When Celeb Bridesmaids Upstaged the Bride

Weddings are peak celebration: pretty dresses, flowers, fancy venues, dancing and unforgettable food. They mark two people committing to a lifetime together, and when celebrities show up, the whole thing can feel even glitzier. Usually the spotlight sits on the couple, but when actresses, singers and models agree to be bridesmaids, staying out of the limelight is easier said than done. Whether they’re standing next to childhood friends, assistants or fellow stars, these celebrities often end up stealing a few scenes.

Keira Knightley Shines in Glasgow

In 2011 Keira Knightley traveled to Glasgow for her brother Caleb’s wedding at Pollokshields Burgh Hall and fit right into the low-key celebration. She posed beside designer Kerry Nixon, who wore a 1950s-style cream swing dress while the bridesmaids matched in shoulder-tied V-neck purple ruched frocks. The setting was a far cry from Hollywood, but Keira still managed to look effortlessly elegant. It’s the kind of bridesmaid moment that quietly steals the show.

Vanessa Hudgens Brings Star Power

Vanessa Hudgens stood out at the June 2019 wedding of Brant Daugherty and Kimberly Hidalgo, where she joined fellow High School Musical alums in celebrating. Ashley Tisdale was also a bridesmaid, so the party had serious nostalgic energy. Vanessa arrived with longtime boyfriend Austin Butler, and her presence added an extra red-carpet feel to the event. The group showed how celebrity friendships often follow you down the aisle.

Lena Dunham’s Offbeat Bridesmaid Look

Lena Dunham kept things unmistakably her own at childhood friend Audrey Gelman’s May 2016 wedding. Instead of matching gowns, the bridesmaids wore beige turtlenecks paired with mix-and-match J.Crew skirts, a quirky nod to personal style over uniformity. Audrey, who inspired Lena’s Girls character Marnie, chose a look that let each friend shine while still feeling cohesive. The result felt creative, casual and perfectly on brand for both women.

Paris Hilton’s Classic Maid of Honor Moment

At sister Nicky’s 2015 London wedding Paris Hilton served as maid of honor and looked every bit the polished socialite. She wore a custom Dennis Basso chiffon gown with silver heels and carried a bouquet of white flowers, matching the ceremony’s elegant vibe. Paris didn’t upstage her sister; she complemented the event with old-Hollywood glamour. It was a reminder that a bold celebrity look can still feel wedding-appropriate when done with restraint.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton knows how to exude confidence and elegance and at her sister Nicky’s wedding in London in 2015, she was no different. As the maid of honor she was definitely dressed for the part, as she was wearing a custom made Dennis Basso chiffon creation and silver heels. Topping the outfit off with a bouquet of white flowers, Paris looked pretty much as elegant as her sister. Paris is yet to walk down the aisle herself, and in fact called off her engagement with boyfriend Chris Zylka in 2018.

Alessandra Ambrosio

Ana Beatriz Barros’s wedding in Mykonos, there were almost more models than regular people. And one of them was former Victoria’s Secret model and Brazilian TV personality Alessandra Ambrosio. Alessandra and her fellow model bridesmaids all shone in varied dresses that all had a pink theme with cutout details in the side. Going to a wedding in beautiful Mykonos, Greece is probably a dream irregardless of guests but having a bridal party full of models definitely makes for some great pictures!

The Olsen twins

As one would assume, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen run in some of the coolest New York crowds. And that shows in this picture, where they were both bridesmaids at creative director Cassie Coane’s wedding to Jim Koenig in New York City in 2017. Cassie had no less than eighteen bridesmaids, all sticking to a broad floral theme but besides that wearing completely different outfits. Ashley stuck to her signature black whereas Mary-Kate stood out a little extra in her cream-colored robe and updo.

Miranda Kerr

Miranda Kerr is not just a supermodel and Orlando Bloom’s ex, she is also a proud sister. In this pic from 2016 she shines as the bridesmaid at her dear brother’s wedding. Her baby brother Matthew tied the knot with longtime partner James in a small, private ceremony in Hunter Valley, north of Sydney, Australia. The ceremony was outdoors and a lot less glamorous than Miranda is used to, but she looks happy as ever in her cute white dress and flower crown.

Rhianna

Who wouldn’t want Rhianna as a wedding guest? Her assistant Jennifer Morales can assure you this girl truly knows how to bring the perfect amount of fun and star power to a wedding party, as Ri-Ri was in fact one of her bridesmaids. In 2015 Jennifer, who has worked with Rhianna for many years, married her longtime partner Aaron in a gorgeous outdoor wedding in Hawaii. The bridesmaids all wore different shades of purple and lilac, with Rhianna opting for a floor-length light purple dress, and carried a bouquet of cream roses. Rhianna shared her joy on social media, expressing how proud she was to attend the wedding of two friends who’s relationship she had witnessed growing for years.

Rachel Bilson

Rachel Bilson is far from the bratty girl Summer we all loved on the 2003 hit show The. O.C. In fact she is all grown up, and a very loyal, dedicated friend. When one of her closest girlfriends got married in the spring of 2017, she made sure to go all in with her dress choice and ended up looking just as stunning as the bride. Despite her celebrity status, Rachel did have to share the bridesmaid spotlight with sixteen other bridesmaids (but we’re pretty sure Rachel held her own).

Kendall and Kylie Jenner

It’s hard to even remember Kendall and Kylie were once just little girls – but the two were used to the spotlight even back then. The sisters grew up in front of the camera, and that definitely started showing early. Back in 2011, their big and at the time more famous sister Kim got married to Kris Humphries and the two youngest in the Kardashian clan sisters wore bridesmaid dresses that almost made them look like brides to be themselves.

Nina Dobrev

Vampire Diaries alumn Nina Dobrev certainly knows how to have fun! This starlet is known to have plenty of both famous and non-famous friends, and spends much of her time traveling and enjoying her vibrant social circles. On July 8th 2017 Nina’s friend Julianne Hough wed hockey player Brooks Laich and Nina surely brought some of her star power to the event. She simply stunned in this blush dress by Marchesa – the same designer as the bride picked for her wedding gown.

Hailey Bieber

It wasn’t long ago when Justin Bieber’s wife Hailey Bieber was more known as Hailey Baldwin, daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin and Brazilian graphic designer Kennya Baldwin. And in August of 2017 it was not Hailey who was the bride in the spotlight, but her big sister Alaia. As a pretty unconventional choice, the bridesmaids all wore black – with Hailey looking extra dramatic and spectacular in a black frock and mermaid silhouette, and a matching choker.

Kate Bosworth

In 2008 Kate Bosworth stunned everyone in this elegant and timeless black gown. She was the bridesmaid of a good, non-famous friend in Sydney, and the actress probably made the rest of the guests a little starstruck. Having a celebrity for your bridesmaid, when you are not famous yourself, can indeed make for a few awkward moments. But considering Kate flew half across the world to go to this wedding, these gals are clearly so close it probably didn’t matter.

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson is something of a bridesmaid expert. She has been one no less than six times, but her most important to date was of course at her sister Ashlee’s wedding back in 2014. Ashlee had a bohemian theme for her wedding to Ethan Ross, and Jessica had the honor of being the bridesmaid, and match her daughter’s outfit. Her sweet girl was in fact the flower girl, and the two looked adorable as they walked down the aisle moments before Ashlee made her entrance.

Sofia Vergara

Just a few months before beloved Colombian actress Sofia Vergara herself tied the knot with her love Joe Manganiello, she was one of the bridesmaids at longtime best friend Chi’s wedding. Both Sofia and the other bridesmaids wore strapless yellow chiffon dresses and ruched necklines, which perfectly matched the bride’s. Joe also attended the wedding as Sofia’s date and the two looked more than honored to attend the beautiful ceremony. True to her Latin American roots, Sofia did not herself have any bridesmaids at her own wedding. Instead her and Joe had flower girls and a ring boy accompanied them down the aisle, as they tied the knot in front of 400 guests.

Emma Roberts

Julia Robert’s sweet niece Emma Roberts looks elegant as ever in this picture from designer friend Kara Smith’s wedding, and is clearly very excited for her friend’s big day. The joyous event took place in Santa Ynez, California in 2015, when Kara finally wed photographer Nick Walker. Bridesmaid Emma wore a cream white dress and matching white flowers, with her shimmering gold heels by Malone Souliers being the perfect touch to an otherwise very neutral look.

Meghan Markle

Not long before Meghan Markle walked down the aisle and became the newest member of the British Royal family, she rocked this cute pink bridesmaid dress at her TV producer friend Lindsay Roth’s wedding. The girls in the bridal party did not have to match besides wearing some sort of pale pink color. So Meghan opted for a floor-skimming gown with a jacquard finish, which she accessorized with gold bangles and a white and pink bouquet. It might not beat her own royal wedding gown, but still a pretty great look for the Duchess of Sussex.  

Beyoncé

When you’re Beyoncé’s mom, of course both you and your bridesmaids will be dressed in style at your wedding. In 2015 Tina Knowles walked down the aisle for the second time in her life, and this time she did it on a 140-foot white sailing boat and had a completely white theme also for the outfits. Both the bride and the bridesmaids wore stunning white dresses, but of course Beyoncé together with her adorable daughter Blue Ivy sort of stole the show.

Pippa Middleton

It’s hard to think of a bigger honor than being the bride of honor at a royal wedding. Socialite and author Pippa Middleton was that lucky, and many even claimed she stole the show at er sister Kate’s wedding back in 2011. The soon to be Duchess’ younger sister also wore white, albeit a more form fitting dress. Pippa and Kate are reportedly very close, and the idea behind Pippa’s white gown was that she would blend in with the wedding gown train. Blend in is probably the last thing she did, but either way both sisters looked stunning on this big day.

Cara Delevingne

Wearing white to a wedding when you are in fact not the bride, is probably under normal circumstances pretty controversial. But Cara Delevingne rocked the white dress she wore at her sister Poppy’s wedding in 2014. Poppy was marrying longtime boyfriend James Cook, and didn’t seem to be bothered at all by her sister’s odd dress choice. Poppy is a model herself, and a socialite, so perhaps in those circles you’re a little more used to everyone wanting to take center stage – even at someone else’s wedding.

Kim Kardashian

The Kardashian sisters are no strangers to weddings – whether as brides or bridesmaids. This time around however Kim was the bridesmaid, when Khloe married Lamar Odom in 2009. The pair had only been dating for a month, but that didn’t stop the Kardashian clan from going all in at the wedding. Kim wore a purple, figure fitting, strapless dress that made her shine and as usual she pretty much stole the spotlight from her sisters, and the entire wedding party.

Victoria Beckham

Who does every bride need by her side when she ties the knot? Her BFF, which is why Eva Longoria chose long-time bestie Victoria Beckham as her bridesmaid when she married José Bastón in 2016. Not only did Posh Spice look dazzling in a black strapless gown but the singer/fashion designer also created Longoria’s beautifully understated mermaid-cut wedding dress. What a duo. These gals are the definition of BFF goals.

Beyonce

Like most brides, when Solange Knowles wed music video director Alan Ferguson, she wanted her sister in her bridal party. Of course, the only difference is her sister is the one and only Queen Bey. Ever the class act, Beyoncé didn’t upstage her younger sister, donning a simple white dress (don’t worry, the entire bridal party wore white) while Solange sported a low-front, low-back one-piece pantsuit designed by Stephane Rolland. We love a family affair.

Kendall Jenner

Fashion consultant Lauren Perez is known to surround herself with famous friends, including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and Kendall Jenner. Therefore, it’s no surprise that she chose Jenner as one of her five bridesmaids at her wedding to David Waltzer in 2021. At the exclusive Miami Beach ceremony, Jenner wore a strapless powder blue gown matching with the other bridesmaids while Perez opted for a Vera Wang gown. On Instagram, the bride paid tribute to her bridesmaids who, she says, have been there for her through it all.

Sydney Sweeney

Jayde Emory Hafner's special day wouldn’t have been complete without one very special friend: Sydney Sweeney. *The Handmaid’s Tale* and *Euphoria* star wowed in a taupe gown by Birdy Grey that was just a little different from those worn by other bridesmaids, with flutter sleeves and a v-neck. We’re sure the actress had an amazing day supporting her friend at her beautiful coastal ceremony in Wrightwood, California.

Serena Williams

Following a lovely tradition that brings families together, Serena Williams served as bridesmaid for future sister-in-law Hayley Ohanian at her 2019 nuptials. The tennis star wore a stunning pink halter-neck maxi from super affordable online retailer Azazie. In fact, the dress retails for less than $150 and comes in 60+ colors, making it a fabulous option for any bridesmaids-to-be. Not only was Serena a bridesmaid but her adorable daughter Olympia was the flower girl and took the role “very seriously”, according to her mom’s Instagram post.

Miranda Cosgrove

When Nina Munden tied the knot, it only made sense to ask her childhood bestie Miranda Cosgrove to be maid of honor. The two met at the age of seven and have been inseparable ever since. The “iCarly” actress wore a pretty pale pink gown, complete with a posy of pink roses. Cosgrove wrote a touching tribute to her BFF on social media, commenting that she’d “never been more nervous or emotional giving a speech in my entire life”.

Zoey Deutch

We love a bold bridesmaid dress and this look worn by Zoey Deutch at her friend Hadley’s wedding in April 2022 takes the cake. Not everyone could pull off a neon green off-the-shoulder number with dramatic puffy sleeves but the *Set It Up* actress wears it with panache. According to social media, Deutch held multiple roles at the wedding, including bridesmaid and ceremony speaker, and had an amazing experience with both. Sounds like a magical weekend.

Drew Barrymore

While Drew Barrymore wasn’t technically a bridesmaid at TV personality Ross Matthews’ wedding to partner Wellinthon García, she had a potentially even more fun role: the flower girl. The actress and talk show host looked super bright and jolly in her daffodil yellow gown which went perfectly with the tropical setting. According to Matthews, Drew was “instrumental” in the couple’s love story and we love that he gave her such a quirky role when he tied the knot.

Dianna Agron

Before *Glee* star Dianna Agron walked down the aisle herself, she took on the role of bridesmaid for her friend, chef, and cooking show host Megan Mitch. The wedding party looked stunning in a diverse array of plain and floral gowns in pastel shades. Agron opted for a taupe wrap dress from Reformation that set off her blonde tresses and brown eyes. The leafy green setting and dappled sunshine make this look like a true fairytale wedding.

Lady Gaga

While we’re used to Lady Gaga stealing the limelight, the singer and actress took a supporting role as a bridesmaid at her longtime makeup artist and bestie Sarah Tanno’s wedding. Gaga chose a cowl-neck pink gown with a dramatic slit which accessorized perfectly with her bubblegum pink hair. We’re sure the beachside wedding would have been a pretty wild affair if Mother Monster had anything to do with it.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez stunned as maid of honor at her cousin Priscilla DeLeon's wedding near Dallas, Texas, in July 2019. Wearing a black off-the-shoulder gown with a slit, Selena looked effortlessly elegant as usual. During her heartfelt MOH speech, she thanked the couple, saying, "You taught me to be strong." In the weeks leading up to the wedding, Selena celebrated her cousin with a tropical bachelorette party in Punta Mita, Mexico.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has kept close bonds with her "Jersey Shore" castmates, beyond the beach and club days. In 2015, she joined Jenni "JWOWW" Farley's wedding to Roger Matthews, where she was one of a whopping 20 bridesmaids. Snooki and the rest of the bridal party wore elegant, purple lace gowns by Watters, in line with the event’s lavish vibe. The occasion was a testament to Snooki’s enduring friendship with Jenni and the entire "Jersey Shore" family, showing their deep ties beyond reality TV fame.

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Looking Back at It All

These snaps remind you why celebrity bridesmaids make wedding photos unforgettable. The stars show up looking supportive, but their presence often turns quiet moments into must-see fashion. From mixed gowns to white-on-white choices, each cameo adds its own little drama. At the end of the day the weddings still feel like intimate celebrations, just with a few more camera flashes.

Why Celebs Still Steal Scenes

Fame is magnetic. Even when stars try to step back, their outfits, posture and sheer familiarity pull eyes toward them. Names like Keira Knightley, Vanessa Hudgens and Paris Hilton pop up because audiences already know them, and that makes every candid feel like a headline. That pull is part fashion, part history, and part plain old charisma.

Trends We Spotted

A few clear trends keep repeating across these weddings. Mix-and-match gowns showed up more than once, like Lena Dunham’s beige turtlenecks paired with J.Crew skirts, and bridesmaids in white or black made memorable choices, as Cara Delevingne and Hailey Bieber did. Model-heavy parties brought a polished, editorial vibe, while family members kept things personal and grounded.

How Brides Kept the Focus

Brides found simple ways to keep the day about them. Cohesive color palettes, signature bouquets and intentional gown choices helped balance the spotlight. Sometimes the bride leaned into the moment, like Pippa Middleton wearing white to echo Kate’s train, and other times she kept things small and private so the personalities around her could shine without stealing the show. It all came down to what felt right for each couple.

A Final Thought for Friends

If there is one takeaway it is this: weddings are about relationships, not headlines. Whether a bridesmaid is a top model or a childhood friend, the moment matters because of the bond it celebrates. Celebrities add sparkle, but the images that last are the small, honest ones. Keep it personal, stay kind, and let the happy chaos happen.