When you think back to 2009, the celebrity wedding landscape was a different beast. There was no Instagram to refresh for immediate photos. We didn't have TikTok "GRWM" videos of brides doing their makeup. Instead, we had a few high-quality, sanctioned photos of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, and the centerpiece of it all was a gown that changed the trajectory of bridal trends for a decade.
Ivanka Trump's wedding dress wasn't just another expensive garment; it was a deliberate shift toward modesty in an era of strapless everything.
Honestly, it's kinda fascinating how much one dress can signal a change in personal identity. At the time, Ivanka was transitioning. She had recently converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. That conversion meant her wedding attire needed to meet certain requirements of modesty—specifically, her shoulders had to be covered.
The Vera Wang Collaboration
Most people know that Vera Wang designed the gown, but they don't realize how much of a departure it was for the "Queen of Bridal" at the time. In the late 2000s, Vera was synonymous with sleek, modern, and often strapless silhouettes. To create something "majestic and demure," as Wang herself put it, she had to look back further than the current trends.
The primary inspiration? Grace Kelly.
Specifically, the iconic dress Grace Kelly wore in 1956 to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco. If you look at the two side-by-side, you've got the high neckline and the long, delicate sleeves that scream "old-world royalty."
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The construction was incredibly technical. It wasn't just one layer of lace. The dress featured three different tiers of hand-appliquéd lace, and here’s the kicker: they were all different shades of ivory. This gave the fabric a depth that you just can't get with a single-tone material.
- Lace Type: Chantilly and Lyon lace.
- Color Palette: Layered shades of ivory and cream.
- Silhouettes: A-line with a slight fishtail.
- The Vibe: Reserved, traditional, and very "New York Society."
What It Actually Cost
Let's talk money, because people always want to know the price tag on a Trump wedding. While the exact final invoice has never been public record—and likely never will be—most fashion historians and bridal experts estimate the gown cost around $50,000.
Is that a lot? Yes. For a custom Vera Wang couture piece? It’s actually somewhat standard for that level of craftsmanship.
However, the dress wasn't the most expensive thing she wore that day. Not even close.
Ivanka leaned heavily into her own brand, literally. She wore about $265,000 worth of diamonds from the Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry collection. This included a $45,000 platinum-and-diamond hairpiece to secure her veil, $130,000 diamond drop earrings, and a $90,000 art deco bracelet.
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Basically, the jewelry cost five times more than the dress. It’s a classic move—using the wedding as a massive marketing platform for her burgeoning jewelry line at the time.
The Reception Change
A lot of people miss the fact that there was a second look. For the reception, which was a massive affair for over 500 guests (including names like Regis Philbin and Barbara Walters), she didn't stay in the heavy lace.
Ivanka switched into another Vera Wang creation. This one was more "party-ready"—a sleeveless, floor-length champagne gown that allowed for more movement on the dance floor.
It’s a trend we see everywhere now, but in 2009, having a "reception dress" was still a relatively new concept for anyone who wasn't a mega-celebrity or royalty.
Why We Are Still Talking About It
You’ve got to remember that before Ivanka's wedding, "modesty" in bridal fashion was often seen as "frumpy" or strictly for very religious ceremonies. This dress proved that long sleeves and a high neck could be high-fashion.
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Two years later, when Kate Middleton walked down the aisle in her Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown, the comparisons to Ivanka’s dress were everywhere. Both brides used the Grace Kelly blueprint to signal a sense of tradition and stability.
Key Lessons for Modern Brides
If you're looking at Ivanka's 2009 wedding for your own inspiration, there are a few practical takeaways that still hold up:
- Monochrome isn't the only way. Layering different shades of white or ivory adds incredible texture to photos.
- Modesty doesn't mean boring. Lace sleeves provide a "frame" for the face that strapless dresses just can't match.
- Invest in the jewelry. A dress is worn once. High-end jewelry stays in the family. Ivanka’s choice to prioritize her "something sparkling" over a six-figure dress was a smart long-term move.
If you’re planning a wedding and feel pressured to go with the "trend of the year," take a page out of this book. Look back fifty years instead of five. Usually, that's where the most timeless ideas are hiding anyway.
To get a better sense of how this style evolved, you might want to compare the 2009 Vera Wang sketches with the actual finished photos to see how the "three layers of lace" theory actually looks in natural light. It’s a great way to understand how fabric weight affects the way a gown moves.