Only 12% of American brides spend more than $40,000 on their wedding, according to the Knot.com--but some celebrities spend more than that on headwear. Here’s a look at some of the most lavish weddings to ever occur: (Reuters)
Prince Charles and Princess Diana
Held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the 1981 royal wedding is rumored to have cost between $30 million and $60 million. Princess Diana’s dress (which was actually too big for the carriage she rode to the church in) is said to have cost $9,000, while the cake is reported to cost $6,000. (Reuters)
Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky
The wedding of former first daughter Chelsea Clinton in July 2010 is estimated to have cost $3 million. Some of the funds went toward glass-walled tents, elaborate flower arrangements flown in from around the world and a menu of gourmet foods and wines that totaled more than $250 per person. Since many dignitaries were in attendance--the father of the bride included--security costs were estimated to top $200,000. (Reuters)
Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier
Kelly and her family had to provide Prince Rainier with dowry of $2,000,000 before the lavish wedding took place in April 1956. The couple had two weddings: a civil wedding (April 18) and a religious wedding (April 19) and it is reported the entire adult population of Monaco—3,000—was invited to a gala after the civil ceremony. Kelly wore a dress that took six weeks and 36 seamstresses to assemble and was presented a yacht from her new husband as a wedding gift. (Reuters)
Star Jones and Al Reynolds
In addition to hiring celebrity wedding planner David Tutera to take care of every detail of her special day, Star Jones wowed guests by wearing a 27-foot long crystal encrusted sheer veil.
R&B legend Patti LaBelle sang at the ceremony followed by a 60-person choir to serenade guests during the reception. Guests enjoyed lobster tail dinners and wedding cake filled with vanilla pudding. (Reuters)
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas
Rumored to have cost $1.5 million, this lavish wedding for 350 guests took place at New York City’s Plaza Hotel in November 2000. From the 40-member Welsh choir singing to the 20,000 cream-colored roses and the diamond tiara Catherine wore, the couple pulled out all the stops. The pair was serious about going big all around--the cake, which boasted 10 tiers, had to be disassembled just to make it through the ballroom doors. (Reuters)
Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills
In true royal wedding fashion, the former Beatle tied the knot in a castle for an estimated cost of $3.5 million in June 2002. The couple joined other A-list guests including Elton John and Eric Clapton at Ireland's Castle Leslie. After the vows, guests were treated to an elaborate fireworks celebration and an Indian feast on the castle grounds. (Reuters)
Liza Minnelli and David Gest
On March 16, 2002, 1,500 guests joined Minnelli and her groom for their wedding at the Marble Collegiate Church on New York’s Fifth Avenue. The bride wore a dress designed by Bob Mackie while guests enjoyed a musical performance from Natalie Cole and a lavish reception at the Regent Hotel on Wall Street. (Reuters)
Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar
This couple enjoyed two weddings-which is twice the fun, but twice the price. The first wedding took place at Sudeley Castle in England and the second at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India. Wedding celebrations lasted a week in India and guests were treated to accommodations in tents under the stars, complete with running hot water. (Reuters)
Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky
Though this wedding marked the seventh wedding for actress Elizabeth Taylor, there was no cutting corners. The bride sported a $25,000 Valentino gown and guests were treated to Dom Perignon and a five-tiered chocolate mousse cake. Held at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch in 1991, guests included Nancy Reagan, Liza Minnelli and Brooke Shields. (Reuters)
Eddie Murphy and Nicole Mitchell
More than 500 guests celebrated with the happy couple at the Plaza Hotel’s Grand Ballroom in March 1993, toasting their union with Cristal champagne. The bride’s 12-foot-long cathedral train and veil bedazzled with Austrian crystal made quite an impression on guests including Bill Murray, Wayne Newton, Chris Rock and Demi Moore. (Reuters)