Elizabeth Taylor's Many Wedding Dresses, Ranked

For most people, a wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate a lifelong commitment while surrounded by loved ones. Wedding dresses have a special sentimentality in this context, intended to be worn only once while also serving as an opportunity to splurge on the perfect piece. This pressure can leave some soon-to-be brides in need of wedding dress shopping guidance, while other brides have already dreamt up the perfect silhouette for their one walk down the aisle. 

Of course, most brides aren't the late Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor. While the California-raised actor captivated audiences with her silver screen performances, starring in films like "Cleopatra" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," she dominated headlines with her real-life, whirlwind romances and multiple marriages. This includes Taylor's love triangle with Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher in addition to her romance with Richard Burton, the latter of which inspired projects like "Liz & Dick" and "Burton and Taylor." 

Over her lifetime, Taylor wed seven husbands across eight marriages — Richard Burton twice — celebrating each vow exchange with a unique gown. While some of these looks belong on the list of stunning, out-of-the-box wedding dresses from celebs, others fit firmly in the decades they were originally worn. Either way, Taylor managed to bring her signature confidence to each of her special days.

Elizabeth Taylor's tie-dye wedding gown lands at number eight in our ranking, with the "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" actor wearing the flowy piece for her second "I do" to Richard Burton in 1975. Designed by Gina Fratini, the empire waist gown featured a silk bodice, flowy statement sleeves, and streamers adorned with feathers and beads. While there are some old school trends from the '70s we'd love to see return, this wedding dress feels distinctly era-specific. Taylor clearly had fun selecting this tie-dyed number for her special day, but it doesn't exactly stand the test of time.

Next, Elizabeth Taylor wore a chic skirt-suit to exchange vows with English actor Michael Wilding. Marking her second-ever wedding, the Helen Rose-designed outfit consisted of a tea-length skirt and a tailored jacket with a thick collar and cuffed sleeves. The Hollywood icon paired the pieces with a classic pearl choker necklace and flowers in her signature curls. Though noticeably less glamorous than some of Taylor's other wedding ensembles, the overall look still felt sophisticated. That being said, this is one outfit that we'd be surprised to see on any modern stars, landing it firmly at number seven on our list.

Elizabeth Taylor initially tied the knot with Richard Burton in 1964, wearing a yellow, babydoll-style dress for her fifth-ever wedding ceremony. The chiffon piece, designed by Irene Sharaff, featured a circular neckline, flowy sleeves, and a bow tied under the bust, all of which was worn with an elaborate, flower-adorned ponytail. The silhouette and rich color of this bridal ensemble definitely fit in with the breezy, fun designs of the decade. In this way, this piece would make for a whimsical and retro-feeling look today, reminiscent of unconventional wedding gowns worn by TV brides, but it can't exactly be called timeless.

Elizabeth Taylor's seventh wedding took place in December 1976. The "Suddenly, Last Summer" star exchanged vows with former Navy secretary and future senator John Warner while wearing a coat lined with silver fox fur, pairing the weather-resistant piece with a cashmere dress, purple-and-gray turban, and gloves. While fur coats were majorly popular throughout the '70s, Taylor took a more elevated approach to the popular textile by combining it with a tweed material and classic accessories, giving this bridal outfit more longevity than some of her others.

When Elizabeth Taylor tied the knot with fellow actor Larry Fortensky in 1991, the California-raised actor opted for a more traditional bridal look for the celebrity-filled celebration. She wore a light yellow Valentino gown featuring a tiered skirt, lacy sleeves, and a scalloped, off-the-shoulder neckline. The milestone moment saw Taylor return to bridal staples, with the exposed neckline and intricate lace detailing reflecting wedding dress trends of the early '90s. Even so, it's not so trendy that it looks outdated today, landing it in the number four spot on our list.

Elizabeth Taylor wore a light-colored gown made of silk organza for her third-ever wedding, exchanging vows with film producer Mike Todd in February 1957. In addition to elegant ruching, the garment featured a hood that fell into an off-the-shoulder neckline when not sitting on the crown of the head. While the overall silhouette is somewhat reminiscent of the swing skirts that dominated the '50s, even featuring a banded waist adorned with a brooch, the unexpected hood and teasing neckline add a timeless elegance. In this way, Taylor's third-ever wedding gown firmly ranks third in terms of timelessness.

Next, Elizabeth Taylor said "I do" to Eddie Fisher in a Jewish ceremony back in 1959, with the controversial love affair taking place after the death of her third husband, Mike Todd. For the ceremony, the movie star wore an olive-colored dress featuring translucent sleeves, a fitted waistline, and a sheer cowl-style hood that created volume along the neckline and shoulders. This design element and the rich color made this a true standout among Taylor's bridal looks, feeling both unexpected, yet classic enough to take the number two spot on our list.

Elizabeth Taylor's first-ever wedding dress ranks as her most timeless, with the traditional, satin gown having an elegance that would be fit for modern royalty today. Created by iconic costume designer Helen Rose as a gift from MGM studios, the beautiful piece, worn to tie the knot to Conrad "Nicky" Hilton, Jr., was styled after the wedding ensemble seen in the actor's film "Father of the Bride." It featured dainty, seed-pearl embellishments and a faux off-the-shoulder neckline with a sheer, lace-trimmed overlay. While the garment consists of traditional design elements from the '50s, it also maintains a beauty and sophistication that translates to pure elegance today.

For this list, Elizabeth Taylor's eight wedding dresses were ranked by timelessness, also known as the ability to transcend trends and withstand the test of time. In this way, we considered both the popular design elements of the time and how the pieces would be received in the modern day.