Weddings have often become super lavish and over-the-top celebrations of love, especially for celebrities, aristocrats, business moguls, royalty, millionaires or billionaires. When you’re celebrating this important life event. You can’t help but pull out all the stops to make it the most memorable and fun-filled celebration to mark your union for life.
We are going to look at the top ten most expensive weddings in history, and look closely at the level of richness and luxury each wedding had. While we may not be able to fork over millions for our own, we can know how to celebrate in style and luxury as well, without breaking the bank.
TOP 10: Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin
$8 Million
English football star and manager Wayne Rooney and media celebrity and writer Coleen McLoughlin were childhood sweethearts since they were 12 years old. They started dating when they were both 16. Over the years, they’ve become professionals in their industry, increasing their value as individuals and as a couple.
When the sweethearts wed on June 12, 2008, they were ready to commemorate their union of love with a very luxurious wedding in Italy. The couple attended a civil service wedding in the gorgeous Villa Durazzo in Santa Margherita first.
Then, the couple headed to the historical and scenic San Girolamo Chapel at La Cervara for a Roman Catholic ceremony, one of the main highlights of this super lavish, $8 million event.
Their wedding vows were a culmination of being childhood sweethearts who grew up and developed together, forming strong lifelong bonds. English football royalty and friends from the media attended the luxurious affair. Before their wedding, each had a customary pre-party, with Coleen hosting a hen party and Wayne and friends with a stag party.
Coleen was stunning in a beautiful $100,000 Marchesa gown, while Wayne looked super-dapper in a classic black tuxedo. The reception was filled with gourmet food, paired with enthralling views of the Italian coast, replete with a £50,000 firework display. It was one of the most deluxe wedding celebrations in recent history.
TOP 9: Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma
$10 Million
India’s top cricketer and former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli married his gorgeous beau, Bollywood actress and producer Anushka Sharma, in a private wedding on December 11, 2017. Italy, again, was the scenic and beautiful backdrop of this high-profile wedding, at the historic Borgo Finocchieto village and resort. The total bill? A grand $10 million.
The couple exchanged vows in this deluxe, Instagram-ready location, far from the paparazzi, press, and fans who can’t get enough of the gorgeous superstar couple. They booked under false names and misdirected the press to keep their privacy. They kept the vows and celebration limited to a small number of guests, and created a simple yet elegant vibe that was still in the millions, with reception parties in Delhi and Mumbai. Bollywood and cricket personalities joined them in the festivities.
TOP 8: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
$12 Million
Despite no longer being together, popular rap superstar and edgelord Kanye (or Ye) married his first serious love, reality show superstar Kim Kardashian. Despite being previously married to Kris Humphries and Kim receiving a prank call from Ye to stop their marriage, the two lovebirds did finally end up with each other, creating one of the hottest modern love teams in Hollywood.
Kim and Ye finally tied the knot on May 24, 2014, at the historic Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy. The couple and their daughter, North, all wore Givenchy; Kanye with a classic bow tie Tuxedo, and Kim with an ultra sexy, curvaceous long-sleeve lace dress with an illusion backless design and long flowing train. Andrea Bocelli sang during their wedding ceremony.
600 guests attended their reception, held in the Palace of Versailles’s Hall of Mirrors, with an exclusive appearance of singer/songwriter Lana Del Rey and capped off with an elaborate fireworks display.
TOP 7: Prince William and Kate Middleton
$34 Million
Prince William and Catherine Middleton, Princess of Wales, broke the news and the internet with their ultra royal wedding on April 29, 2011. Their total bill was $34 million. The royal sweethearts said their I do’s at Westminster Abbey in London, United Kingdom.
Kate Middleton officially joined the Royal family and slayed with royal highness energy, wearing a classic Alexander McQueen wedding gown designed by Sarah Burton. She also wore the celebrated heirloom sapphire and diamond ring inherited from Princess Diana. Prince William was the epitome of royal elegance, in a gorgeous red Irish Guards uniform, representing his honorary military title.
The couple asked that in lieu of traditional gifts, guests donate to charity.
The Queen herself hosted a very private lunchtime reception for the newlyweds at Buckingham Palace, with royal gourmet food served. The Prince of Wales later hosted an evening dinner party for guests and loved ones.
TOP 6: Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas
$40 Million
Priyanka and Nick had an adorable backstory that found them deeply in love. Nick slid into her DMs and asked for a date, which he later got. Later, their wedding dress designer, Ralph Lauren, brought them back together, resulting in more dates and a lovely proposal.
To honor their respective religious traditions and celebrate both sides of their families, they had two wedding ceremonies.
The couple’s Christian wedding happened on December 1, 2018, at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India. Priyanka was hot and sultry in a classic, custom Ralph Lauren gown. Nick also wore a gorgeous suit designed by Ralph Lauren.
The next day, they had a Hindu wedding ceremony on December 2, 2018, at the same venue. It was a traditional Mehendi ceremony peppered with much celebratory dancing. It was a celebration of Priyanka’s side of the family, initiating Nick into various colorful Hindu dances and traditions.
The final bill of the two-day celebration totalled to $40 million, in itself already a record holder for being one of the richest and most luxurious celebrity weddings of the post 2000s era.
TOP 5: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
$45.8 Million
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their very beautiful royal wedding on May 19, 2018. The global event took place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, United Kingdom, and was a proud moment for the royal family. It was even more expensive than his big brother’s wedding, at more than $45 million.
Meghan Markle was also the first American and non-British bride in the history of one of the royal sons to enter the British royal family. The loveliest bride was enthralling in her all-white, long-sleeved, shoulder-wide boat neckline dress with an A-line. skirt and sweep train joined by her headgear-connected Watteau train. Prince Harry looked super royal and stately with his black hat and formal uniform of the Blues and Royals.
The toyal dress code of the event required their guests specific attire, a “Dress Uniform, Morning Coat or Lounge Suit” for the men. For then women, it was a “Day Dress and Hat”. Prince William was Prince Harry’s Best Man.
The lovely royal couple had two major receptions. The first, hosted by the Queen, happened at St. George’s Hall with a more sizable guestlist of 600 people. the evning reception later happened at Frogmore with close friends and family of 200.
TOP 4: Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia
$55 Million
Only a very few marriages can stake the claim of being more expensive than two royal monarchs and a bevy of top celebrities, and it was none other than the hot power couple of top investment banker Vanish Mittal and steel magnate scion Amit Bhatia. They also broke the Guinness World Record for the most expensive wedding of all time, back in 2004.
The final bill for Vanish and Amit’s super grand and luxurious wedding was more than $55 million, now possibly even more due to inflation.
1000 guests received a 20-page silver RSVP invitation card, which was for a six-day celebration, so those who attended were either on leave or didn’t need to, and were as rich as the couple. The very rich and royal Palace of Versailles was one of the main venues, indicating ultra-rich status and beyond.
Their lavish menu, 5-star hotel stays, opulent plus entertainment from the likes of Kylie Minogue and Shah Rukh Khan were just some of the highlights of this most expensive wedding and week-long celebrations ever, at least back in the early 2000s.
TOP 3: Sushanto Roy and Seemanto Roy
$75 Million in Total Cost
Is there an even more expensive wedding than the one from the Guinness World Record holders we just discussed? Yes.
Subrato Roy, the ultrawealthy business tycoon and chairman of the Sahara India Pariwar company, spent over $75 million for the joint wedding of his two sons, Sushanto and Seemanto Roy, in 2004. The huge, large-scale wedding collected over 11,000 guests. The businessman also gave out meals to 1,50,000 homeless people as part of their celebrations.
Those guests included the Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, cricket superstars, Bollywood celebrities, other super-rich businessmen, friends, and family. The big boss had them flown in 27 private jets with lavish entertainment and giveaways of gold coins. Upon arrival, they rode in Mercedes cars to the wedding, and reception, with a feast of international dishes served.
TOP 2: Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal
$100 Million
Top businessmen and scions of the biggest companies hold the upper echelons of weddings. But at $100 million, it sure is another world record breaker.
Anand Piramal, a super-wealthy entrepreneur and Executive Director of the Piramal Group, married Isha Ambani, the multimillionaire heiress and executive leader of the Reliance group of companies, on December 12, 2018, in Mumbai, India.
If you have Beyoncé singing at your wedding, and top guests such as Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Aamir Khan, and top Bollywood personalities and top business associates attending and partying in your event, then chances are you are Isha and Anand.
Before the main event, the couple held pre-wedding celebrations that included a traditional Haldi ceremony, a Mehendi function, and a Sangeet night. Just like Nick and Priyanka’s wedding, there were vibrant and very lavish, colorful cultural displays and celebrations involved. Ambani’s house became a premiere event for the biggest celebrities and richest people.
TOP 1: Prince Charles and Lady Diana
$137 Million
Only the legendary royal couple of Prince Charles and Princess Diana could snag the most expensive wedding title in history. Their total bill ended up being $137 million in total, a meager amount for the most celebrated fairy tale love stories and royal weddings ever in history.
Prince Charles fell in love with Princess Diana and soon proposed to her on February 24, 1981. The Royal Palace held a formal announcement to celebrate the engagement of the heir to the throne and the first son of the Queen’s engagement to the lovely lady who stole his heart.
Lady Diana’s ring design originated from Queen Victoria’s brooch, which Queen Elizabeth inherited.
The “Wedding of the Century” happened on July 29, 1981. The legendary couple exchanged vows at the historic St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Over 750 million television viewers from around the world watched and gushed in total admiration, watching history and a real-life fairy tale wedding happen. It remains the most expensive, luxurious, and celebrated marriage in history.
