‘The Gilded Age’ Used Real-Life Royal Inspiration for Gladys’ Wedding Dress

Move over “Bridgerton”—“The Gilded Age” just delivered its own “wedding of the century,” complete with a jaw-dropping gown fit for royalty. While the HBO series is best known for its slow-burn social spats and feathered hats, season 3 took things to a whole new level with a lavish wedding scene that’s as much about fashion as it is about drama. And at the center of it all? Gladys Russell’s opulent, hand-constructed wedding dress drew inspiration from a real-life heiress with a royal connection.

Gladys Russell’s Wedding Dress Was a Couture Masterpiece

Karolina Wojtasik/HBO

In the episode titled “Marriage Is a Gamble,” which aired July 13, viewers watched Gladys (played by Taissa Farmiga) walk down the aisle in what might be the most stunning costume in the show’s three-season run.

Designed by longtime series costume designer Kasia Walicka-Maimone, the long-sleeved gown was custom-made with rosette embellishments, intricate lace, and a romantic silhouette that nodded directly to 19th-century aristocratic style.

According to Walicka-Maimone, the gown wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was a true global effort. “Producing the bridesmaid dresses, wedding guests, and clergy took an extraordinary amount of assistant costume designers, shoppers, costumers, makers, milliners, and fitters,” she told In Style.

Italy’s famed Tirelli Costumi constructed the wedding dress itself, while the fabric and floral appliqués were sourced from New York City’s garment district. Her veil was crafted by English lacemakers Camilla Chuvarsky and Rhyan Shipman, and the jewelry, made by Pikkio, also originated from Italy.

‘The Gilded Age’ Wedding Dress Had Real-Life Royal Inspiration

Karolina Wojtasik/HBO

So what inspired this fairytale tragedy of a dress? Walicka-Maimone credits American heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt—who famously married the Duke of Marlborough in a high-profile, loveless union arranged by her mother—as the primary influence. “We used Consuelo’s wedding as a reference for our approach to certain elements of the wedding,” she said. “Also, the overall feel of the wedding and the wedding dress being a day dress were directly inspired by Consuelo’s wedding.”

Historians have long drawn parallels between Consuelo Vanderbilt and Princess Diana, not only due to their shared lineage but also for their similarly public, similarly heartbreaking arranged marriages—and the iconic gowns that symbolized them.

All three brides, fictional or not, wore lace, long sleeves, and breathtaking trains. As “The Gilded Age” fans have noticed, the wedding may have taken place in 1880s New York, but it hit with the emotional intensity of “The Crown.”

Inside ‘The Gilded Age’ Wedding of the Century

While the gown stole the spotlight, the wedding storyline itself was just as rich. After two and a half seasons of buildup, railroad heiress Gladys Russell finally gave in to her mother Bertha Russell’s ambition—and married the Duke of Buckingham in a meticulously orchestrated ceremony. The result? A union built more on social strategy than love.

The episode answered major questions, like whether Gladys would really make it down the aisle? (Yes!) Or would her father own up to his promise to allow her to marry for love, despite what her mother wants? (Kind of.)

Carrie Coon’s portrayal of Bertha Russell continues to be a highlight of the series, with season 3 showcasing her most calculating—and most fashionable—moves yet. Much like Alma Vanderbilt in real life, Bertha arranged her daughter’s marriage to secure a transatlantic title, solidifying the Russells’ place among the elite.

New episodes of “The Gilded Age” air Sunday nights on HBO.

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