There are celebrity brides, and then there's Elizabeth Taylor.
The iconic actress with the violet eyes didn't marry just once, or even twice. No, Taylor was married eight times, to seven different men, including film stars, heirs, and even a senator.
Her love life was fodder for plenty of tabloid stories — especially when she notoriously married Eddie Fisher, who left Hollywood sweetheart (and Taylor's best friend) Debbie Reynolds for Taylor.
In spite of the gossip, Taylor had an incredible career, winning two Oscars and dedicating her life to advocating for AIDS research. Years after her death in 2011, she is also remembered for her beauty and style. Ahead, some of her most memorable wedding looks, in honor of what would be her 84th birthday on February 27.
The Traditional Bride: May 13, 1950
When rumors spread about a possible engagement to businessman, socialite, and hotel heir Conrad "Nicky" Hilton, Taylor reportedly said, "Nothing comes off until the ring goes on."
He gave her a $10,000 4-carat diamond ring shortly after. For their wedding, which included 700 guests, the 18-year-old Taylor wore a very traditional 1950s satin, white gown — complete with a corset. It was designed by Helen Rose (who also designed Grace Kelly's gown). The gown sold at auction for $187,931 in 2013.
Photo: Keystone Pictures USA/Alamy.
The Suit Dress: February 21, 1952
Michael Wilding was 20 years Taylor's senior when they married in 1952. For her second wedding, Taylor chose a suit (also designed by Helen Rose) with a flared skirt and white collar. No veil this time — just a bouquet of flowers and a simple pearl necklace. Wilding and Taylor had two boys, and their marriage ended in 1957 — when Taylor met her next husband.
Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images.
The Hooded Gown: March 8, 1957
Taylor met her third husband — Michael Todd — while married to Wilding. Todd, a Hollywood film producer, proposed to Taylor with a 29.4-carat diamond engagement ring. The couple had a small ceremony in Spain, but their big wedding was in Acapulco, Mexico, in March 1957. Taylor wore a beautiful, dramatic silk-organza gown with a hood. When she took down the hood, the dress slightly hung off her shoulders.
Her matron of honor was her best friend Debbie Reynolds, who is pictured here along with her husband, Eddie Fisher.
Photo: Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images.
The Bride Wore Green: May 12, 1959
Sadly, Mike Todd died in a plane crash in 1958. His close friend Eddie Fisher comforted Taylor after the tragedy. Eventually, Fisher left his wife — Taylor's best friend — Debbie Reynolds. While the two women would reconcile decades later, the scandalous affair rocked Hollywood, and cost Fisher his TV show.
Think of it as the Brad, Angelina, and Jen love triangle of its time, but multiplied by 1,000. And, if you're wondering: Everyone was Team Debbie, not Team Liz.
Photo: Bob Willoughby/ MPTV Images.
Taylor's wedding to Fisher was a little over a year after Todd's tragic death. Taylor converted to Judaism, and the couple wed at a synagogue in Las Vegas.
She wore another silk, hooded gown, this time in a dark green, with sheer, long sleeves. Unlike with her previous dress, Taylor kept the hood on for the entire ceremony. As for bling, she rocked the 40-carat engagement bracelet Fisher had given her. The couple would stay married until 1964, when Taylor began filming Cleopatra and met actor Richard Burton.
Photo: Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images.
The Flower-Power Bride: March 15, 1964
Taylor did not shy away from colorful wedding dresses. For her fifth wedding — to Richard Burton — she wore a gorgeous daffodil-yellow, chiffon dress with an empire waist.
Burton didn't get Taylor an engagement ring, but he did give her a platinum-set Bulgari pendant featuring an 18.61-carat emerald surrounded by diamonds, which she wore during the ceremony as a brooch. (And then, there was the 69-carat Cartier ring he bought her in 1969.)
Photo: MPTV Images.
Take a moment to appreciate Taylor's amazing bridal hair here. Lots of brides want flowers in their hair — but THIS is how you do the look in 1964. Her hair was swept up in an incredible bouffant, with a long, braided ponytail intertwined with lilies of the valley and white hyacinths.
Also, take a look at that crazy emerald brooch. Yeah, it's insane.
Photo: William Lovelace/Evening Standard/Getty Images.
The Bohemian Bride: October 10, 1975
Burton and Taylor's love affair was so dramatic that it made headlines. (It was also turned into that awkward 2012 made-for-TV movie Liz & Dick starring Lindsay Lohan.) After 10 years together, they divorced in 1974 — only to remarry in 1975!
This time, Taylor was all about those hippie vibes. She wore a Gina Fratini-designed dress in all the colors of the rainbow, embroidered with tiny feathers. She had ribbons and flowers placed in her hair again. The couple said, "I do" under a tree in Botswana.
Photo: Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images.
The Princess Bride: October 6, 1991
Taylor married John Warner in December 1976. If there are pictures of this event, they don't seem to be on the internet. Taylor helped Warner run for office and win a senate seat in 1978. The couple divorced in 1982.
It may be Taylor's final wedding (number eight), though, that really took the cake. At 59, the actress married Larry Fortensky, a construction worker she met at the Betty Ford Center. How insane was this wedding? Well, it took place at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Santa Ynez Valley, CA. Reportedly, over 100 Israeli security guards were on alert for paparazzi. Did we mention Michael Jackson gave her away?
Taylor wore a $25,000 pale-yellow, lace Valentino gown fit for a Disney princess. The guest list included Liza Minnelli, Arsenio Hall, Nancy Reagan, Diane von Furstenberg, and Macaulay Culkin.
The couple divorced in 1996.
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