According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in America hits around the $35k mark. That seems like a bit of a stretch right? If you think about it, $35k could be someone’s yearly salary. I mean, you could buy a (very nice) brand new car with that kind of cash! But, the trendier and more lively the wedding world gets, the higher that national average seems to soar.
And although most of us think spending a full college tuition on a wedding is foolish, there are couples out there that far, far exceed this amount when it comes to their big day. From celebrities to worldly royalty, they’re hitting the millions mark and completely blowing everyone else out of the water.
Three of the Most Expensive Weddings Ever
Kate & Prince William: $34 million
Can anyone guess what took up $32 million of the $34 million budget? It was the security! And then comes the dress, which was custom made by Sarah Burton for Alexander Mcqueen, costing $434,000. She also wore a 1963 Cartier diamond tiara that was borrowed from the Queen.
In April 2011, the entire world watched as Princess Diana’s son wed the love of his life, commoner, Kate Middleton – now, the new Duchess of Cambridge. They exchanged vows in the medieval, Westminster abbey in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury and afterwards headed back to Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage for that famous public kiss on the balcony.
Later, they celebrated in reception at the palace in what’s been referred to as a “magical night,” which included toasts to Prince William and Harry’s late mother, girlish cocktails (peach bellinis), a multi-course dinner and a performance by Ellie Goulding.
Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia: $60 million
In June 2004, Vanisha Mittal – the daughter of Lakshmi Mittal, Indian steel magnate (and one of the richest men in the world) – wed Amit Bhatia in a celebration that cost nearly $60 million. And although the price seems to be of outrageous quantity for most of us to fathom, the wedding did last a week long, making the entirety a bit easier to swallow.
They reportedly had over 1,000 guests and started off the event with a silver-casted invitation to the wedding. Their cost of travels were covered as well. From jet rides to the location to a 5-star hotel stay, none of their family and friends need worry about the expenses.
Their week-long “vacay” included multiple parties, lavish dinners and celebrations at incredible locations such as the Palace of Versailles and the Jardin des Tuileries. And they even had entertainment that included popstar Kylie Minogue (who was paid around $330,000 to perform for 30 minutes) as well as fireworks in the Eiffel Tower gardens.
Lady Diana Spencer & Prince Charles: $110 million
Dubbed “the wedding of the century,” this wedding goes down as the most expensive wedding of all time. People filled the streets of London trying to catch a glimpse of the beloved, soon-to-be princess while millions around the world watched the celebration unfold on their televisions.
Married on July 29, 1981, most of the money for this celebration went towards controlling the crowd and security, which used up about $600,000 of that extra large budget. The breakdown continues with her $13,000 custom wedding dress – now referred to as one of the most iconic of all time – which was covered in 10,000 pearls and included a 25-foot train.
A glass carriage, lush flowers and a public kiss on the balcony of Buckingham palace – which their son, Prince William, would fashion his kiss with wife, Kate, after – were all included in the extravagance of the day.