Weddings make for some of the most memorable moments in a television series' run: Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe chugging a few beers on the couch; Charlotte spilling red wine and subsequently crying in a bathroom; the entire final season of How I Met Your Mother. So naturally, the dresses worn by our favorite characters on the most important day of their lives make their mark, too.
From the perfectly puffed sleeve dresses accented with voluminous veils featured in classic '90s television weddings like General Hospital and Full House to more recent, gorgeous gowns like Charlotte's Vera Wang and Badgley Mishka big-day looks on Sex and the City, TV wedding dresses have certainly evolved over the years. And of course, we can't forget about the most fashion-forward brides to grace our small screens: The ladies of Gossip Girl (remember Blair's blue Elie Saab number and Serena's gold-dipped Georges Chakra gown?!).
The wedding dresses on each of these shows will forever remain one of the major things we remember about each series, but you don't have to be a famous fictional character to have an iconic wedding dress of your own. Emulate your favorite dress from Friends, Sex and the City, or even The Bachelor and Bachelorette, by taking inspiration from the gowns' silhouettes, skirts, and necklines. If nothing else, you can look to these women (whether their marriages lasted or not — we're looking at you and your gorgeous Vera Wang gown worn to marry Prince Louis, Blair) for guidance on how to make your personality pop down the aisle.
Ditch the Netflix for a moment and satisfy your nostalgia by binge-clicking through the most iconic wedding dresses ever worn on TV.
Rachel running away from her marriage to Barry is one of several iconic Friends wedding scenes. Rocking a '90s-style ball gown at Central Perk, this series opener sets the tone for the following 10 years together and the many milestones our favorite friends will bring.
Gossip Girl fans may not have been rooting for this groom, but the stunning, lace Vera Wang A-line dress Blair wore at her wedding to soon-to-be ex husband Louis was fit for a princess.
Hannah's boho bestie shocked us all with her surprise wedding during Girls' season one finale. But we can't say we were shocked about her choice of dress: a knee-length, off-the-shoulder crochet-and-lace sheath with a flower crown and netted veil.
Of all of the weddings on Sex and the City, Charlotte's second marriage to Harry had us the most farklempt for many reasons: Harry couldn't break the glass at the end of their Jewish ceremony, Samantha broke her bracelet spilling beads underneath the chuppah, Charlotte slipped on the said beads after their first kiss, and, of course, she spilled red wine on her dress. One thing was a success, though — Charlotte's stunning Badgley Mischka dress! The flutter off-the-shoulder sleeves and gentle embroidery were a romantic change from her first wedding to Trey, for which she wore a very princess-like ball gown.
Sean and Catherine, of Bachelor season 17, are one of the most popular couples from the reality TV franchise. And Catherine's curve-hugging, lace Monique Lhuillier gown was a gorgeous pick for the winning bride.
The entire final season of How I Met Your Mother was dedicated to Robin and Barney's nuptials, so how could we not talk about Ms. Sparkle's dress? After all, this Monique Lhuillier design, which we saw on multiple occasions, was perfect.
Many different generations have watched General Hospital but one thing unites them all: Luke and Laura. While there have been many weddings on the long running soap, this was by far the most anticipated and watched.
Obviously for her marriage to fellow friend Chandler (that proposal still makes us cry), everything had to be impeccable — dress included! The streamlined trumpet spoke to Monica's inner perfectionist, and let her shine on her big day.
Fans of the long-running NBC sitcom rooted for Pam and Jim from the beginning, and when they finally got to tie the knot, a very pregnant Pam glowed in her flowing-empire-waisted gown.
Lilypad and Marshmallow's wedding day was quite the disaster — Marshall shaved of most of his hair, their pregnant harpist's water broke, and Lily's ex-boyfriend showed up to win her back — but Lily's dress, which she scored at a sample sale with the help of bestie Robin, was just right.
It may have all been a rouse, but "Emily" looked incredible in her scalloped lace and tulle peplum gown for her high-society nuptials. Though the dress looked like it was plucked right off the bridal runways, the show's costume designer, Jill Ohannesson, custom made the design herself.
When Leslie and Ben's town-wide wedding completely fails (thanks a lot, Jamm), the couple does exactly what we'd expect them to do: They get hitched in City Hall, the place where it all began. In classic Knope style, Leslie still carries her community with her in a DIY-pleated newspaper decorated skirt.
The moment we had all been waiting for — Chuck and Blair finally tying the knot — was as good as we always dreamed. The main reason? Blair's incredible blue Elie Saab dress and gem-encrusted headband.
Stubborn as ever, Miranda refused to have a traditional wedding. So much so, that she chose a community garden as her venue and wore a velvet burgundy suit for her nuptials to longtime love (and baby daddy) Steve — and we really loved it.
No, each girl didn't tie the knot, but they did rock gowns — Hanna and Aria both in White by Vera Wang — true to their characters for the charity fashion show they participated in.
Callie and Arizona's wedding on Grey's Anatomy marked an important moment in TV for many reason. We love how the girls wore dresses that reflected their personalities for their same-sex nuptials.
It was the last thing we'd ever see on Gossip Girl and it was a perfect ending to the style-centric show. Concluding the six season-long saga, Serena marries on-and-off-again love Dan in a gold-and-white Georges Chakra gown only appropriate for the ultra-glam society girl.
For awhile, it seemed like Grace would never marry and, instead, live happily-ever-after with BFF Will. But, alas, when it came time for the show's star to tie the knot to Dr. Leo she wore a ball gown that spoke to her whimsical style and the gravity of the milestone.
The first Bachelor nation couple to tie the knot, Trista did it up with her fairy-tale appropriate ball gown. Now, 10 years later, the Sutters are happily married and recently renewed their vows on TV!
While we could spend many minutes harping on our inappropriate childhood crushes on Uncle Jesse, we must discuss his longtime beau Becky's gown: The puffed off-the-shoulder sleeves and sky-high veil make for the best '90s wedding ever.
The last of the bunch to say "I do," the hilariously eccentric Phoebe wore an unexpectedly traditional dress for her snowy ceremony outside Central Perk to Mike Hannigan (played by a young and handsome Paul Rudd).
She may have only guest-starred, but LiLo wearing a wedding gown, nonetheless playing the part of a bridezilla, earns a spot in this roundup.
Presented as a two-hour TV movie, Zack and Kelly's wedding marked the series finale of the much-loved teen sitcom Saved by the Bell. For her Vegas nuptials with the gang, Kelly rocked a very early-90s, short-sleeve pearl-embellished ball gown.
