A Royal Wedding...

Prince Rainer marries Grace Kelly

18^th April 1956

A true Hollywood and Royal Fairytale was the wedding of film star Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier of Monaco on April 18^th 1956.  The couple were officially wed on this day and the next day they wed publicly in an elaborate Catholic Mass in Monaco.  During the ceremony they looked straight ahead, never looking at each other, just as they had been directed by senior church officials.

At the time, film star Grace Kelly was tied to an MGM contract for another 7 years.  To get out of her 7 year contract with MGM Grace Kelly had to agree to the wedding being filmed by MGM for worldwide distribution.  In later days she regretted the filming intruding on her wedding day and much preferred the private ceremony with Prince Rainier the day before.

Grace Kelly's wedding dress was designed by Helen Rose, wardrobe designer at the film production studio MGM and was made by the MGM wardrobe department as a gift from MGM.  The wedding gown was made from antique Valenciennes rose point lace, 23 metres of silk taffeta and 81 metres of tulle.  Her veil was covered with appliquéd lace lovebirds and thousands of seed pearls.

The lace decorated upper bodice and high neck of the wedding gown was a decorous choice for an actress who could no longer have any doubt cast on her suitability as a royal bride and princess.  Prince Rainier designed the Napoleonic influenced dress uniform.

I love Grace Kelly’s poise and elegance.  Her conservative wedding gowns with high collar and long sleeves in lace and full skirt compliment the silhouette of the gown accented by her waist.  The true vision of a Princess her look has gone on to inspire many bride to be’s including Nicole Richie.

Karen xx