Donald Trump and Melania Knauss (January 22, 2005, Cost: $1 million) Although it costs just a measly million dollars, the Palm Beach wedding of Donald Trump and Melania Knauss in 2005 was quite an opulent affair. The Grand Mariner cake weighed 200 lbs and the bride's Dior dress cost $200,000 with a 13-foot train, 1500 rhinestones and pearls, and weighing 60 lbs. Performances by Tony Bennett and Billy Joel entertained the guests, consisting of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Shaquille O'Neal and Rudy Giulaini. So far, this one has lasted, not costing the Donald more in the long run like many of his prior marriages.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes (November 18, 2006,Cost: $2 million)
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' 2006 wedding at Italys 15th-century Odescalchi Castle was another spectacle of extravagance, to the tune of $2 million. The bridal party attire was designed by Giorgio Armani. Andrea Boccelli performed at the ceremony. And getting married at a castle, for God's sake makes your own fire hall reception seem a bit drab, doesn't it? The TomKat wedding ranks on Forbes' list of the most expensive, lavish weddings of any celebrity.
Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar. (March 2, 2007,Cost: 2.5 million)
Actress and model Elizabeth Hurley wed Indian textile heir Arun Nayar in 2007 in a $2.5 million, eight-day celebration spanning Europe and Asia. The couple was married in Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, Britain for Hurley's family and friends, then again in Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, India for Nayar's people. Elton John gave Hurley away. Other guests at these lavish ceremonies included Elle Macpherson, Donatella Versace, and Evelyn Lauder. Guess Hurley put some of that Estee Lauder money to good use! Think Hugh Grant would have shelled out that much to marry her?
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills (June 11, 2002, Cost: $3 million)
Former Beatle Paul McCartney spent $3 million to say Love me do to Heather Mills in 2002 in Glaslough, Ireland. Three hundred guests witnessed the ceremony, which included fireworks, a pageant, and a grand feast. Traditional Indian dancers performed for the couple, who spent their wedding night on a $20 million yacht. Unfortunately, all of this extravagance didn't carry over into the marriage, which ended in 2008. The wedding ended up being A Hard Day's Night for McCartney, who shelled out that much and still had to pay Mills a whopping $50 million in the divorce.
Liza Minelli and David Gest (March 16, 2002 Cost: $3.5 million)
In one of the most flamboyant and strangest wedding ceremonies of recent memory, David Gest married Liza Minelli on March 16, 2002 at Manhattan's Collegiate Church, to the tune of $3.5 million. Over 850 guests attended, including Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, and Natalie Cole. The 6 foot tall, 12 tier cakes was spectacular, at a cost of $40,000. More than $700,000 was spent on flowers alone. Sadly, the wedding didn't last more than a year, as this odd couple divorced in 2003.
Delphine Arnault and Alessandro Vallarino Gancia (September 24, 2005, Cost: Over $7 million)
Delphine Arnault, the daughter of French businessman Bernard Arnault, married Alessandro Vallarino Gancia, of the Gancia wine dynasty, in 2005 at the Cote d'Azur, France. This affair is said to have cost over $7 million. Her gown wasn't bought off the rack at David's Bridal it was created by famed fashion designer ohn Galliano. The wedding venue was decorated with 5000 white roses. Famous wedding guests included Elizabeth Hurley and Karl Lagerfeld. Harper's Bazaar called this spectacular wedding 2005's Wedding of the Year.
Wayne Rooney and Colleen McLaughlin (June 12, 2008 Cost: $15 million)
The wedding of television presenter/product endorser Colleen McLaughlin and Manchester United/England football star Wayne Rooney took place in Portofino, Italy on June 12, 2008. Although their wedding was quite expensive, at 10 million, the couple was reportedly able to recoup 5 million of that amount through a deal with Britain's OK! Magazine, allowing them to publish exclusive wedding information and pictures. The festivities turned into a four-day celebration on a yacht, with 64 guests flown in on five private jets. Whats really odd about this wedding is that the couple had a simple civil ceremony and served pizza at the reception...but all the accoutrements (like the dress, designed by Georgia Chapman's Marchesa label which cost a reported 3 million itself) added up.
Vikram Chatwal and Priya Sachdev (February 18, 2006, Cost: $20 million)
The son of a New York hotelier, Vikram Chatwal married model/actress Priya Sachdev in February 2006 during a 10-day celebration spread across three Indian cities (Mumbai, Udaipur, and Delhi), costing an estimated $20 million. Six hundred guests from 26 countries attended the nuptials, and were flown in on private chartered jets. Guests included Bill Clinton, Naomi Campbell, and P. Diddy. Makes your own guest list of 150 seem tiny in comparison, doesn't it?
Aleksandra Kokotovic and Andrei Melnichenko (September 3, 2005, Cost: $30 million)
Russian billionaire and founder of MDM Bank Andrei Melnichenko tied the knot with former Miss Yugoslavia and Serbian model Aleksandra Kokotovich in 2005 at Cote D'Azur, France, to the tune of $30 million. Rather than having a church soloist or your cousin Debbie sing at the wedding, this ceremony included performances by Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston, both of whom were flown in on private jets and given an estimated $3.6 million each to perform.
Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia (November 18, 2006 Cost: $78 million)
The record-holder for the world's most expensive wedding to date is the nuptials of Vanisha Mittal (daughter of billionaire Lakshmi Mittal) and investment banker Amit Bhatia. This wedding took place at Vaux le Vicomte, a 17th-century chateau in France, in 2004. The elaborate, outrageous wedding has been honored by Forbes' Magazine as one of the most expensive weddings, and currently ranks in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most expensive wedding ever recorded, with $78 million spent. The wedding went on for five days, and included extravagances such as invitations sent out in a 20 page silver book, 100 different dishes prepared by a top Calcutta chef, a wine tab of $1.5 million, and 1000 guests on hand to witness the world's most expensive wedding ceremony ever.
