reminiscent of Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief so I showed that for reference and Zac came up with this silk that he'd found from Manchester," the bride said of her second look. "Every single draping effect, every single detail, every button, it's all painstakingly done by him and his team."
FOR YOU
Kawhi Leonard and his Relationship with Kishele Shipley
They haven't tied the knot, but here's what we know about their long-term relationship.
A Deep Dive into Ariana Grande's Dating History
Including the latest on her current relationship status.
Inside Olympian Michael Norman's California Wedding
The sprinter married his college sweetheart, Jenna, mere weeks after the Paris Games.
Nicola Peltz's Reception Dress
Nicola Peltz's modern Valentino wedding dress was the epitome of the "cool girl" bridal trend, but we love her reception dress just as much. After swapping vows with Brooklyn Beckham, the model changed into a form-fitting Versace gown with a plunging neckline to cut the cake and party with her newly-minted husband. "There's just nothing that feels better than a Versace corset," Peltz told Vogue ahead of her wedding day. "The fit is impeccable. It makes you feel sexy, but classy at the same time. Versace is just the perfect thing to put on after a big bridal gown."
Paris Hilton's Reception Dress
No one expected Paris Hilton to wear just one wedding dress, so it wasn't a surprise to see the heiress wear six iconic outfits throughout her wedding weekend. She kept it classic for the ceremony in an elegant lace long-sleeve ball gown with a high neck by Oscar de la Renta, and later swapped the look for an airy fairytale-esque off-the-shoulder ball gown by Galia Lahav for her first dance. The real showstopper, though, was her second Oscar de la Renta look, which was a shorter rendition of her ceremony gown. Perfect for dancing, Paris Hilton's wedding reception dress had a floral lace off-the-shoulder bodice with a short bubble skirt, showing off her lace heels. Before the night ended, she also wore a glittering cape dress covered in sequins and a sheer dress with sparkly star appliques for her performance of "Stars are Blind."
Victoria Beckham's Reception Dress
Posh Spice's wedding looks were nothing short of, well, posh. For her 1999 wedding to David Beckham, the singer tapped Vera Wang to design a full ball gown with a corseted bodice that had pointed details on the neckline. After the ceremony, which took place in a storied Irish castle, the bride opted for something completely unexpected. She and her groom matched in coordinating purple looks by Antonio Berardi; her wedding reception dress had one floral-covered strap, and his suit had a matching floral boutonnière on the lapel.
Priyanka Chopra's Reception Dress
SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images
As is custom for multicultural weddings, Priyanka Chopra had an impressive repertoire of outfits for all of her festivities. The actress married Nick Jonas in December 2018, and they hosted multiple Indian and Christian ceremonies. You might associate their wedding with her Ralph Lauren wedding dress, and rightfully so—the design was covered in nearly 12,000 Swarovski crystals and featured a jaw-dropping 75-foot veil. But we also loved the reception dress she wore to the party at Taj Palace in New Delhi. She sparkled in an ornate gold lehenga by Falguni and Shane Peacock, which she styled with a three-strand diamond necklace and flowers in her hair.
Jennifer Lopez's Reception Dress
OnTheJLO.com
Considering all the incredible wedding dresses Jennifer Lopez has worn in movies over the years, her own wedding look had to stand out—and it certainly did. When JLo finally married Ben Affleck in 2022 after rekindling their romance, she sported three Ralph Lauren dresses for the formal ceremony in Georgia. (A few weeks before that celebration, the two got hitched in a Vegas chapel.) JLo gave a peek at wedding attire in her newsletter, OnTheJLo, calling all three designs "dreamy."
She began the day in a turtleneck gown that was fitted through the bodice and led into a voluminous ruffled skirt and feathered sleeves. For her first reception dress, she changed into a chic column gown that had strings of pearls and Swarovski crystal embellishments draped across her neck and the open back, which was created in 700 hours by 30 artists. To close out the evening, she had one final outfit change: a mermaid gown with a keyhole neckline decorated with Swarovski crystals on the front and back.
Mandy Moore's Reception Dress
Mandy Moore's November 2018 wedding to Taylor Goldsmith was, in a word, ethereal. The actress tossed all the rules on her big day, opting for a ruffled pink dress by Rodarte for the bohemian ceremony, which featured an explosion of lush displays of pink flowers and airy pampas grass lining the aisle and altar. By the time the reception rolled around, the bride changed into something a little more dramatic. As seen in Instagram Stories from the event, she opted for a black wedding reception dress with a tiered lace skirt and cutouts at the waist. According to photos, it appears as though the newlyweds treated their guests to a musical performance—a fitting choice for two entertainment industry powerhouses.
Ellie Goulding's Reception Dress
We're still falling for Ellie Goulding's wedding reception dress all these years after her 2019 nuptials to Caspar Jopling. The British singer married the art dealer in a quintessential English wedding at the York Minster Cathedral. She wore five different wedding dresses, though one sticks out as our favorite. While her long sleeve Chloé wedding dress was the epitome of chic bridal style, we particularly loved the black wedding reception dress she changed into. The edgy design was created by none other than Carolina Herrera, an illustrious designer known for pushing the boundaries of fashion. The bride shared a handful of photos of herself in the moody ball gown, captioning the post, "My beautiful dark twisted fantasy."
Solange Knowles' Reception Dress
Josh Brastead / WireImage
As much as we love a celebrity wedding reception dress, we're also partial to a celebrity wedding reception jumpsuit. After her 2014 wedding ceremony, which took place in New Orleans, Solange Knowles changed into a memorable caped jumpsuit with a plunging scoop neckline by Stephanie Rolland. She kept her accessories to a minimum, wearing a pair of strappy white heels and a bold red lip.
Julianne Hough's Reception Dress
Given her career as a professional dancer, one thing was important to Julianne Hough on her wedding day: she had to be able to dance in her dress. Ahead of her 2017 wedding to Brooks Laich, the bride worked closely with her stylist Anita Patrickson to create a reception look that would let her get down on the dance floor. They landed on a three-piece outfit by Marchesa, complete with a bodysuit covered in hand-beaded pearls and gemstones under a tulle skirt and a cape. "Jules had really done the work in finding the inspiration pictures for the reception dress," Patrickson told People. "Jules wanted to party and dance and get crazy which is why we came up with this idea of three different looks in one. It was something a little bit different but Marchesa really ran with us as well and they came up with a lot of it and we just all worked together as a team, which was really cool."
Samira Wiley's Reception Dress
Orange is the New Black co-stars Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli were married in a colorful ceremony in Palm Springs back in 2017, and their outfits were nothing short of fabulous. Both brides opted for custom Christian Siriano gowns; Wiley wore an elegant off-the-should ball gown, while Morelli chose a modern jumpsuit with a glittery bodice overlay and trailing cape. For the reception, though, Wiley got into something much shorter. In a snap shared from the afterparty, she can be seen dancing in a white two-piece set, with an off-the-shoulder neckline reminiscent of her first dress.
Emma Stone's Reception Dress
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Although Emma Stone has kept the details of her secret wedding to SNL writer Dave McCary out of the public eye, she finally gave fans a glimpse into the big day by re-wearing her reception dress on the 2022 Met Gala red carpet. The Louis Vuitton frock featured plenty of fun details, including sheer straps, buttons down the side, and a short feathered hemline.
Chiara Ferragni's Reception Dress
Italian fashion blogger Chiara Ferragni had a lavish multi-day wedding when she married Italian rapper Federico Leonardo Lucia in 2018. The bride worked closely with Dior's designer Maria Grazia Chiuri on all three wedding looks, but it's the reception dress we particularly loved. After the ceremony, Ferragni changed a colorful custom design that had significant personal meaning. The gown was embroidered with lyrics from the song her husband wrote when he proposed on stage, along with a lion to represent their son. The layers also featured depictions of landmarks from cities where they lived, including Los Angels and Paris. The embroidery details were placed on all layers of the dress to create visual depth as the bride walked. "I wanted it to be simple but timeless, and romantic and feminine at the same time," Ferragni told Harper's Bazaar. "I was extremely excited. It's a very special moment, and each time I went in for a fitting it felt special because there had been changes. I cried like a small child."
