Princess Charlene’s gorgeous Armani wedding dress took ‘2,500 hours to make’

In July 2011, Princess Charlene (née Wittstock) married Prince Albert II of Monaco. The bride wore a stunning bridal gown that took 2,500 hours to make and included 40,000 crystals.

However, Charlene actually wore two different outfits during her wedding which lasted two days.

At the civil ceremony on July 1, Charlene wore a simple blue outfit to marry Albert in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco.

This was an unconventional outfit designed by Karl Lagerfeld that included a pale blue strapless top, palazzo trousers and a lace-trimmed single-breasted jacket.

Charlene said she chose to wear trousers because she was “an athlete” and appreciated “clean and simple” clothes.

Then on July 2, Charlene changed into a stunning off-white gown created for her by the fashion house Armani to wear at the Roman Catholic ceremony.

Charlene’s wedding gown is one of the most popular among royal brides. Even without the stunning design, the attention to detail is noteworthy.

According to Vogue, the dress took “three seamstresses 2,500 hours to make [featuring] 40,000 Swarovski crystals and 20,000 mother-of-pearl teardrops”.

Charlene’s eagerness to push the boundaries of fashion is evident in the shoulder-bearing cut of her wedding dress.

The dress contained a beautiful fabric and the overall silhouette made sure Charlene looked magnificent.

The delicate crystal pattern that ran down the centre of the gown shimmered brilliantly in the light, and the pictures showed how enchanted Charlene looked.

Charlene’s wedding dress had two trains, which both looked stunning as she walked down the aisle.

In place of the customary royal tiara that most British brides have worn, Charlene chose to use sparkling hair accessories that were secured into her stylish low bun.

The bride kept her veil simple in order to let her stunning gown steal the show.

Both the Sainte Devote church and the Prince’s Palace of Monaco played host to the royal couple’s wedding ceremony.

The Eagles performed after the wedding, which featured a magnificent star-studded reception attended by notable celebrities like Naomi Campbell and also British royals like Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

Charlene and Albert have now been married for 12 years and share eight-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.