Most expensive weddings in the world: Weddings are among the most anticipated events in everyone’s life. Although ceremonies and traditions may differ from culture to culture, almost all weddings are fundamentally the same. It is an important occasion when two people meet and become one in the eyes of men and God, a celebration of life and love, the beginning of a lifelong commitment.
Wedding ceremonies can be simple and low-key. But for the elite, weddings must be luxurious and grand. These displays of extravagance can sometimes break the proverbial limit and set all time records. The average cost of a wedding in the United States is approximately $25,200. American couples should ideally spend between $18,900 and $31,500.
But for the couples listed below, $1 million isn’t enough to cover all the bases. Look at them. (Recently, the Kanye West-Kim Kardashian wedding is now considered one of the most expensive in history, with total costs a staggering $18 million. Weddings ranked below do not include the “Kimye” event.)
1. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas’ wedding was a perfect mix of Bollywood and Hollywood! The couple got married on December 1, 2018, and the wedding ceremonies took place over five days. They had a traditional Hindu wedding according to Priyanka’s religion and also got married in a Christian ceremony according to Nick’s religious upbringing.
For their Hindu wedding, Priyanka wore a red Sabyasachi lehenga, while international designer Ralph Lauren created the looks for the bride and groom and their families for the Christian wedding. Their wedding took place at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Rajasthan and the couple reportedly spent Rs 3 million on the hotel alone. Their wedding was followed by a grand reception in Delhi.
2. Priya Sachdev to Vikram Chatwal
Investment banker-turned-model Priya Sachdev’s wedding to hotelier Vikram Chatwal took place across three cities over 10 days. More than 600 guests from 26 countries were not only invited, but also traveled by private flights and were escorted by 70 private cars to the event venues. The wedding took place on February 18, 2006.
The guest list included Bill Clinton, model Naomi Campbell, then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Indian dignitaries, HRH Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Lakshmi Mittal, among others . The lavish wedding was in the style of the Mughal court and was decorated with 50,000 kilos of flowers and 3,000 candles, among other things. The wedding cost a whopping $20 million! However, the couple divorced in 2011.
3. Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal
India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani married Anand Piramal on December 12, 2018. According to a Bloomberg report, their wedding cost around $15 million (which is equivalent to about $110 million of dollars). The lavish wedding was attended by representatives of Bollywood and Indian political circles. On November 19, 2022, the couple was blessed with twins, Krishna and Aadiya.
4. Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia
Most expensive weddings: Vanisha Mittal, daughter of one of the richest men in the world, Lakshmi Mittal, married Amit Bhatia in an extravagant wedding in 2004. While the engagement ceremony took place at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, their wedding took place at the Chateau Veaux . le Vicomte, near Paris. Actress Kylie Minogue performed at the wedding and there was also a fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower. Although the wedding cost around $66 million (approximately INR 5,467,874,808), it did not last long and the couple divorced in 2013.
5. Madeline Brockway and Jacob LaGrone
Termed the “wedding of the century” by several articles, Madeline Brockway and Jacob LaGrone’s wedding in November 2023 cost around $59 million (₹489 crore). Their lavish wedding took place at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, where all guests were whisked to the venue by private jet.
The musical group Maroon 5 performed at the wedding, where both the bride and groom wore expensive suits. According to reports, Madeline Brockway’s family runs a car sales business, while Jacob LaGrone (29) is accused of aggravated assault against three police officers.
Photo: Weddings on Lake Como/ Instagram
6. Prince Charles and Lady Diana
The United Kingdom’s Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and Lady Diana married on July 29, 1981, however, the lavishness and opulence of the wedding is still talked about today, decades after their wedding. The royal wedding took place in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, UK, and cost around US$48 million (around INR 398 crore) at the time. 3,500 people attended the wedding in person, while approximately 750 million people around the world watched it on television.
What is still talked about today is Princess Diana’s beautiful wedding dress, which had 10,000 pearls and a 25-foot-long train. Although this is one of the most memorable and expensive royal weddings in the world, the marriage did not last long. The couple divorced in 1996 and a year later Diana died in a tragic car accident.
Photo: Flickr
7. Prince William and Kate Middleton
The wedding of the future king and queen of England, Prince William and Kate Middleton, in 2011 cost around $34 million, making it one of the most expensive weddings to date. The couple had been dating since 2003 and their wedding took place in 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The couple now hold the titles Prince and Princess of Wales and have three children together.
Photo: The Royal Family/YouTube
8. Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin
Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin married in Italy in 2008. 64 guests traveled on five private jets to their lavish wedding, which was also attended by Irish boyband Westlife. The wedding cost 8 million dollars (about 663,724,080 rupees).
Photo: okay! Magazine
9. Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky
Chelsea Clinton, former US President and former US Secretary of State, daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton, married Marc Mezvinsky, an investment banker, in a grand wedding. Their lavish wedding ceremony took place at Astor Courts in 2010 and cost $5 million (around INR 40 crore).
Photo: Flickr
10. Liza Minnelli and David Gest
Singer Liza Minnelli and concert promoter David Gest tied the knot in a lavish wedding in 2002. Their wedding cost around $4.2 million and their guest list included Elizabeth Taylor, Liam Neeson and Mia Farrow, among the others. Michael Jackson was the best man at his wedding. However, the couple’s marriage did not last long and the two separated a year later.
Photo: rivista Weddingg
11. Christina Aguilera & Jordan Bratman
Musical siren Christina Aguilera and music label executive Jordan Bratman married in 2005. Aguilera and Bratman, ages 24 and 27 respectively, held the ceremony in a tent erected in the middle of a vineyard in Napa Valley. The wedding came after Bratman’s very romantic proposal in which he filled a hotel room with rose petals, balloons and gift boxes, one of which contained the ring.
Aguilera wore an expensive Christian Lacroix gown as he walked down the aisle. However, the couple went through a tumultuous time five years later. They tried to reconcile for the sake of their son Max, who was two years old at the time. But they separated anyway and divorced in 2010.
12. Elizabeth Hurley & Arun Nayar
British model and actress Elizabeth Hurley has been married twice to Indian businessman Arun Nayar. The first was in 2007 and was held at Sudeley Castle in England. The second time was at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, according to the Hindu Nayar tradition. The couple even invited Elton John to perform. Four years later, the couple split soon after photos of Elizabeth kissing Australian cricketer Shane Warne circulated. The subsequent divorce process is probably one of the quickest. It took the judge just 92 seconds to rule that their marriage was “irretrievably broken.”
13. Paul McCartney & Heather Mills
Music legend Paul McCartney and businesswoman Heather Mills married in 2002 at Ireland Castle. The ceremony was attended by 300 guests, who then had to undergo a vegetarian menu during the splendid reception that followed. The marriage did not last long as the couple separated four years later and finally ended their marriage in 2008. What’s worse is that the divorce was more expensive than the marriage itself, and the court ordered McCartney to pay Mills approximately $27 million as a single. payment. in default and another $13 million in assets.
14. Elizabeth Taylor & Larry Fortensky
Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor met construction worker Larry Fortensky at a rehab center where they both entered for their drug problems. In an interesting and unique love story that caught the attention of many people, the couple got married in 1991 at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. The ceremony was a star-studded event with celebrities such as Liza Minnelli, Eddie Murphy and Macaulay Culkin among the guests.
Before the wedding, Fortensky signed a prenuptial agreement under which she would receive only $1 million in the event of a separation, as long as the marriage lasted 5 years. After five years, the two separated, but remained good friends until Taylor’s death in 2011. The actress left Fortensky $800,000, as indicated in her will.
15. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani celebrated their lavish pre-wedding for three consecutive days, starting from March 1 and ending on March 3. Radhika reached the platform where Anant Ambani was eagerly waiting, dressed in a gold-embellished glittering lehenga.
The July 12 election has profound significance as it aligns with auspicious celestial alignments that are believed to bestow blessings on the occasion. July 12 marks the beginning of the seventh day of the lunar calendar, which begins at 12:32 pm, an auspicious time for weddings. Furthermore, the day falls under the auspices of Ravi Yoga, which is believed to confer favorable results to efforts initiated during this period.
While the location of the grand celebration remains a closely guarded secret, rumors suggest that the couple may exchange wedding vows in Mumbai or opt for a stunning destination outside India. Regardless of the venue, the event is poised to be a true spectacle, sparing no expense to create a magical experience for the bride and groom and their esteemed guests.
On the eve of the main event, families have already started an extravagant pre-wedding celebration. From March 2 to 3, visitors will be able to enjoy a “Walk on the Wildside,” followed by a trip to “Mela Rouge,” where they can immerse themselves in desi activities. On the third day, participants will embark on “Tusker Trails and Hashtakshar”, enjoying the beauty of Jamnagar.
Desclaimer
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