How Much These A-List Celebrity Weddings Really Cost

Celebrity weddings are lavish affairs that include all the bells and whistles fans can only dream of. They reflect a fairytale celebration of all the finest things life has to offer and easily attract worldwide attention as famous figures splurge on all their favorite things. Marie Claire reported that many celebrities face the very high cost of the security that is required to host a party of this magnitude, and this is especially true for royal celebrations. High-powered couples often select the finest food, florals, décor elements, and fashions that money can buy for their big day, all of which drive the price tag way up.

Fans love taking in the sights of multi-million dollar weddings and are impressed by the sheer opulence they involve. The rich and famous have the financial means to indulge in all their favorite things for their wedding day, and the possibilities for upgrades are endless. Weddings that have topped the "most expensive" list include the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, as well as Prince Charles and Princess Diana. These big-budget festivities often include jaw-dropping dresses with enormous trains and veils that keep fans talking for months, according to Brides.

Some lavish wedding celebrations resulted in the couples spending a significant amount of money for a union that ultimately resulted in divorce, as was the case for Kim Kardashian and Kris Humpheries, among others. Let's take a look at just how much these A-list celebrity weddings actually cost.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana married in one of the most lavish wedding celebrations in history. The couple commanded worldwide attention with their royal wedding, which took place at St. Paul's Cathedral, straying from the royal tradition of exchanging vows at Westminster Abbey, according to The Smithsonian. The majority of their expenses went to hiring security for the event, which is said to have cost $600,000 (the equivalent of $1.7 million today). Diana's ivory silk taffeta gown was custom designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel and was covered in 10,000 pearls. The stunning dress also featured a 25-foot train, according to Insider. The dress contained a well-kept secret that the princess didn't even know about while it was being made. David and Elizabeth sewed in a golden horseshoe trinket that was studded with diamonds for good luck, according to People. In today's market, Harper's Bazaar pegs the dress to be worth around $449,000.

Nearly 3,500 guests were in attendance to witness opulence at its finest. VIP guests included then-First Lady Nancy Reagan; the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly; and then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, per Insider. Reportedly, only 120 of these guests were selected to enjoy the dinner reception.

They also spent money on the cake. It weighed 225 pounds and stood 5 feet tall, according to Insider. There were also 27 gourmet cakes for the VIP guest list to select from. All in all, the then-Prince of Wales' wedding cost the crown $48 million.

Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was an absolute spectacle for fans of the royal family, and it attracted viewers from all over the world. They spent an exorbitant amount of money to execute their perfect wedding day, with the celebrations racking up a $43 million bill that primarily went toward security. The focus was on keeping the happy couple and their guests safe at all costs, and it's estimated that nearly $40 million was spent on security alone, according to the Daily Mail. The royals tied the knot at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in May in a very emotional moment, according to Hello!, so the security efforts seem to have paid off.

Other expenses included 20 silver-plated trumpets that were secured for $125,000 and a $70,000 cake from Violet Bakery in East London. The couple reportedly also spent upwards of $150,000 on flowers, according to Fox Business.

British publication Bridebook estimated that the other big ticket items included the cost of Markle's Clare Waight Keller wedding gown, which is said to have been designed for $286,000. The couple reportedly also spent a small fortune installing a PA system and on flags and banners to help include the swarms of fans who lined the streets. Roughly 2,640 people were invited to enjoy the experience from the grounds of Windsor Castle, while 600 of the couple's closest friends stayed to enjoy the main reception. 200 additional guests were invited to the after party.

There's nothing quite like a royal wedding, but along with the big fashion labels and big celebrity names in attendance, a massive price tag is often involved to cover the exorbitant costs. Prince William and Kate Middleton exchanged vows in an opulent affair on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London after being engaged for a little over five months, according to People. They reportedly dished out somewhere in the range of $34 million for their luxurious wedding, and by far the most substantial expense they incurred was the cost of security. Marie Claire reported that the droves of royal security guards required to ensure the safety of all in attendance cost the couple roughly $31 million.

Westminster Abbey revealed that Middleton's dress was another high ticket item. She wore a stunning lace and ivory wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen, which was accented by a bouquet of myrtle, lily-of-the valley, sweet William and hyacinth. The dress cost upward of $350,000, according to Marie Claire. The stunning gown also had a secret blue ribbon sewn into it as Middleton's "something blue," which was a nod to Princess Diana, who had the same accent sewn into her dress on her wedding day, according to Vogue. Guests of this royal affair included foreign royals, Commonwealth officials, and celebrities, including David Beckham and Sir Elton John, according to Westminster Abbey.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' wedding cost $10 million and, in true reality TV fashion, the cameras were rolling as the happy couple planned and prepared for every single detail. In fact, the only cameras allowed in to capture the vow exchange were those from E! Entertainment. The reality star and NBA player only dated for six months before their wedding ceremony that was later aired as a two-part special on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," per The Hollywood Reporter.

The over-the-top Montecito wedding was attended by some big names in Hollywood, including Lindsay Lohan, Eva Longoria, George Lopez, Kathy Lee Gifford, Ryan Seacrest, Mel B, and close friend of Kardashian, Serena Williams. Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind and Fire performed live. Kardashian's wedding ring was a 20.5 carat stunner worth $2 million. Kardashian also spent $150,000 on her hair for her wedding day, as well as Lehr & Black crystal-embellished invitations that cost $10,000. Her dress was designed by Vera Wang and accented by Nicole Richie, per People. Kardashian wore two other Vera Wang dresses throughout her wedding, as well, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Interestingly, Kardashian profited from this wedding and didn't have to pay out of pocket. Discounts and freebies were offered to the high-profile couple and media outlets such as People paid upward of $1.5 million to them for details and photos of the big day, per The Hollywood Reporter. The couple broke up 72 days after they said "I do."

Michael Jordan proposed to his second wife, Yvette Prieto, with a jaw-dropping $1 million ring, and this set the tone for an equally exorbitant spending spree when they tied the knot, according to Hello!. The basketball legend and his supermodel wife dated for five years before Jordan proposed. The couple worked closely with event planner to the stars, Sharon Sacks, to create the perfect wedding day, and they spent a jaw-dropping $10 million to make their dreams come true. Jordan and Prieto exchanged vows at an extravagant ceremony at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea and were surrounded by fresh florals as their loved ones looked on. Their guests joined them under the tent at the Bear's Club in Jupiter, Florida, where they celebrated in style with incredible food in a fully decorated space, according to Us Weekly.

Prieto spared no expense when it came to her stunning J'Aton Couture wedding gown, which, according to Us Weekly, was a French silk creation adorned with Swarovski crystals. Three hundred guests joined in the celebration and were surrounded by crystal candelabras and fresh floral arrangements. Celebrity guests included Tiger Woods, Spike Lee, and Patrick Ewing. There was live entertainment and special performances by Robin Thicke, K'Jon, and Usher as part of the wedding celebration. USA Today reported the night ended with fireworks. Jordan reportedly stayed true to his charitable roots and asked his guests to donate to the James R. Jordan Foundation in lieu of wedding gifts.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel reportedly spent a jaw-dropping $6.5 million on their wedding, and they made some unconventional plans along the way, by Hollywood's standards. Instead of making a huge spectacle of their nuptials, the pair tied the knot in an intimate celebration in southern Italy and were surrounded only by their closest friends and relatives, according to Radar Online. Their plans included a number of pre-wedding festivities with their loved ones, and, of course, there were some big celebrities in attendance. Jimmy Fallon, Timbaland, and Questlove were among those who enjoyed the wedding celebrations that included fireworks, bike rides, and a number of small parties that spanned over a number of days, per Popsugar. Guests of the superstar couple enjoyed the very best that Italian cuisine had to offer, including lobster in turnip tops, steak, sea bass, and the classic Italian dessert, affogato.

Biel indulged in the finest of fabrics for her special day and spent $100,000 on a custom pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown and veil, while Timberlake was dressed in a sharp Tom Ford tuxedo, according to Popsugar.

"I had a little bit of butterflies," Biel told People. She went on to explain what it felt like for her as she prepared to walk down the aisle. "I was about to stand up in front of my friends and family and bare my soul for the person I love. It was terribly emotional," she said.

George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin in a luxurious celebration in Italy, and they spent nearly $3 million just in accommodations for their star-studded guest list. The couple paid for an estimated 95 hotel rooms at Cipriani, including the Palladio Suite and Dogaressa Suite, which cost $9,000 and $8,000 a night, respectively, E! News reported.

The couple rented out The Aman for their reception, which is believed to start at $250,000 a night for just the physical space. Chef Riccardo de Pra crafted a custom five-course Italian dinner, which cost $300 per person, according to E! News. A source close to the couple revealed their lavish, expensive floral order as well. "It depends on the final project, however Munaretto is quite expensive and for an excellent arrangement they will not take less than 200,000 euros or $250,000," they told E! News.

Guests included Cindy Crawford, Bono, Matt Damon, and fashion icon Anna Wintour, per The Hollywood Reporter. Jayne Seddon, the owner of Venice Events, detailed the cost of the boats used by Clooney and Alamuddin to transport their guests from one venue to another. She said usage of the boats cost "600 euros per boat for just two hours. As they had all of the boat drivers on standby for 3 days, literally day and night," the couple spent a minimum of $36,500 on boat rides alone, according to E! News. All in all, the A-list couple spent around $4.6 million on their special day.

Former President Bill Clinton's only child, Chelsea Clinton, married her longtime boyfriend, investment banker Marc Mezvinsky, in a stunning $3 million wedding at the Astor Courts estate in New York. The hefty price tag for this celebration embraced extreme security measures to ensure the privacy and safety of all those who were lucky enough to attend the event. The BBC reported that a no-fly zone was put in place above the Hudson valley and guests arrived in chauffeured limousines on roads that were closed to the public. The July 31, 2010 event was a low-key gathering of Clinton and Mezvinsky's closest friends and family members, and the couple opted against inviting the who's-who in the world of celebrities in favor of a more intimate affair, according to ABC News. Prominent figures who made the guest list included Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Vernon Jordan, and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.

The 400 guests who were invited were surrounded by a harpist, stunning visual décor elements, and were given a gift bag full of wine from a local vineyard, according to ABC News. The gift bags also included peaches and a personal note from the bride and groom.

Clinton wore a strapless ivory silk gown designed by Vera Wang. Her dress boasted dainty silver beading on the waist and was one of two dresses that she wore for the evening. The party reportedly went on until 3:00 a.m.

When reality TV star and business mogul Kim Kardashian married famous rapper and fashion designer Kanye West (now known as Ye), their fans knew this was going to be a wedding to remember, and West and Kardashian did not disappoint. Their wedding was set against the stunning backdrop of Versailles in France where guests were treated to fine cuisine before they were whisked away in private planes and flown to Florence, Italy for a lavish ceremony and reception, according to Herald Weekly.

All eyes were on Kardashian as she walked down the aisle dressed in a stunning Vera Wang gown to the sound of Andrea Bocelli's voice. Their vows were exchanged in front of an oversized flower wall that cost $100,000. Celebrity wedding planner Jinane Kafrouny spoke to E! News about the cost of this luxe affair, which she says came in at $2.8 million. She estimated West and Kardashian spent nearly $400,000 to rent the historic Forte di Belvedere for their wedding ceremony. They reportedly spent $110,000 on catering and fed their 200 reception guests the very finest in cuisine. Richard Hurrell, aviation Flight Services Manager for Hunt & Palmer, estimates the private jet flights back and forth from Paris to Florence likely set the famous couple back about $74,000 per aircraft, according to E! News. Guests enjoyed high-end accommodations at the Westin Excelsior, where one night for 100 rooms could easily exceed a $68,000 price tag, E! News reported.

Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky met at the Betty Ford Clinic in 1998. "Elizabeth was in there for pills, I was in there for beer," Fortensky told People in an exclusive interview. "I knew who she was, of course, but I can't tell you that I remember watching any of her films," he said. "Of course, she was very pretty, and I wasn't too bad looking in those days, either. We had an instant physical attraction." That attraction led them down the aisle, as Fortensky became Taylor's eighth, and last, husband.

Columnist Liz Smith was the only reporter permitted to attend the ceremony of Taylor and Fortensky and she opened up to The Washington Post about all the elegant details of this reportedly $1.5 million wedding. The couple married on October 6, 1991 at 5:00 p.m. at Neverland Valley, the ranch belonging to Taylor's long-time friend, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. They exchanged their vows under a white gazebo while guests sat under the sun and were surrounded by a white grand piano and four violinists. Famous fashion designer Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani is said to have helped Taylor get into the dress he designed for her before she walked down the aisle.

The Economic Times reported that Taylor and Fortensky sold their wedding photographs to a magazine for $1 million and the money went toward establishing Taylor's AIDS Foundation.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner spent $1 million planning their 2009 wedding. In true Trump fashion, the couple's wedding was a huge party that included all the bells and whistles and was attended by 500 guests. Marie Claire reported that the massive celebration was planned and executed within three months, and several big names were in attendance to celebrate alongside the young couple at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Business Insider reported that politicians Rudy Giuliani and Andrew Cuomo were included on the VIP guest list, alongside fashion guru Anna Wintour. Other guests included Barbara Walters, Russell Crowe, and Natalie Portman, to name a few. Regis Philbin also attended the elegant affair, and was called upon to sing at the reception, according to People.

The evening included a number of expensive, personalized details and was overseen by celebrity event planner Preston Bailey, who helped coordinate the special features of the day's festivities. This included a jaw-dropping 13-layer cake that was said to have cost $70,000 alone. Of course, the dress was one of the focal points of the day. Trump walked down the aisle in a Vera Wang gown that was inspired by Grace Kelly.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt celebrated their wedding day while surrounded by a high-caliber guest list that included Courteney Cox; Cox's then-husband, David Arquette; David Schwimmer; Mili Avital; Matthew Perry; and Lisa Kudrow. Edward Norton attended with Salma Hayek and Cameron Diaz and David Spade also took in the luxe affair, per People. A massive team of workers transformed a 5-acre Malibu property the couple rented for the celebration, erecting tents around the estate and completely customizing the space to reflect Aniston's personal preferences. Elegant florals from La Premiere of Beverly Hills and brown sugar candles shipped in from Thailand graced the tables.

Guests were treated to a performance by Melissa Etheridge, who sang an acoustic version of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," accompanied by actor Dermot Mulroney, who played the mandolin, People reported. Music enveloped the magical evening and included a Greek bouzouki band that played traditional music.

The Mirror reported the airspace above the property was restricted, and tents were constructed in an effort to secure Aniston and Pitt's privacy. It is reported that guests were asked to sign confidentiality agreements and traffic control was provided by Los Angeles County sheriffs. Aniston wore a floor-length silk and satin gown designed by famed Milan designer Lawrence Steele that was paired with ivory suede heels by Manolo Blahnik. The celebration included a gospel choir for the ceremony and a six-tier cake, all of which cost the couple a cool $1 million.