The Fateful Night

Romeo: O she doth teach the torches to burn bright!/It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night/As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear—/Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. (Act I, Sc. 5)

The cast: Roberto Bolle as Romeo (with masked friends), George Psomas, George Merrick as Mercutio, Coco Rocha as Juliet, and Pablo Schreiber as Tybalt. On Juliet: Christian Lacroix Couture satin with embroidered lace dress. On the guests: Dresses from the Christian Lacroix Couture archive.

The Harsh Truth

Nurse: His name is Romeo, and a Montague,/The only son of your great enemy. Juliet: My only love sprung from my only hate!/Too early seen unknown, and known too late!/Prodigious birth of love it is to me,/That I must love a loathed enemy. (Act I, Sc. 5)

Estelle Parsons as the Nurse. Proenza Schouler color-blocked silk faille dress.

The Stolen Moment

Juliet: Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed./If that thy bent of love be honourable,/Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow. (Act II, Sc. 2)

Nina Ricci silk tulle dress embroidered with silver leaves.

The Promise

Friar Laurence: These violent delights have violent ends,/And in their triumph die like fire and powder,/Which as they kiss consume. (Act II, Sc. 6)

John Lithgow as Friar Laurence. Vera Wang washed-silk-and-cotton voile dress with tulle floral appliquéd train.

The Curse

Romeo: This day's black fate on moe days doth depend,/This but begins the woe others must end. (Act III, Sc. 1)

From left: Andrew Samonsky, Charlie Brady, Schreiber, Merrick, Robert Lenzi, and Bolle.

The Ruse

Friar Laurence: Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary/On this fair corse, and as the custom is,/And in her best array, bear her to church;/For though fond nature bids us all lament,/Yet nature's tears are reason's merriment. (Act IV, Sc. 5)

Dolce & Gabbana Empire dress with embroidered crystals.

The End

Prince: A glooming peace this morning with it brings,/The sun for sorrow will not show his head./Go hence to have more talk of these sad things;/Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished:/For never was there a story of more woe/Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. (Act V, Sc. 3)

Alexander McQueen silk tulle dress and petal-pressed nude body stocking.

In this story: fashion editor: Grace Coddington; hair, Julien d'Ys; makeup, Gucci Westman for Revlon. Set design by Mary Howard. Costume styling by Hannah Teare. Photo: Annie Leibovitz

"Love of a Lifetime" has been edited for Style.com; the complete story appears in the December 2008 issue of Vogue.