Concerns about the cost of living, seem to be less significant when it comes to planning a wedding. In fact, according to insights from ASIC’s MoneySmart website, the typical expenditure for weddings in Australia during 2024 was up to $51,000.
Similarly, basic budgets don’t appear to apply to these couples. Who all enjoyed a no-expenses-spared celebration to the start of married life! From extravagant venues to opulent decorations, these weddings are not just about the union of two souls but serve as showcases of all things luxury.
- Priya Sachdev to Vikram Chatwal
In a lavish celebration spread across 10 days and three Indian cities, hotelier Vikram Chatwal and former investment banker-turned-model Priya Sachdev hosted a grand wedding. With 600 guests flown in privately from 26 countries, the event spared no expense. The festivities included a traditional Sikh ceremony, a Mughal-court-inspired white party, and a pool party at a historic fort. Despite costing a whopping $US20 million and featuring high-profile guests like Bill Clinton and Naomi Campbell, the couple parted ways just five years later in 2011.
2. Sheikha Hind Bint bin Maktoum to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Before “Dubai Bling” there was the opulent Emirati wedding of royal Bin Rashid’s to his first cousin, Princess Sheikha. An affair which has previously clinched the title for the most expensive wedding globally. In 1979, this extravagant affair commanded a staggering $US45 million, spanning an entire week and prompting a five-day nationwide holiday. Facing the challenge of accommodating over 20,000 guests in Dubai, the family constructed a bespoke venue and adorned it with traditional musicians and dancers. A fleet of 20 camels bedecked with jewels was enlisted to deliver gifts to the bride. To replicate such grandeur today, the estimated cost would soar close to $US137 million.
3. Huang Xiaoming and Angela Yeung Wing
When influencer Angela Yeung, aka “Angelababy,” decided to tie the knot with actor Huang Xiaoming in October 2015, the result was one of the world’s most extravagant weddings. Held at the Shanghai Conventional Centre, the ceremony featured a screening of the couple’s Parisian pre-wedding film. With Angelababy showcasing her Elie Saab gowns. The $US1.5 million Chaumet ring stole the show, boasting a five-carat pear-shaped diamond. Angelababy’s custom Christian Dior gown, which took five months to create, also dazzled with its intricate details. With 2,000 guests, including Hong Kong’s top celebrities, the event was a spectacle, complete with a 10-foot-tall wedding cake and a month-long crafted carousel-shaped dessert. Despite the viral success, the couple parted ways in 2022.
4. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Despite the drama that has since followed them, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding marked a significant moment in modern British politics. With the American actress, bringing a refreshing change to the royal family with her biracial background, symbolising a departure from traditional norms. The world witnessed their historic union at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. With 600 hand-selected guests and thousands more in the royal gardens, alongside millions tuning in globally. The star-studded guest list included politicians, royalty, and Hollywood celebrities such as George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, James Corden, and Sir Elton John. Estimates suggest the wedding injected a staggering $1.27 billion into the British economy, with significant contributions from foreign tourists and merchandise sales.
For her last televised appearance as Miss Markle, Meghan wore a stunning silk organza gown designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. This was complemented by Cartier jewellery and makeup by Dior artist Daniel Martin. The bridal expenses, along with costs for the cake, florist, and catering, were footed by the British royal family. And amounted to approximately $US63,740, $140,230, and $364,590, respectively. The wedding also featured two choirs, an orchestra, chapel organist Luke Bond, and fanfare trumpeters. Making for the perfect musical backdrop for the occasion, a an estimated grand total of $US63 million.
5. Khadija Uzhakhovs and Said Gutseriev
If you think previous weddings cost much then hold your breath: how about $1 billion for a wedding? That is how much the wedding of Russian oil baron and billionaire Mikhail Gutseriev son Said and Khadija Uzhakhovs cost. It took place at Safisa Banquet Hall in Moscow. Only Khadija’s dress cost $1 million and weighed 25 kilograms due to diamonds and custom beads emblazoned on her dress. J.Lo, Sting and Enrique Iglesias even entertained their guests.
