Grace Kelly weddingWhat could be more fitting for the first in wedding wish lanterns‘ celebrity wedding series, than to profile perhaps the most lavish, elegant and iconic of all celebrity weddings; the Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco ceremony of 1956.

This really and truly was the ultimate fairytale wedding between royalty and celebrity. Where the symbol of high, archaic tradition met with the then icon of popular culture. The whole world was mesmerised.

A 1956 newspaper clipping documents the following: The religious ceremony follows yesterday’s civil ceremony held in the throne room in the Palace of Monaco. The celebration of the Nuptial Mass was held in the Cathedral of Monaco. Miss Kelly looked every bit the film star in her ivory gown made of silk taffeta and lace… a typically brisk piece of 1950s journalism, with none of the in depth, no-holds-barred tone of our glossies. It’s hard to imagine Grace Kelly proclaiming in enthused tones, Read all about my marriage to a real live prince, only in OK!

Fit For a Princess

Fit For a Princess

Kelly’s wedding dress was designed by Helen Rose who had built up a reputation as MGMs principal costume designer and maker. This dress (pictured) was most expensive design that Rose had ever made. It used twenty-five yards of silk taffeta and one hundred yards of silk net. Its 125-year-old rose point lace was purchased from a museum and thousands of tiny pearls were intricately sewn on the veil. It must have been a very fiddly job!

Many celebrities were in attendance at Kelly’s wedding including such golden oldies as David Niven, Gloria Swanson, and Ava Gardner, and a reported 30 million people watched coverage on their television sets. That’s quite something when you consider that televisions weren’t all that commonplace.

The only thing missing from the wedding, was a flock of wedding lanterns, but that’s only because no westerners really knew they existed fifty years ago.

Wedding Wish Lanterns is a specialist in unique wedding and reception ideas. To contact us either email sales@weddingwishlanterns.co.uk or call 0845 500 1215