Emma Roberts shares the vintage inspiration behind her unique bridal gown

Emma Roberts has opened up about the inspiration behind her wedding dress, revealing that she wanted to look like an “antique ghost doll” when she married Cody John.

The American Horror Story actress tied the knot with John during an outdoor ceremony in Idaho on July 25, wearing a custom Monique Lhuillier gown designed with a vintage-inspired aesthetic.

Roberts told Vogue that she initially did not have a clear vision for her bridal look, but knew she wanted something connected to her love of history and old treasures.

“I didn’t really know what I wanted,” she said during her final fitting. “I just knew that I wanted it to feel very vintage-inspired. I'm obsessed with antique books and treasure hunting, and I love collecting old ephemera, so I really wanted that to shine through in the dress.”

The actress chose an off-white gown rather than a traditional bright white wedding dress, with the design featuring a tea-stained chiffon effect to create a timeless, aged appearance.

“I kind of wanted to look like a ghost — a little antique ghost doll,” Roberts explained.

The gown took nine months to create and required around 1,000 hours of work. Roberts’ family and friends immediately loved the final result, with her cousin Charlotte Long saying the dress perfectly reflected her personality.

“It feels very Emma. The first thing I thought was she looks like a doll—and she’s obsessed with dolls. It’s very fitting for her,” Long said.

For the wedding after-party, Roberts embraced a more unexpected style by wearing a black two-piece look from Monique Lhuillier’s fall 2004 archive collection, featuring a lace corset top and tea-length silk organza skirt.

“I love the idea of wearing black for the after party,” Roberts said. “We love doing something that’s a little unexpected.”

The 35-year-old actress, who shares son Rhodes with former partner Garrett Hedlund, also reflected on the difference between wearing a wedding dress for a movie role and experiencing her own real-life wedding.

“I’ve been married in a movie before, and I tried out wedding dresses for that, which feels so weird. So now, it’s the real deal,” she said.