Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s Weddings: Dress, Jewelry and Marital History
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton married twice, first in Montreal on March 15, 1964, and again in 1975, after meeting on the set of “Cleopatra.” Their relationship drew intense public attention, including criticism from the Vatican, and was later revisited in HBO’s 2024 documentary “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes.” The article examines Taylor’s 1964 wedding dress, engagement jewelry, and other details from their two marriages.
The pair first wed in Montreal on March 15, 1964, with Burton’s secretary and friend Jim Benton as best man. Their connection began during “Cleopatra,” and they later appeared together in more than ten movies, including 1966’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” After divorcing in 1974, they remarried the following year.
For the 1964 ceremony, Taylor chose a golden-yellow, empire-waist gown by Irene Sharaff, the five-time Oscar-winning costume designer. Her hair was styled in a bouffant with a long braid, decorated with white hyacinths and lily of the valley. Burton proposed with a Bulgari emerald brooch rather than a ring; he later bought her jewels such as a 32-carat Burmese sapphire pendant and the Krupp diamond.
This story may resonate with fans of classic Hollywood and followers of celebrity culture, who could see Taylor and Burton as a lens for examining fame, romance and press intrusion. The 2024 documentary may prompt renewed discussion about how media treatment may have affected Taylor and other public women. Interest in Taylor’s bridal style and jewels could also influence fashion and jewelry trends, while reminding audiences how celebrity marriages can become shared cultural spectacles.