Madonna‘s wedding dress almost didn’t make it to her and Sean Penn’s wedding. The incident occurred during one of the most highly anticipated celebrity weddings of the 1980s, which attracted worldwide media attention.
The Queen of Pop tied the knot with her now ex-husband in 1985, and her longtime costume designer Marlene Stewart has recalled how the “hardest part” of working on the iconic gown was “getting it to the wedding”. The dress would later become one of the most influential wedding gowns of the decade.
“It was at a house in Malibu. The roads were inaccessible because the press were everywhere,” she told Best magazine. “We’d intended to do a fitting and take photographs. But the police stopped me! I insisted I had to get through.” The Malibu location was chosen for its privacy, though it ultimately attracted hundreds of paparazzi.
“There were no cell phones, so you had pagers and I was just trying to page somebody!” The technology limitations of the 1980s created additional challenges for coordinating such high-profile events.
Marlene was “eventually” able to make it through with the gown. The designer had spent over 200 hours creating the unique piece, which combined traditional and avant-garde elements.
“Eventually, I got through and Herb Ritts [the photographer of Madonna’s ‘True Blue’ album cover] took a photo of her getting ready in the bathroom, and I was under the dress, pulling up the garter belt!” This intimate moment would become one of the most memorable behind-the-scenes photographs from the wedding.
When it comes to the wedding look itself, Marlene was inspired by Madonna’s own ideas for her outfit. The collaboration between the artist and designer had already produced several iconic looks throughout Madonna‘s early career.
“[Madonna] said, I’m going to wear a black bowler hat.’ I wanted to balance the masculine for the dress and do classic feminine,” she recalled. The combination of masculine and feminine elements would become a signature aspect of Madonna’s style throughout her career.
“The idea was that it was fun and provocative. I sketched out a classic, ballerina look: silk tulle, sweetheart neckline, very simple and clean.” The dress reportedly cost over $10,000 to create and required multiple fittings to achieve its perfect silhouette.
Meanwhile, Marline hailed the ‘Like A Prayer’ icon – who divorced from Penn after just four years of marriage – as the “original influencer”. Madonna’s impact on fashion and popular culture during the 1980s was unprecedented, inspiring countless imitators.
“She was the original influencer! She stated her ideas in a way that was free at the time, and certainly controversial, because it hadn’t been done by many female artists,” she said. During this period, Madonna’s every fashion choice was scrutinized and often copied by fans worldwide.
“The best thing about working with someone is that they’re present, and they focus. She had that from the beginning… It really paved the way for young women to break through societal norms.” The wedding itself became a cultural touchstone, representing a blend of traditional ceremony with modern celebrity.
The marriage, though short-lived, became one of the most documented celebrity unions of the 1980s, with the wedding dress inspiring countless copies and interpretations in bridal fashion. The event marked a pivotal moment in celebrity wedding culture, setting new standards for media coverage and fashion influence.
Despite the initial chaos and police presence, the wedding proceeded as planned, though it would later be remembered as much for its dramatic lead-up as for the ceremony itself. The incident highlighted the increasing challenges celebrities faced in maintaining privacy during personal events in the age of mass media.
