The Best Wedding Dresses From The Ladies Of The Kennedy Family, Ranked

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When it comes to American dynasties, the Kennedy family is it. After all, the high-profile family members have been in the national spotlight for at least three generations. But while it was the men — John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy — who held high-ranking, elected political office, much of the family's modern mythology arises from the women. John F. Kennedy might have been president, but it was his wife, Jackie Kennedy, who coined the comparison to King Arthur that still endures today. "She wanted Camelot to top the story," historian and journalist Theodore H. White revealed (via Town & Country). "Camelot heroes, fairy tales, legends."

As with any tales of courtly intrigue, the Kennedy love stories loomed large, featuring statement jewelry that could be compared to the royals' gorgeous engagement rings and memorable, headline-grabbing wedding ceremonies. The Kennedy women, of course, had wedding gowns suited to the moment, though a ranking reveals that they weren't all created equal.

While she might not have the famous Kennedy surname, Maria Shriver — daughter of John F. Kennedy's sister, Eunice Kennedy, and Sargent Shriver — is a high-profile member of the dynastic American family. But the dress she wore to marry actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1986 hasn't aged well. The Dior gown featured a high neck and sheer overlay, along with a princess waist and poufy shoulders that make it a distinctly '80s style. Maximalist styles were popular during this era, and Maria's wedding dress was seminal during its decade.

The entire look isn't a totally outdated disaster. Maria's daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger rewore her mother's massive veil for her own 2019 wedding to Chris Pratt, proving that at least that piece was timeless. But ultimately it ranks low because it doesn't hold up well. It looks seriously retro, even compared to other significant Kennedy wedding gowns that are older. The Dior gown that Maria's mother wore in 1953 has aged better, despite being a whole generation older. The proof? Maria's niece, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, wore the gown for her 2020 wedding to honor her namesake and grandmother — and the 67-year-old dress still looked incredible and even modern.

For her 1986 Cape Cod wedding to Ed Schlossberg, Caroline Kennedy wore a custom Carolina Herrera gown with a drop waist and flower-embellished bodice. Reportedly, Caroline's mother, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, had some input on the dress, which helps explain why it's so bold and elegant. After all, Caroline is an attorney and diplomat, and is not particularly recognized for a distinctive sense of style.

Of course, while the look might seem dramatic, compared to more modern styles, it was actually a fairly refined look during an era of '80s bridal maximalism. "Caroline's gown looked restrained and elegant for the era," observed one Reddit user. "No leg-of-mutton sleeves, no pearl and diamanté embellishments, no weird beaded headpiece." Still, there's no denying that Caroline's gown is instantly identifiable as a relic of the '80s. While the floral details are certainly beautiful and drop waists might be among the hottest dress and skirt trends, this dress ultimately ranks a bit lower on this list because it is so dated.

When Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis got married for the second time in 1968, she opted for a modern Valentino set that was the polar opposite of the princess gown she wore for her first wedding to John F. Kennedy. While Jackie stuck to the bridal tradition of wearing white when she tied the knot with Aristotle Onassis, she bucked other trends by opting for a knee-length skirt, high neck, and bold shoulders. "Jackie's wedding dress was groundbreaking for the time, being an unconventional short dress," fashion expert Marissa Speer told Vogue in 2024. "The dress is a stepping stone in her transition from the Queen of Camelot to Jackie O: style icon, where she was making her own choices and showing her independence through her style."

Valentino was already among the brands Jackie wore, so the choice of designer was an organic, natural fit for her. While it might not be the most bridal look on this list, it ranks relatively high because it's undeniably fashion forward. Jackie knew how to create an iconic moment, and this design gets points for making a bold statement. However, the trendy '60s shift silhouette does leave this wedding ensemble looking a little dated today.

Ethel Kennedy, née Ethel Skakel, married Robert F. Kennedy in 1950 wearing a wide-neck, lace-trimmed gown designed by Mamie Conti. It's a relatively simple dress. After all, Ethel Kennedy was never the high-profile fashion icon that her sister-in-law Jackie Kennedy became. "Even though I know Jackie was more attractive and much better styled, Ethel could clean up nicely too," noted one Reddit user. "Look at the pictures when Ethel was helping on the JFK presidential campaign. She was often in pearls, simple cut dresses, etc."

Still, Ethel's elegant, straightforward dress — which doesn't feel particularly beholden to the decade's bridal trends — seems perfectly suited to a woman whose legacy is defined less by glamour than by her hardworking commitment to tradition, family, and social justice. This dress earns relatively high marks since its defies trends or fashion eras. Instead, it perfectly suits a woman who was, by all accounts, famously funny and athletic. Like any great wedding dress should, it reflects the spirit of the woman wearing it.

The slinky, bias-cut gown that Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wore to marry John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1996 redefined bridal. It was a rejection of the oversized princess gowns that had been in vogue and offered a sleeker alternative. The design was custom-crafted for Carolyn by her friend Narciso Rodriguez, who would later become a fashion A-lister. ”It's a very sensuous dress,” Rodriguez told The New York Times in 1996. ”That's what we both wanted from the beginning.”

The look is enduringly popular, in part, because Carolyn opted out of prevailing wedding trends in favor of a dress that truly reflected her. "She was the inspiration for the dress," Rodriguez explained to The Cut in 2025. "We talked about something that wasn't fussy." This look ranks high for its timeliness and sophistication. Like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's stunning engagement ring, it's a minimalist style that uniquely suited the bride.

To marry John F. Kennedy in 1953, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, then Jacqueline Bouvier, wore a princess gown of taffeta that's so iconic it currently resides in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. The dress was crafted by Black designer Anne Lowe, whose designs often included signature, dimensional flower designs like those on Jacqueline's skirt.

Reportedly, Jackie's desire for a more modern, Parisian-inspired gown was overruled by her father-in-law, who insisted on a traditionally bridal gown that suited the occasion. "There are questions about what Jackie really wanted and if she liked the final product as much as the world did," Julie Faye Smith, author of the Lowe biography "Something to Prove," told Elle in 2019. "Perhaps we'll never know."

But while Jackie may have had complicated feelings about the look, there's no doubt that the dramatic full skirt and exquisitely crafted neckline met the moment's significance. The bride looked stunning, like the American fashion icon she would ultimately become. "This is fashion at its best," wrote one Reddit user. "The way the dress frames her just commands your attention. But then when you look at her, you're not looking at the dress, you're looking straight at Jackie and thinking, 'she's beautiful.'" There's no denying that it's a gorgeous, timeless gown.

Given that the selection of Kennedy women wedding gowns spans several generations, dresses were ranked based on their timelessness. From the vantage point of 2026, styles that look more obviously dated were ranked lower than those that seemed to defy the trends of their time period. The highest ranked dresses were those that suited the unique and distinctive style of the woman wearing them, and created an iconic memorable sartorial moment.