Who: actress Elizabeth Taylor and hotel heir Nicky Hilton

When: May 6, 1950

Where: Vows were exchanged at The Church of The Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California.

The Ceremony: A police motorcyle brigade with sirens blaring heralded the arrival of the silver screen sweetheart to The Church of The Good Shepherd, a Tinseltown landmark that has witnessed Hollywood's elite in both their finest and lowest hours, from superstar weddings (Loretta Young and couple Rod Stewart and Rachel Hunter have said "I do" in the white, Spanish mission-style house of worship) to funerals (Hollywood's first sex symbol, Rudolph Valentino and crooner Frank Sinatra were mourned at the site). A who's who of cinema filed in for the event, including Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Roddy McDowall, Mickey Rooney, and Elizabeth's on-screen parents in Father of The Bride, Spencer Tracy and Joan Bennett. As the strains of "The Wedding March" began the bride entered a chapel bathed in white for the occassion, from the pristine runner to lavish displays of white lilies and carnations.

The Dress: Hollywood tabloids had already breathlessly reported on the star's four carat diamond engagement ring, and now thousands of fans flocked outside the church to catch a glimpse of the actress in her bridal attire. Elizabeth emerged from the limosine in a creation by MGM studio designer Helen Rose-- a white satin confection embellished with seed pearls and beading which had taken a number of workers two months to complete. A sweetheart neckline was covered with a chiffon overlay to reveal just a hint of decolletage. A three-quarter length veil was attached to a cap garnished with pearls combined with a pearl tiara. To complete the all-white motif, the bride carried a bouquet of white orchids. Admirers of the movie star who were not on hand to view the wedding ensemble were able to see their idol garbed in an almost identical Helen Rose concoction on the big screen in Father of The Bride, which was released shortly after the nuptials.

Tradition:

• "Something old"-- Along with her bouquet, the bride held on to a white lace handerchief, an heirloom from her mother.
• "Something new"-- At her bridal shower, friends had presented Elizabeth with a new penny, which she tucked inside her satin shoe before her walk down the aisle.
• "Something borrowed"-- Fastened inside her pearl seed cap was a lucky amulet from the bride's sibling.
• "Something blue"-- Not wishing to spoil the all-white effect, the bride hid a tiny nosegay of blue, artificial forget-me-nots in her wedding gown.
  

The Reception: A five-layer cake decorated with white frosting and adorned with a cake topper in the shape of wedding bells awaited the newly betrothed coupled when they arrived at The Bel-Air Country Club. After the festivities, the bride changed into an Edith Head traveling suit constructed of blue silk combined with a white shirt, white gloves, and the staple of every 1950's fashionplate-- a fur wrap.

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