In April 2009, actress Salma Hayek married French billionaire businessman François-Henri Pinault in a lavish Venice wedding. After over 15 years together, Hayek gave fans a rare glimpse into her fairytale wedding by sharing photos on Instagram for their anniversary. She stunned in a custom Balenciaga gown, but few other details were known – until now. In this article we talk about The Stunning Dress Salma Wore When She Married A Billionaire-Finally Revealed.
The Proposal
Hayek and Pinault met in 2006 at a gala in the Palazzo Grassi in Venice. Sparks immediately flew between the actress and the CEO of the luxury conglomerate Kering. They were engaged in early 2007, and later that year welcomed a daughter, Valentina.
Wanting to make it official, the couple first wed on Valentine’s Day in 2009 in a small civil ceremony in Paris. But Pinault spared no expense to give Hayek the fairytale wedding of her dreams that April in Venice, where they first met.
The Guests
Being power players in the entertainment and fashion worlds, Hayek and Pinault’s wedding was a star-studded event. Over 150 guests attended the intimate yet lavish affair. Among the A-list guests were Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson, U2’s Bono, magician David Blaine, and former French president Jacques Chirac. Anna Wintour also made the guest list – a testament to Pinault and Hayek’s status in high society.
The Location
The ceremony took place in Venice’s famous La Fenice Opera House. Dating back to 1792, the elaborately decorated theater hosted Verdi and other renowned composers and was an iconic, historic venue fitting for such a high-profile couple. The reception was held in the Palazzo Grassi, bringing them back to where their love first sparked three years prior. The Pinault family had purchased the palazzo in 2005, two years before Hayek and Pinault met at the fateful gala there.
The Dress
Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière created a custom wedding gown just for Hayek. The off-the-shoulder ballgown appeared to have a detailed, corseted bodice with a full tulle skirt. In Instagram throwback photos posted on her anniversary, Hayek posed wearing the dress backstage. Glimpses of the gown could be seen as assistants adjusted the skirt’s voluminous layers.
Few details were revealed about Hayek’s dress over the years. But for their 15th anniversary, she shared another backstage photo, with her dress fully on display. The Instagram snap showed the gown hanging as Hayek got ready for her big entrance.
The ivory gown sported a strapless, corseted bodice with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice was beautifully embellished with intricate floral beadwork and metallic embroidery. The ballgown skirt was comprised of several layers of tiered tulle overlaying satin, creating a dreamy full silhouette.
In the ceremony photos she shared, Hayek’s hair was swept back, showing off diamond drop earrings by Cartier. A simple tulle veil completed the glamorous, regal look.
The Rings
Billionaire Pinault spared no expense when it came to Hayek’s engagement ring and wedding bands. Her engagement ring featured an estimated 5-carat oval diamond, flanked by two smaller trapezoid stones.
On their wedding day, Pinault gave her a wedding band to match. In Hayek’s Instagram post, a close-up image shows Pinault slipping a stunning diamond eternity band onto her finger during the ceremony. The band glittered with over a dozen round brilliant and baguette diamonds.
The Ceremony
Hayek and Pinault exchanged vows in the ornate La Fenice opera house, filled with red velvet seating and golden décor. Hayek told Glamour that her family essentially surprised her with an impromptu wedding on the trip.
“They just took me to the court,” she recalled. “My parents, my brother, they were all ganging up on me. I had a phobia of the marriage thing.”
But Pinault arranged an atmosphere straight from a fairytale. After the I-dos, their celebrity guests sang “Over the Rainbow” in celebration. Hayek and Pinault emerged from the historic opera house as husband and wife.
The Party
After the ceremony, the couple celebrated into the night with their A-list guests at the lavish reception. Held in the Pinault family’s Palazzo Grassi, the elaborate party included dinner, dancing, and a masquerade ball.
For the ball, guests wore Venetian masks with ornate gold and black designs. The masks made for an intimate masquerade-themed soiree. Close friends like Penelope Cruz donned elaborate headpieces and masks to join in the theme.
The couple and their guests danced the night away, culminating the whirlwind celebration. It was a true fairytale ending for Hayek’s long-awaited wedding day.
Lasting Love
The iconic Venice wedding was the culmination of a three-year engagement between the unlikely couple. But despite coming from very different worlds, their connection was instant and their bond only continues to grow.
Fifteen years later, their marriage is still going strong. The couple credits their longevity to focused time nurturing their relationship.
“We don’t have a very strong social life because we really like spending time together,” Hayek explained. “We do spend a lot of quality time together.”
After over a decade and a half side by side, the fireworks between them still haven’t fizzled. Hayek had her dream wedding marrying Pinault in historic, romantic Venice. While the extravagant affair was fit for royalty, their marriage continues to thrive thanks to their devotion to each other. I sincerely hope you like reading this “The Stunning Dress Salma Wore When She Married A Billionaire-Finally Revealed” article.
