Loud celebrations, exotic locations, dream bridal gowns and a star studded celebrity list – celebrity weddings are an extravagant affair these days. The couple wants nothing but the best for their big day. They celebrate in style and designer threads. They scout the world in search of romantic venues. Castles that ooze an old world charm are best favored. So are private islands. The newly-weds don’t mind splurging on private flights and luxury yachts to give their guests a loving and cherished memory. Here are 10 most expensive celebrity weddings of all time.
1. Kate Middleton and Prince William
Wedding cost: No official figure but media reports estimate it at $126.4 million!
Her bridal gown cost 250,000 pounds. The eight–tiered wedding cake was decorated with 900 sugar paste flowers. Around 300 million people watched the 2011 royal wedding on television. The guest list had 1900 royals, sportsperson and government dignitaries present at Westminister Abbey.
2. Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia
Wedding cost: $60 million in 2005 (estimated at $66 million in 2011)
The wedding of Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia at Frances famous Palace of Versailles was attended by 1000 guests from all over the world. The groom arrived in a jeweled chariot. The 20-page invites were delivered in a silver box. A spectacular fireworks display was held at the Eiffel Tower. Twelve Boeing jets ferried Indian guests to France. Around 10,000 flowers were imported to decorate the venue. The Mittal-Bhatia wedding made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the most expensive wedding ever recorded in recent times.
3. Diana Spencer and Prince Charles
Wedding cost: $ 48 million in 1981 (estimated at $110 million in 2011)
It still remains the fairytale wedding. On July 29, 1981, when Princess Diana and Prince Charles exchanged vows in St Paul Cathedral they had 3500 royal guests and the world’s top dignitaries in attendance. Princess Diana’s 9000 pound worth puff ball meringue bridal gown wowed 750 million television viewers across the world. About 400,000 people cheered from the streets as the royal couple kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Twenty seven cakes were baked to celebrate the occasion.
4. Priya Sachdev and Vikram Chatwal
Wedding cost: $20 million in 2006 (Estimated at $22 million in 2011.)
This multi-million dollar wedding celebration of jet-setting hotelier Vikram Chatwal and Delhi socialite Priya Sachdeva was a 10-day extravaganza. Celebrations started in Mumbai, traveled to Udaipur and finally culminated in India’s national capital, Delhi. As many as 600 guests from 26 countries were flown in on chartered flights. The big fat Sikh wedding had the likes of former American president Bill Clinton and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra among distinguished guests.
5. Colleen McLaughlin and Wayne Rooney
Wedding cost: $ 8 million in 2008 (estimated at $15 million in 2011)
The bride’s footwear was studded with crystals! The wedding venue Villa Durazzo overlooked the Italian Riviera. Post nuptials the childhood sweethearts hopped on to a 120-million private yacht with family and friends. Guests also attended a masked ball party in Genoa.
6. Liza Minelli and David Gest
Wedding cost: $3.5 million in 2002 (estimated at $ 4.2 million in 2011)
Broadway star Liza Minelli wed music producer David Gest in a celebrity studded event in 2002. Legendary pop star Michael Jackson was the best man while Elizabeth Taylor played the maid of honor. Exotic flowers worth $ 700,000 were flown in for the ceremony. The cake alone accounted for $40,000.
7. Heather Mills and Paul McCartney
Wedding cost: $3 million in 2002 (estimated at $3.6 million in 2011)
The nuptials of Beatles star Paul McCartney and PETA activist Heather Mills took place at a stunning 17th century church in Ireland. The bride carrying a bouquet of 11 roses named after the most celebrated songwriter in recent history was greeted to ‘Heather’, a song rearranged by Paul. The Indian themed wedding saw girls dressed in Indian attire standing on the steps of the castle to greet the esteemed guests. Guests were treated to a lavish vegetarian spread. An eye-popping amount of $ 145,000 was spent on decorating the spectacular 1000-acre estate of the chapel. Guests were treated to a visual delight of stunning fireworks display that cost the McCartneys an exorbitant amount of $150,000!
8. Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar
Wedding cost: $2.5 million in 2007 (Estimated at $2.6 million in 2011.)
British supermodel and actress Elizabeth Hurley’s wedding to Indian businessman Arun Nayar was an extravagant affair. Spread over eight days and two continents, the couple first tied the knot in the 15th century Sudeley Castle near London. The beautiful castle resting in the surroundings of the Cotswold Hills saw the likes of Elton John, Kate Moss and Hugh Grant attend the white wedding. The celebrations then moved to India where the couple had a traditional Indian wedding at the Umaid Bhawan Palace. Guests were ferried across continents in private jets at a whopping cost of $300,000. About one-third of this figure was spent in accommodating them in true royal style.
9. Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise
Wedding cost: $ 2 million in 2006 (estimated at $2.2 million in 2011)
International superstar Tom Cruise and actress Katie Holmes exchanged vows at Italy’s 15th-century Odescalchi Castle. The candle-filled venue looked romantic in the sunset setting when the couple were tied in holy matrimony. Guests included Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Brooke Shields and Chris Henchy besides Will and Jada Smith. The romantic couple spent $900,000 to fly in their guests and put them up in five star hotels. Around $180,000 were spent only on wine!
10. Melenia Knauss and Donald Trump
Wedding cost: $1 million in 2005 (estimated at $1.5 million in 2011)
Their wedding invites were engraved in gold script. The bride’s Christian Dior gown studded with 1500 crystal rhinestones and pearls sported a 13-foot train and a 16-foot veil. Simon Cowell, Hillary Clinton and Barbara Walters were amongst the guests. Guests at the lavish reception held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate were served more than 6000 appetizers of caviar, lobsters and truffles. Ten thousand flowers including white roses and peonies were used to decorate the sprawling ballroom.