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The best and worst wedding dresses worn in TV shows

Samantha Grindell,Anneta Konstantinides   

The best and worst wedding dresses worn in TV shows
Business Insider rounded up the best and worst wedding dresses from TV shows.NBC/ABC
  • Weddings are a major plot point on TV, often taking place in season and series finales.
  • So Business Insider rounded up the best and worst wedding dresses on television.

Some of the best episodes of TV series are wedding specials.

From the episode of "New Girl" where Cece and Schmidt finally say "I do" to the "Gossip Girl" finale that features Chuck and Blair eloping in Central Park, weddings make for some of the most memorable moments on countless TV shows.

The wedding dresses beloved characters wear are almost as unforgettable as the weddings themselves — though some for better reasons than others.

For better or worse, Business Insider looked back at some of the best and worst dresses from TV weddings.

Blair Waldorf wore one of the most memorable TV wedding gowns to marry Chuck Bass on "Gossip Girl."

Blair Waldorf wore one of the most memorable TV wedding gowns to marry Chuck Bass on "Gossip Girl."
Blair and Chuck on their wedding day during the series finale of "Gossip Girl."      The CW

Blair finally marries Chuck Bass in the "Gossip Girl" series finale in a last-minute wedding in Central Park.

Never one to miss an opportunity for a fashion moment, Blair wore a pale-blue Elie Saab gown to the nuptials.

The dress was made of sparkly, semi-sheer fabric, and the bodice was adorned with floral appliqué to create a high-fashion yet timeless look, much like Blair herself. A belt at the waist and a tiara completed the showstopping look.

Serena van der Woodsen's couture wedding gown was fitting for the golden girl of "Gossip Girl."

Serena van der Woodsen
Serena and Dan on their wedding day during the series finale of "Gossip Girl."      Giovanni Rufino/The CW

Serena and Dan Humphrey's on-and-off relationship was a major plot point throughout the six seasons of "Gossip Girl," but the Upper East Side socialite and Brooklyn writer finally tie the knot in a flash-forward at the end of the show's series finale.

Never one to follow convention, Serena ditches the classic white bridal dress for a gold Georges Chakra couture ball gown. The strapless ensemble features an entirely gold bodice, with gold detailing across the tulle skirt that resembles paint splatters.

Does the dress look more like it belongs at the Met Gala than a wedding? Maybe, but this is "Gossip Girl" baby! And for a character as fashionable and trendsetting as Serena, it makes perfect sense that she'd go against the norm on her wedding day.

''I will never get tired seeing Blake wearing one of my designs and transforming it into a 'Serena' look,'" Chakra told Elle in 2012. "Her character has that effortless chic ability to break the rules and ditch your regular white wedding gown and make metallic gold accents acceptable and cool for a bride."

Lorelai Gilmore's wedding dress was a letdown on "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life," especially after fans waited years for her to marry Luke Danes.

Lorelai Gilmore
Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore and Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore in the finale of "Gilmore GIrls: A Year in the Life."      Netflix

Lorelai and Luke finally get married in the "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" finale, saying "I do" in the middle of the night just hours before their wedding because they don't want to wait any longer.

The wedding is romantic, but the navy ensemble Lorelai wears to get married doesn't fit the grandeur of the occasion. Her tea-length dress has a faux white blouse on the top, coordinating with a white flower on the waistline. She wears a lacy cardigan over the gown, giving the whole look a matronly feel. The outfit just doesn't look like something Lorelai would wear to celebrate her marriage, particularly with how over-the-top her fashion often is on the show.

The dress also falls flat because it doesn't compare to the stunning, blush gown she buys to marry Luke on season six of the original "Gilmore Girls" series. Even a look like the sparkly suit Emily Gilmore wore to renew her vows to her husband Richard would have been more fitting than the outfit Lorelai ended up in.

Similarly, Jessica Day's wedding look felt lackluster after fans waited years for her to marry Nick Miller on "New Girl."

Similarly, Jessica Day
"New Girl" characters Jessica Day and Nick Miller on their wedding day.      FOX

Jess and Nick get married in season seven of "New Girl." Jess' tea-length white dress is pretty with its belted, empire waist and full skirt.

But it doesn't make much of a statement, and Jess' outfit gets turned into the butt of a joke when she's forced to wear an eye patch after injuring herself.

Jess and Nick's wedding was a highly-anticipated moment for "New Girl" fans, and it was disappointing Jess didn't get to have her fashion moment as they said their vows.

But Cece Parekh's "New Girl" wedding dress was beautiful, and it had a fun backstory.

But Cece Parekh
Cece and Schmidt said "I do" during season five of "New Girl."      Adam Taylor/FOX

Schmidt and Cece get married in the season five finale of "New Girl," saying their vows in the loft after Schmidt misses their actual wedding.

Cece wore a strapless, A-line gown to the wedding that was adorned with gold flowers, which she paired with a traditional Indian dupattā. The embroidery on the gown looked similar to henna, again connecting the dress to Cece's heritage.

According to the plot of season five, Cece had Jess to thank for her wedding gown, as Jess transformed an over-the-top gown that literally lit up into her best friend's dream dress.

Molly Carter's modern wedding gown stayed true to her fashion-forward style on "Insecure."

Molly Carter
Molly Carter ties the knot with her coworker Taurean during the series finale of "Insecure."      HBO

Molly had plenty of dating drama through the five seasons of "Insecure," but she gets a happy ending — and one last incredible outfit — during the season finale.

The ambitious lawyer's style inspired a number of listicles while "Insecure" was on air, and star Yvonne Orji joked that fans loved Molly's wardrobe more than the actual character.

"Everyone's like, 'Say what you want about Molly, she may be trash, but her outfits are the bomb.' She's not trash, but I think there's at least a silver lining," Orji told InStyle in February 2022.

Molly sported a stunning Oscar de la Renta gown to tie the knot with her coworker Taurean. The strapless embroidered dress, decorated throughout with a pattern of ferns, features a sweetheart neckline and a voluminous skirt. It's chic, distinct, and perfect for Molly's character.

Monica Geller's gown was perfect for her wedding to Chandler Bing on "Friends."

Monica Geller
Monica Geller and Chandler Bing's wedding was a major moment on "Friends."      NBC

Monica and Chandler's wedding on "Friends" takes place in both the season seven finale and season eight premiere for a two-episode special.

Monica planned the wedding meticulously, and though she couldn't wear the dress she originally wanted after another shopper blackmailed her for it in "The One With the Cheap Wedding Dress," she still chose a gorgeous dress for the big day.

Her fit-and-flare gown was fitted throughout the bodice, forming a V-neckline. The dress had no embroidery or embellishment aside from a subtle trim on the neckline for a simple yet beautiful look.

Phoebe Buffay's wedding dress also suited her style.

Phoebe Buffay
Phoebe Buffay walked down the aisle during the last season of "Friends."      NBC

Phoebe's avant-garde style was a hallmark of her character throughout "Friends," and her wedding dress needed to fit that aesthetic when she married Mike in season 10 of the series.

Her silk gown is perfect, as its exposed corset, jewel sleeves, and ruched skirt have an old-world feel, while her traditional veil makes her look like a bride.

She also wears an embroidered, floral jacket until it's time for her outdoor, winter wedding, which feels even more fitting for her character.

Although Rachel Green's dress from the pilot is the most iconic "Friends" wedding dress, it feels more like a costume than a real gown.

Although Rachel Green
Rachel Green wears a wedding dress on the very first episode of "Friends."      NBC

When Rachel is introduced on "Friends," she appears at Central Perk in her wedding dress, looking for Monica after running out on her wedding.

The gown is quintessential '90s wedding fashion, with its heavy lace, full skirt, and off-the-shoulder sleeves. But the whole look just feels gaudy, from the floral print on the skirt to the voluminous veil.

But considering the look went along with Rachel's spoiled persona, it was fitting for the occasion.

Hilary Banks' wedding dress on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" felt like a better take on a 1990s wedding gown.

Hilary Banks
Hilary Banks on her wedding day on an episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."      Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Hilary donned a wedding dress in the season four premiere of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" when her boyfriend Trevor proposed to her while bungee jumping for their news show.

The dress had an off-the-shoulder neckline, subtle lace on the bodice, and a tulle skirt full of volume. The gown fit the '90s aesthetic without being over the top. Even Hilary's voluminous veil looked great with her ensemble.

Unfortunately, Trevor died during his proposal, so the dress never actually appeared at a wedding.

Rayna James' romantic lace wedding dress was perfect for her sweet Southern wedding on "Nashville."

Rayna James
Rayna James says "I do" on the fourth season of "Nashville."      ABC

In season four, the country-music superstar finally marries the love of her life, Deacon Claybourne. And her beautiful off-the-shoulder dress is easily one of our favorites on this list.

"Nashville" costume designer Susie DeSanto told Glamour in 2016 that she wanted the dress to reflect Rayna's character and be "simple, honest, not too fussy, elegant, and sophisticated." DeSanto said she showed sketches to Connie Britton, who played Rayna in the show, and ultimately wanted to create the kind of wedding dress "you wear when you marry your true love."

The dress featured a lace bodice and satin skirt designed with lace flower appliqué that was sewn on by hand, according to Glamour.

Although she didn't end up getting married, April Kepner's dress was one of the best "Grey's Anatomy" wedding gowns of all time.

Although she didn
April Kepner is one of the many characters we see tie the knot on "Grey's Anatomy."      ABC

April's season 10 wedding became famous for "Grey's Anatomy" fans, as she ends up running away with Jackson and marrying him instead of her fiancé, Matthew.

But her dress was almost as memorable as the episode itself. The short-sleeve dress had sheer, short sleeves that flowed into an adorned bodice, creating the illusion that appliqué was floating up her torso. The dropped-waist skirt was adorned with flowers, and the gown flowed into a train.

It's not hard to see why Jackson interrupted the wedding to whisk April away.

Likewise, Cristina Yang didn't marry Preston Burke, but the dress she wore to their wedding was stunning.

Likewise, Cristina Yang didn
Cristina was meant to wear this dress during her first wedding on "Grey's Anatomy."      ABC

Preston left Cristina at the altar in the season three finale of "Grey's Anatomy," though the bride-to-be had been apprehensive about the idea of getting married, too.

Despite not wanting to be a bride, she looked every bit the part in her mermaid gown. Christina's lace dress was adorned with understated silver embellishments, and her updo showed off the choker Preston's mother gave her to wear at the wedding.

The dress was gorgeous; it was just odd to see Cristina Yang wearing it.

Summer and Seth finally got their happy ending on "The O.C." series finale, but the wedding dress wasn't special enough.

Summer and Seth finally got their happy ending on "The O.C." series finale, but the wedding dress wasn
Summer walks down the aisle during the series finale of "The O.C."      FOX

From the preppy shirts and Juicy Couture tracksuits to the halter tops and lace camis, Summer's closet perfectly encapsulated the pure boldness of early 2000s fashion. She loved bright colors, bold patterns, and graphic T-shirts — matching her spunky and outspoken personality.

Maybe the costume department was trying to illustrate Summer's character arc from trendy teen to vegan queen by picking this simple wedding dress. We love a classic moment, but the bodice is ill-fitting and completely swallows Rachel Bilson's figure, while the full skirt just looks wrinkled.

Plus, it's just a little boring. After four seasons of watching Summer and Seth's love story, we would've loved Summer's dress to feel a little more memorable.

Jessa's shotgun wedding dress was also a miss in what could've been a fun bohemian style moment for "Girls."

Jessa
Jessa surprised everyone with her wedding during the season one finale on "Girls."      HBO

If "Gossip Girl" was a fantasy of NYC fashion, "Girls" set out to be the reality with off-the-rack clothes meant to reflect what women really wear in the city.

So at first glance, the short and casual dress seems to fit Jessa's eccentric style. But "Girls" costume designer Jenn Rogien told Fashionista in 2014 that Lena Dunham wanted the cast to "look the best they had all season" at the wedding. Rogien said she looked at both vintage and runway pieces and ultimately decided on this dress at a boutique owned by the mother of Jemima Kirke, who plays Jessa.

The story behind the outfit is great, but the dress doesn't fit the major twist of the season finale. We love the cutout detailing on the oversized sleeves, but they clash with the lacy skirt. The overall look just feels too casual, more akin to something you would've found at Free People in 2012. There are so many beautiful vintage and boho bridal looks, but this just feels forgettable — and that's definitely the opposite of Jessa.

Wilhelmina Slater might have been the villain in "Ugly Betty," but she looked like a dream in this Vera Wang gown during her wedding.

Wilhelmina Slater might have been the villain in "Ugly Betty," but she looked like a dream in this Vera Wang gown during her wedding.
Wilhelmina Slater's wedding was an iconic episode of "Ugly Betty."      ABC

From an organ remix of "Milkshake" to a guest appearance by Victoria Beckham playing herself, there was a lot happening during Wilhelmina Slater's wedding in the second season of "Ugly Betty." But that didn't stop the former supermodel and MODE magazine editor from stealing the show.

Wilhelmina walked down the aisle in a luxurious silk gown designed by Vera Wang, who also played herself during the episode. The strapless column dress only features a touch of sparkling embellishment, letting the cut of the gown and its stunning fabric take center stage.

We also loved how Wilhelmina paired the dress with matching silk elbow-length opera gloves. The ensemble couldn't have been a better match for our favorite stylish supervillain.

Robin Scherbatsky's wedding dress in "How I Met Your Mother" could've been a showstopper.

Robin Scherbatsky
Robin and Barney's wedding day is on the ninth and final season of "How I Met Your Mother."      CBS

There were several major story decisions that confused fans during the ninth and final season of "How I Met Your Mother." But we're here to talk about Robin and Barney's wedding, not that wild twist in the series finale.

Robin opts for a Monique Lhuillier gown to wed the reformed womanizer, and there's a lot we love about it. The exposed corset is a modern and unexpected style choice, and it pairs well with the sheer sleeves that hang just off her shoulders.

But it all gets ruined with the big, sparkling, silver belt. Not only does the design of the belt seem dated, especially when the rest of the gown feels so fresh, but it cuts off Robin's body and throws off the proportions of the ensemble, messing up what could have been a very chic moment.

The combination of beading and a bow on the bodice of Lily Aldrin's dress didn't work.

The combination of beading and a bow on the bodice of Lily Aldrin
Lily and Marshall get married on the second season of "How I Met Your Mother."      20th Television

Lily and Marshall got married in the season two finale of "How I Met Your Mother" after briefly breaking up at the start of it.

Lily's dress somehow had both too much and too little going on, as the bodice was heavily adorned with crystals and a silver bow while the ball gown skirt was plain.

The dress looked disconnected, and it didn't do Lily justice. Marshall's hat wasn't a great look, either.

The dress Daphne wears to marry Simon in "Bridgerton" is full of stunning details packed with symbolism.

The dress Daphne wears to marry Simon in "Bridgerton" is full of stunning details packed with symbolism.
Daphne weds Simon during the first season of "Bridgerton."      Netflix

Simon only agrees to marry Daphne to protect her honor in the first season of "Bridgerton," and their small and intimate wedding reflects the fact that it isn't much of a celebration. Lead costume designer Ellen Mirojnick told The Knot in 2021 that she took that into consideration while designing Daphne's wedding dress.

Daphne's wedding dress might not be grand or dramatic, but it's still beautiful for the moment. The gown features an empire waist and cap sleeves befitting of the time, and white flowers bloom across the skirt — a wink at the white rose Simon picked for Daphne earlier in the season, according to The Knot.

Mirojnick said she designed Daphne's entire dress around a single piece of silk embroidered fabric that she found and "fell in love with" in Madrid.

"It was the most beautiful piece of fabric, I hadn't found anything like that," she added. "It was so delicate, so perfect. As we started to move forward in creating Daphne's costumes, I knew, specifically, that had to be her wedding dress."

Although she wasn't excited to get married, Claire Fraser's dress was elegant and understated for her wedding on "Outlander."

Although she wasn
Claire marries Jamie in the first season of "Outlander."      STARZ

Claire and Jamie get married in season one of "Outlander" to protect her from being taken by Jonathan Randall. However, they end up developing deep romantic feelings for each other after saying their marriage vows.

Claire's green and off-white gown for the nuptials was elegant and sexy, with its low-cut, scooped neckline and off-the-shoulder, quarter-length sleeves. The corset cinched tight, and the skirt was full.

Delicate beading adorned the bodice and the center of the skirt, making it stand out. Though Claire clearly felt torn about marrying Jaime because she was already married to Frank in the future, her wedding dress was breathtaking.

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