The 17 Best Oscar Dresses of All Time to Inspire Your Bridal Look

Here at The Knot, we can't help but categorize the year into seasons: wedding season, proposal season, bach party season, to name a few. But we'd be lying if we said awards show season wasn't one of our favorite times too. Each winter, celebrities descend upon red carpets in jaw-dropping outfits that define trends and push the boundaries of fashion—and, occasionally, they even serve as bridal inspiration too. We've seen plenty of incredible Oscar dresses that could double as wedding attire over the years. Stars have worn everything from trendy white jumpsuits to full-blown wedding dresses on the Oscars red carpet, thus proving that awards shows are a great place to pull inspo for your wedding wardrobe.

According to celebrity and bridal stylist Micaela Erlanger, who has worked with the likes of Lupita Nyong'o, Blake Lively, Amal Clooney, and Meryl Streep, it's not necessarily common that A-list clients specifically to ask to wear bridal attire on red carpets. But if the perfect look just so happens to be skew bridal, they won't shy away. "I've never had someone say, 'I'd like to wear a wedding dress,' but if there's a white gown that we love, then why not?" Erlanger tells us. "We always want to choose the best dress. So if we find something that's white and striking, that's fantastic."

Here, we look back on 17 memorable Oscars red carpet dresses that double as wedding inspiration. From Camila Morrone's bridal ball gown to Lupita Nyong'o's pearlcore-worthy sheath, these Oscar fashion looks are simply perfect for the altar.

Michelle Yeoh in Dior Couture, 2023

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Michelle Yeoh was the star of the 2023 Oscars, winning the Best Actress award for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. It's nearly impossible to watch her acceptance speech without getting emotional—but while we were captivated by her inspiring words, we were just as awestruck by her ethereal gown, which looked incredibly bridal. Yeoh stepped onto the champagne-colored carpet wearing a white feathered gown by Dior Couture, which had an elegant illusion neckline. Although Yeoh's wedding-worthy Oscars dress wasn't explicitly bridal, we think it's incredibly apropos for nuptials. (In case you missed it, feathers are one of the biggest wedding dress trends of 2023.) The look, which was styled by Jordan Johnson Chung, was completed with brilliant Moussaieff diamond earrings and a matching headband.

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Michelle Williams in Chanel, 2023

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Michelle Yeoh wasn't the only A-lister who wore a wedding-worthy dress to the 2023 Oscars. We were also dazzled by Michelle Williams' custom Chanel ensemble, which effortlessly serves as inspiration for brides-to-be. The actress donned an embellished white column gown with a strapless neckline, paired with a sheer cape overlay that was also adorned with sparkling crystals. With her signature pixie cut swept to the side, The Fablemans star accessorized her bridal-esque look with a diamond choker necklace from Tiffany & Co. and a bold red lip.

Zendaya in Valentino Haute Couture, 2022

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It's rare that a Zendaya red carpet look doesn't break the internet, and the 2022 Oscars were no exception. The Euphoria actress arrived at the Academy Awards wearing a crisp Valentino Haute Couture cropped button-down top, which she paired with a sparkly high-waisted skirt. Ever so chic, she accessorized her look with stacks of bangles on both wrists and a glittering diamond necklace. While you might not necessarily think this is something to add to your wedding Pinterest board upon first glance, we love the idea of recreating this Oscars fashion ensemble for your bachelorette party, or even your rehearsal dinner for a look that encapsulates the "cool girl" bridal trend.

Camila Morrone in Carolina Herrera, 2020

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You might recognize Camila Morrone as one of the breakout stars of Amazon Prime's limited series Daisy Jones and the Six—but three years before the highly-anticipated book adaptation hit screens, Morrone made her Oscars red carpet debut in a Carolina Herrera wedding dress with exposed boning and a ruffled dropped-waist. The actress worked with stylist Micah Schifman to reimagine the strapless ball gown, which they altered to have a blush pink tone. Speaking to InStyle about the Oscars dress, Schifman revealed that one Hollywood icon in particular inspired Morrone's wedding-worthy look: "We kind of always have Princess Grace in mind, being such a style icon that she is, and we wanted to go that direction."

Cynthia Erivo in Versace, 2020

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Bold brides-to-be looking for jaw-dropping wedding dress inspiration need not look further than Cynthia Erivo's Oscars 2020 red carpet look. The actress wore a show-stopping gown by Versace for her first appearance at the Academy Awards, solidifying it as one of our favorite wedding-worthy Oscars dresses. Erivo's custom design featured a one-shoulder bustier-style top with crystal mesh on the bodice and an ultra-high slit in the full skirt. Accenting her look were a pair of white platform Stuart Weitzman heels and mismatched blue and white nails. (How's that for something blue?)

Regina King in Oscar de la Renta, 2019

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Can't you just picture yourself getting married in a dress like this? Regina King donned a strapless Oscar de la Renta dress at the 2019 Academy Awards, giving off major cool-girl bride energy. While we loved the gown's sky-high slit and cascading train, we appreciated its meaning even more. King, who was a Best Supporting Actress nominee for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk, opened up to Ryan Seacrest about how her dress choice honored the film on E! Live From the Red Carpet. "I felt like this film is a film about the fabric of America, one of the threads in the fabric of America, and Oscar de la Renta is an American designer, so I thought it was appropriate," she said.

Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell, 2016

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For her first appearance on the Oscars red carpet as a nominee in 2016, Lady Gaga worked with her longtime friend and collaborator Brandon Maxwell to style her look—and it ended up being something we could see as a wedding reception outfit. "We approached this year's dress in the same way that we do all of our collaborations," Maxwell told Vogue. "We were on our way to dinner [and] she said exactly how she saw it and what she liked. She's always very clear about what she wants."

What she wanted was a white jumpsuit that debuted in Maxwell's Fall 2016 fashion show. The one-piece featured a sculptural strapless neckline and a structured skirt layered over crisp white pants, effortlessly blending modernity with Old Hollywood glam. To complete the look, the duo accessorized this Oscars red carpet ensemble with 12-inch heels and dazzling Lorraine Schwartz diamond jewelry.

Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein Collection, 2015

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Dare we say that Lupita Nyongo's pearl look is one of the best Oscars dresses of all time? The actress slipped into a pearl-encrusted dress from Calvin Klein Collection for the 2015 Academy Awards, which was styled by her longtime friend and collaborator Micaela Erlanger. Speaking about her red carpet styling experience, Erlanger tells us that the process for each celebrity—and each event—is different. "Some clients come to me with no expectations. They want me to just do my thing and provide them with looks, so I have creative freedom," she explains. "Other clients might be more into fashion, and they might want to collaborate more closely. It really varies, but no matter which direction it is, there's a degree of communication and collaboration, especially when you're planning for a big award show."

Together, Erlanger and Nyong'o landed on an unforgettable ivory dress that could easily double as a wedding gown. The Calvin Klein Collection piece featured a keyhole cutout on the front and a scoop open back, and was covered in 6,000 luminescent pearls.

Jenna Dewan in Zuhair Murad, 2015

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Long before she graced the Fall 2021 cover of The Knot Magazine, Jenna Dewan offered major wedding inspiration on the Academy Awards red carpet. She attended the 2015 awards show in a sleek Zuhair Murad dress with a daringly-low plunging neckline, which was accented with glittery beading embellishments and a silver belt. Celebrity stylist Brad Goreski curated the outfit, which he noted was "still one of my fave looks" years later in 2017.

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture, 2013

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You might recall the 2013 Oscars as the year Jennifer Lawrence fell while accepting the Best Actress award for Silver Linings Playbook. While the moment is forever documented in infamy, we can't help but swoon over the dress she was wearing at the time: a strapless ivory Dior Haute Couture ball gown with a dropped waistline and botanical brocade. The actress kept her accessories to a minimum, opting to wear her hair in a simple updo to show off delicate diamond earrings and a Chopard necklace down her back.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford, 2012

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Long before bridal capes became a mainstream trend, Gwyneth Paltrow stunned in this striking silhouette on the Oscars red carpet in 2012. The actress looked ever-so-bridal in a white Tom Ford column gown, which had an asymmetrical neckline and a chic cape draped over her shoulders. Her hair was slicked back into a sleek ponytail and she wore just one dazzling diamond cuff bracelet to accent her Oscars dress.

Mandy Moore in Monique Lhuillier, 2011

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We have a soft spot for Monique Lhuillier—and so do celebrities. We've seen plenty of A-listers walk down the aisle wearing Monique Lhuillier gowns over the years, solidifying her status as one of the most beloved wedding dress designers today. She's also responsible for one of our favorite Oscars dresses too, which happens to deliver serious bridal energy. Mandy Moore opted for a glittering nude off-the-shoulder Monique Lhuillier dress, which had an airy tulle skirt and an ombré sequin pattern. The princess-worthy look was incredibly apropos for the actress, who attended the awards show as one of the Best Song nominees for "I See the Light," which she sang in the Disney movie Tangled. If you just so happen to be in the market for fairytale wedding inspo, look no further than this Academy Awards red carpet look.

Marion Cotillard in Jean Paul Gaultier, 2008

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Marion Cotillard's mermaid-worthy 2008 Oscars dress is one of our all-time favorites when it comes to bridal inspiration. The Best Actress nominee stunned in this beaded Jean Peal Gaultier gown, which first appeared in the designer's Spring 2008 haute couture collection. While the original look was made in a bronzy shade, the duo opted for an ivory color to make a serious statement on the red carpet.

Charlize Theron in Gucci, 2004

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Can't you picture yourself in a slinky dress like this for your wedding reception? Charlize Theron stepped onto the Oscars red carpet in 2004 wearing a beaded Tom Ford for Gucci creation that's simply perfect for brides looking to wear a simple-yet-sexy silhouette on their big day. Theron's glittering gown—which had a strappy open back—was paired with silver sandals and drop earrings that effortlessly complemented the sparkly beading of her dress.

Angelina Jolie in Marc Bouwer, 2004

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When it comes to finding wedding inspiration on the Oscars red carpet, we'd be remiss not to include Angelina Jolie's 2004 look by Marc Bouwer. The actress selected a white satin halterneck gown for the 76th Academy Awards, which was widely deemed one of her best red carpet looks of all time. It also drew comparisons to iconic Hollywood figures, including Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth. Jolie paired the dress with a matching shawl draped around her arms and layers of diamond pendant necklaces.

Grace Kelly in Helen Rose, 1956

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Grace Kelly was the wearer of perhaps the most recognizable wedding dress of all time, so it's no surprise that her red carpet style oozes bridal inspiration too. Kelly attended the 1956 Academy Awards in a Helen Rose ball gown, which had floral appliques on the full skirt. The actress styled her Oscars red carpet look with a shawl wrapped around the bodice and white gloves. This, of course, wasn't the only time Kelly would wear a Helen Rose gown. Not only was the designer responsible for creating the costumes for a handful of Kelly's films, she would also go on to design Grace Kelly's wedding dress for her 1956 nuptials to Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy, 1954

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We can't talk about wedding-worthy Oscar dresses without mentioning Audrey Hepburn's 1954 floral frock. The actress attended the event—during which she won the Best Actress award for Roman Holiday—in a lace gown designed by her close friend Hubert de Givenchy. The unconventional dress featured a bateau neckline and a white belt around the waist, which later become one of Hepburn's signature silhouettes. The designer would continue to collaborate closely with the actress over the years, and even designed the pink dress she wore to marry Andrea Dotti in 1969.