The average cost of a wedding in the US is currently about $30,000, according to CNN. But for a celebrity wedding that amount will hardly cover the dress. Check out these extravagant celebrity weddings that are some of the priciest on record.
Ryan and Trista : One of the only reality-TV romances to ever work out, Trista and Ryan met on the set of The Bachelorette and got engaged soon after the show ended. ABC executives quickly proposed the idea of televising the wedding and agreed to pay for what some are saying was a $4 million ceremony and reception held at Lodge Rancho Mirage in California. The entire place was covered in pink flowers – some say over 30,000 were used to decorate the room! Trista was outfitted in a Badgley Mishcka dress and diamond encrusted shoes from Stuart Weitzman. Food was flown in from 14 countries and guests went through over 180 bottles of champagne, 600 bottles of wine, and 1,500 pounds of chocolate.
Liza Minelli and David Gest: This strange couple was married in a $3.5 million ceremony in 2002. They were introduced to each other by Michael Jackson, a longtime friend of Gest’s, who also served as the best man in the wedding. It was a star-studded affair, with music legends like Gloria Gaynor, Al Green and Dionne Warwick in attendance. Liz Taylor was also part of the wedding party, standing as Minelli’s matron of honor. Gest and Minelli divorced little more than a year later, and Gest sued her for $10 million, claiming she was an abusive alcoholic. A dramatic end to what started out as a fairy tale romance.
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills: Though this couple is now going through a messy divorce, their 2002 wedding was a lavish affair, costing $3 million. Held at Castle Leslie in Ireland, the guest list included Elton John, Bill Clinton, and Eric Clapton. While McCartney tried to keep details of the wedding secret, it is known that guests were treated to an all-vegetarian Indian buffet and a spectacular fireworks display after the ceremony. Unfortunately this didn’t make it the long haul the two recently divorced and the settlement topped the charts as the most expensive divorce in British History. The Beatles were right in saying ,”Can’t buy me love.”
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes : Scientologist Tom Cruise and former Dawson’s Creek star Katie Holmes had quite a public courtship, with Cruise loudly declaring his love for her on Oprah and at several press events. So it’s no surprise that their wedding ceremony was a major event. Traveling to Italy, the couple tied the knot at the Odescalchi Castle in Lake Bracciano. The affair cost $2 million. Both Cruise and Holmes wore Armani and exchanged white gold and diamond Cartier wedding bands. In attendance were some of the couple’s closest Hollywood friends, such as David and Victoria Beckham, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett, and Brooke Shields. These two are still happily married with one child together and rumors buzzing that there could be a second on the way.
Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman: This pop star married music executive Bratman in a 2005 ceremony at the Staglin Family Vineyard in Napa Valley. Though the guest list was relatively small – with only 130 guests – the couple still managed to spend $2 million on their nuptials. Aguilera wore a Christian LaCroix gown and the couple exchanged wedding bands designed by Steven Webster of London. This couple met when Jordan was working for Christina’s management company Azoff Music Management. Christina’s manager Irving Azoff introduced the couple. They had a son on January 12, 2008 his name is Max. The new mama Christina spends the majority of her time now raising her baby boy Max and says her career will be on hold for awhile.
Liz Taylor and Larry Fortensky: Not surprisingly, Taylor’s seventh marriage to construction worker Larry Fortensky – a man 20 years younger than her – didn’t work out. The two met while going through treatment for alcoholism at the Betty Ford Clinic and married in 1991 at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. The ceremony cost $2 million. It was outdoors and a complete media circus. If it was any indication of the control issues to come, Taylor’s hairdresser served as Fortensky’s best man.
Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar: The $2 million nuptials between Hurley and Indian businessman Nayar was an intercontinental event, with ceremonies in both England and India. The festivities began with a ceremony at a 15th century castle in England and ended after five days of traditional Indian rites in Mumbai and Rajasthan. Guests included Elton John, Kate Moss and Hugh Grant. During the wedding a fight broke out between security gaurds and reporters. It started when the reporters wouldn’t let the couple’s car gain access to the drive to the Indian festivity. Then escalated when reporters worked past the guards and moved into the wedding before being forcibly removed.
Elton John and David Furnish: John and Furnish made formal their 12 year partnership with a civil ceremony in 2005. Their reception costs totaled $1.75 million, as 700 guests were invited to the champagne-fueled party held on the grounds of John’s mansion in Windsor, after the couple’s legal ceremony at Guidhall, the same location where Prince Charles married his soul mate, Camilla Parker Bowles. The couple met when a friend introduced them at a dinner party at Elton’s mansion. Elton said that David was the reason that he was able to overcome his addictions to both drugs and alcohol.
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren: Not betraying the game that has brought Woods’ fortune, the golf supernova and his Swedish-model bride married in 2004 at the Sandy Lane Golf Resort in Barbados. Partially due to the fact that the couple rented out the entire hotel and resort, the wedding cost almost $2 million. There were 150 guests, including Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan. Elin wore a simple gown and flew in her personal hairstylists from London. At the reception, champagne and caviar were served, and the banquet room was decorated with over 10,000 red and black roses. Music was provided by Hootie and the Blowfish. No surprise that the world’s best golfer would also have the world’s best wedding. This couple is still together today and Tiger is a daddy as the couple has one daughter to share his love of golf with.
Lady Diana and Prince Charles: The royal wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer will go down in history as the most-watched wedding ever. Broadcast on TV, an estimated 750 million viewers tuned in, along with 3,500 invited guests and 600,000 spectators who crowded the side of the roads hoping to glimpse the royal couple. Diana’s Emmanuel gown, with its famous 25-foot-long train that trailed dramatically along the red carpet of St. Paul’s cathedral, was all the buzz and has been dubbed the most signature wedding dress of all time. It’s now shown in museums all over the world. Was this a match made in heaven? Unfortunately not as these two divorced in 1996. Just a year later the dear and loved Diana passed away in a tragic and sometimes controversial car accident.
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones: Douglas and Zeta-Jones wed in a $1.5 million ceremony at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Douglas, famed for his expensive divorce from first wife Diandra Douglas, is also newsworthy for hosting one of the priciest celebrity weddings on record. Like Brosnan, Douglas negotiated the rights to the wedding story and photos to OK! Magazine, so guests were forced to keep mum prior to the event. Zeta-Jones’ Welsh heritage was displayed proudly in the décor and the menu, as guests were treated to Welsh lamb. Douglas’ son Cameron from his first marriage was the best man, and attendees included stars like Sean Connery, Sharon Stone and Christopher Reeves.
Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith: This former James Bond married his bride Smith in a 2001 ceremony at an Irish castle. It was a highly private and very spendy affair, with Brosnan dropping $1.5 million on the ceremony. Both the bride and groom were whisked to and from the ceremony in Rolls Royces and Hello! Magazine bought the exclusive rights to the wedding photos. The couple’s six-tier wedding cake was said to cost almost $14,000. It comes as no surprise that the then James Bond’s wedding would be a very dramatic and beautiful event. The 120 people in attendance were the only people to set eyes on the wedding couple.
Eddie Murphy and Nicole Mitchell : After five years of courtship, this couple wed in 1993 in a luxurious $1.5 million ceremony at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. There were 500 guests, including Bruce Willis, Quincy Jones and Russell Simmons. The entire grand ballroom was covered in tulips, gardenias, and orchids, all of which were immediately delivered to patients in a Harlem hospital following the wedding. Cristal champagne and lobster were served at the sit down dinner.
Tori Spelling and Charlie Shanian : The short-lived wedding between Spelling, formerly of Beverly Hills 90210 fame, and Shanian, a producer, was not an understated affair, costing over $1 million. The ceremony was held at Spelling’s father’s estate in front of 400 guests. Spelling wore a flapper-style Badgley Mishcka bead-encrusted wedding gown and 2.5 carat diamond earrings. Wolfgang Puck designed the wedding menu, and all guests left with a silver bottle of champagne with the couple’s names engraved in the side. Just 15 months later, however, Shanian and Spelling split for good. Spelling is now married to actor Dean McDermott.
Madonna and Guy Ritchie: Star guests at the New Year’s Eve wedding of Madonna and movie director Guy Ritchie included Gwenyth Paltrow, Sting, and Stella McCartney, who designed Madonna’s vintage-style dress. The ceremony was held at a castle in Scotland, where Ritchie grew up. He wore a traditional Scottish kilt; Madonna accented her dress with a 78-carat diamond tiara. The bill? $1.5 million. Madonna is 10 years Guy’s senior, this happily married couple has had three children together. One daughter and two sons. The daughter being the oldest coming in 1996 and the sons both coming in the new millennium one in 2000 and the other in 2005.
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss: Declaring their love with a lavish $1 million ceremony, Trump and Knauss exchanged vows in front of over 500 guests, including Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood and Elton John. Knauss’ $200,000 John Galliano gown, with its 13-foot train and crystal accents, was the centerpiece of the ceremony – she even modeled it for a Vogue cover shoot before the wedding. The wedding reception for Trump, who is 28 years his bride’s senior, was held at Trump’s luxurious Mal-a-Lago hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Mr. Trump finally opened his mouth to say words other than “you’re fired” and said “I do” in this lavish and luxurious ceremony of matrimony.
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston : This understated couple’s $1 million wedding in 2000 was held at the Mailbu estate of TV producer Marcy Carsey. There were 200 guests in attendance, four bands and another celebratory fireworks display. Pitt personally designed their matching white-gold wedding bands; Aniston wore a Lawrence Steele dress and Manolo Blahnik sandals. Guests included the entire cast of Friends, Cameron Diaz, and Melissa Ethridge.
David and Victoria Beckham : Posh Spice married soccer star David Beckham in 1999 in a small ceremony at an Irish castle before 29 guests, all of whom were instructed to wear white and black. Victoria donned a champagne-colored Vera Wang gown and Becks a white suit. Their 4-month-old son Brooklyn lay in a crib beside the altar and acted as the ring bearer. After the ceremony, the couple released white doves into the air and celebrated with a gigantic fireworks display and reception for hundreds of guests. Total costs were said to be around $800,000.
Ashley Judd and Dario Franchitti: Another Scottish wedding, Judd and Scottish race car driver Franchitti were married in the same castle as Madonna and Ritchie. The couple’s $750,000 ceremony was attended by 100 guests, including Salma Hayek and Ed Norton. Judd wore a sleek Armani gown; Franchitti a traditional Scottish kilt. The couple met at a friends wedding reception. The friend told Judd that there would be a cute race car driver in attendance. While Judd is a huge Kentucky Basketball fan and not much of a racing fan she found enough space in her heart for this race car driver.
Eva Longoria and Tony Parker : The Desperate Housewives star and San Antonio Spurs married on the coveted 7/7/07 wedding date in a 17th century castle in France – Parker’s native home. While some of the reports were dismissed, it was said that the wedding cake was going to be made in California and flown in first class for the ceremony, resulting in a possible price tag of $40,000. But their wedding was the highlight of the summer – who didn’t see the paparazzi pics of Longoria arriving at Paris City Hall in her pink Chanel jumper? This couple is still very happily married as they both continue on in their own career paths.
Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola: It’s said that Carey modeled her 1993 wedding to music producer Tommy Mottola after Princess Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles. In the $500,000 ceremony, Carey wore a $25,000 Vera Wang gown designed after Princess Di’s with a 27-foot-long train. She also wore a custom-made tiara designed to look like one of Princess Diana’s. Fifty flower girls were present at the ceremony, and Carey and Mottola ordered a six-tier cake for the guests. This marriage was not a long one however as the couple separated in 1997. They parted ways and Mariah Carey’s career continued to blossom in the years to come.
Marc Antony and Dayanara Torres : Though he is now married to Jennifer Lopez, Anthony’s 2002 marriage to Miss Universe Dayanara Torres was one for the history books. The $500,000 ceremony was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in a 500-year-old cathedral. Over 200 guests gathered to watch Torres and Anthony renew their vows (they were originally married in a quick ceremony in Las Vegas in 2000.) At the lavish affair, Torres wore a $30,000 Reem Acra Bucheese gown and the couple exchanged rings worth $20,000.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban: The Oscar-winning actress and country music star wed in their hometown of Sydney, Australia in a ceremony that cost more than $250,000. Kidman wore a floor-length Balenciaga gown, and arrived at the cliff-top church in a limo with her father. There were 250 invitees in attendance, including fellow-Aussies like Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Naomi Watts. Throngs of fans lined the streets as guests were arriving at the ceremony, and while many details were kept private and out of the photographer’s reach, Kidman and Urban did leave a case of Victoria Bitter beer for the paparazzi. This couple has two children that Kidman adopted with Tom Cruise and they have not had any of their own.
Barbara Streisand and James Brolin: This couple wed in a traditional Jewish ceremony in the living room of her Malibu mansion. And while they didn’t drop a lot of money on the location or entertainment (Streisand sang at the reception), the flower bill alone must have been staggering. Streisand had florists transform her home into an indoor garden of sorts using tens of thousands of flowers. Streisand wore a crystal-encrusted Donna Karan wedding gown and diamond choker; guests were treated to soft-shell crab and porcine ravioli. When the couple met on a blind date James had just cut off all of his hair and the first thing Barbara said to him was “Geeze what happened to your hair!” From that moment on they were happily married as James said he enjoyed how truthful Barbara was.
Celine Dion and Rene Angelil : The French-Canadian singer married her longtime manager in Montreal on December 17, 1994. She wore an extravagant pearl-encrusted gown that took 1,000 hours to make and a seven pound crystal tiara. The reception at the Hotel Westin Mont-Royal featured artificial snowflakes falling on the 530 guests dancing to a 21-piece orchestra. This couple seems to be a true example of how to make a marriage work as they hit their toughest point when Rene was diagnosed with cancer. Celine has stayed by his side and continues to love him through the entire thing. Good luck you two.
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