When you think of the most iconic celebrity weddings of the 2000s, it’s hard not to land on that rainy June day in 2006. Sydney, Australia. St. Patrick’s Estate. Nicole Kidman stepping out of a cream-colored Rolls-Royce, clutching a bouquet of white peonies.
But honestly? Most people remember the vibe—the Old Hollywood curls and the glowing skin—while totally blanking on the actual architecture of the nicole kidman wedding gown.
It wasn't just a "pretty white dress." It was a Balenciaga masterpiece. Specifically, it was the brainchild of Nicolas Ghesquière, who at the time was the golden boy of the fashion world, turning Balenciaga into the coolest house on the planet.
The Ghesquière Magic: Not Your Average Lace
The dress was, well, kinda complicated.
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In a world where every celeb was wearing strapless Vera Wang (no shade to Vera, she's a legend), Nicole went for something that felt like a Victorian ghost story mixed with modern high fashion. It was an ivory silk organza confection. The most striking part? That single, voluminous puff sleeve on the left shoulder.
It was asymmetrical. It was risky.
The gown featured a delicate sweetheart neckline, but it wasn't "sexy" in the traditional sense. It was romantic, almost ethereal. Ghesquière draped the silk chiffon and lace in a way that looked effortless but actually required insane technical skill. If you look closely at photos from the ceremony, you’ll see the intricate ruffles and the way the lace wasn't just slapped on—it was integrated into the structure of the empire-waisted bodice.
One thing people often miss: the "military" touch. While the sleeves were romantic, there was a certain crispness to the high collar and the structured lace that gave it a strength Nicole is known for. She didn't look like a cupcake; she looked like a queen.
Why This Gown Was a Turning Point
Before her wedding to Keith Urban, Nicole was already a fashion darling. But this dress cemented her relationship with Balenciaga.
Think about it. She’d worn the brand to the Oscars just months earlier—that embroidered ivory column dress. Choosing Ghesquière for her big day wasn’t just a "friend doing a favor" situation. It was a statement. It signaled that she wasn’t interested in the "mall-ready" bridal looks of the era.
She wanted something that could hang in a museum.
And it literally did.
In 2017, Nicole did something pretty cool. She lent the nicole kidman wedding gown to the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney for an exhibition called Love Is... Australian Wedding Fashion. She didn’t just keep it in a box in her attic. She wanted people to see the craftsmanship up close.
She told InStyle at the time that she supports anything that supports love. "Isn't it the essence of everything?" she said. Kind of a sweet sentiment for a dress that could have easily just been an expensive piece of archive history.
Let’s Talk About the First Wedding (The One Nobody Mentions)
Everyone focuses on the 2006 Balenciaga moment, but do you even remember what she wore when she married Tom Cruise in 1990?
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Probably not.
It was a Christmas Eve wedding in Telluride, Colorado. Very private. Very "90s." She wore a simple, high-necked dress with a headband. It was fine, but it lacked the "Nicole Kidman" stamp we know today. The 2006 gown was the arrival of the Fashion Icon. It was the moment she stopped being just a movie star and became a museum-worthy muse.
The "Babygirl" Connection
Fast forward to 2024 and 2025. Nicole is still out here killing it with Balenciaga.
At the L.A. premiere of her thriller Babygirl, she showed up in a custom couture dress by Demna (the current Balenciaga director). It was another floral-heavy, architectural piece that felt like a spiritual successor to her wedding gown.
The DNA is the same:
- 3D floral appliqués
- Dramatic silhouettes
- A mix of "is this vintage?" and "this is from the future."
She even wore a dress to the 2024 Met Gala that was a direct replica of a 1951 Cristóbal Balenciaga design. It took 400 hours to make. It had 3,000 hand-sewn petals. This woman isn't just wearing clothes; she's curate-ing a legacy.
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What You Can Actually Learn from Nicole’s Style
If you're looking at the nicole kidman wedding gown for your own wedding inspiration, don't try to copy the puff sleeve exactly. It worked because it was Ghesquière.
Instead, look at the "ivory over white" choice. Nicole’s skin tone is famously pale, and that warm, buttery ivory silk organza was way more flattering than a harsh, bright white would have been.
Also, the veil. She didn't go for some tiny, modern bit of tulle. She went for a long, traditional veil that balanced the avant-garde sleeve. It grounded the look in tradition while the dress did the heavy lifting for the "fashion" part.
Honestly, the biggest takeaway is the confidence to be asymmetrical. Most brides feel they need to be perfectly "balanced" (two sleeves, centered lace, etc.). Nicole showed that being a little "off-center" is actually what makes a look memorable twenty years later.
If you’re planning a wedding or just obsessed with bridal history, take a page out of Nicole's book: pick a designer who understands your "vibe" and don't be afraid of a little volume.
Next Steps for the Fashion Obsessed
- Search for high-res images of the 2017 Powerhouse Museum exhibit to see the lace texture up close; the 3D elements are much more impressive than they look in paparazzi shots.
- Compare Ghesquière’s 2006 Balenciaga work with Demna’s current "archival" pieces to see how the brand's silhouette has evolved.
- Look into the "Empire Line" silhouette if you have a similar tall, slender frame; it’s a classic for a reason.