Wedding of the Year: 1996

We can thank her for bringing simplicity to bridal gowns. Her sleek, silk-crepe floor length gown by Narcisco Rodriguez was elegance personified, but nothing like any wedding dress the world had seen since Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981, wearing the biggest, most elaborately detailed confection one could imagine. Quite simply it was fit for a princess. Carolyn’s dress launched a whole new direction in wedding style; looking back through the archives of Weddingbells, this fashion shift is clearly apparent in our issues beginning in 1997. The sexy Carolyn sheath has become a classic, enduring trend, one that continues to be hot on bridal runways today. Nicole recently previewed the Spring 2011 designer collections in New York and reported the style was everywhere.