Celebrity Gossip - Celebrity Scandals

Of the top twenty most expensive celebrity weddings, 40 per cent ended in divorce which proves the words from the Beatles, ‘can’t buy me love’

Everyone wants their wedding day to be special, and celebrities who can afford it spend millions to make the party memorable for their guests as well as themselves. Celebrity weddings take an expert event planner and often the sky’s the limit for the budget. Because of the high public profile for such weddings, celebrity designers, chefs and spectacular venues are available for the famous. Of the top twenty most expensive celebrity weddings, 40 per cent ended in divorce which proves the words from the Beatles, ‘can’t buy me love’.



Speaking of the Beatles, the wedding of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills was one of the most expensive celebrity weddings. The estimated cost was between $3 million and $4.2 million. Married on June 11, 2002 at the St. Salvador Church in Monaghan near Castle Leslie which is an exclusive luxury castle in Ireland, they did not allow paparazzi. They sold pictures of their wedding to whomever would pay $1,600 each and donated the money to their favorite charities. There were 300 guests including Ringo Star, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John, Bill Clinton and many heads of state. The flowers cost $145,000, the cake cost $4,500 and the gown cost $40,000. The $150,000 fireworks were enjoyed by the guests while aboard a $20 million yacht.



Far from excluding the paparazzi, Liza Minnelli and David Gest brought Manhattan to a standstill on March 16, 2002 because of the limousines lining up to deliver guests to the church. Guests included Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lauran Bacall and Mia Farrow and they had to make their way through the crowd of photographers. The wedding cost $4.2 million including the gown for $45,000, the flowers for $700,000, the six foot cake for $40,000 and the staff needed for the event for $150,000. The best man and maid of honor were Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor respectively. The entertainment was provided by Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole. At the time, this wedding left even the big spenders of Hollywood in awe.

Kate Middleton and Prince William top this list at $70 million and hopefully with a happier ending. The wedding ring was $136,000, the cake was $78,000, the dress was between $300,000 and $400,000, the flowers were $800,000 and the wedding reception cost $600,000. There were hotel rooms for many guests at $550 per night. This wedding needed police protection which cost overtime and holiday pay for approximately $33 million. Other costs include the music which was provided by The Chapel Royal Choir, the Westminster Abbey Choir, the Central Band of the Royal Air Force Fanfare Team and The London Chamber Orchestra among others.

Expensive weddings are not only part of the lifestyle of celebrities. There are other marriages of the children of royalty, industrialists and politicians from around the world who have hugely expensive weddings. A few of the items included in such weddings are 12 charted jets, luxurious gift bags, 45 chefs and nightclubs rented out across the city for their guests private use.

Sandra is a gossip columnist for a number of local magazines and online publications. She loves both weddings and celebrities and lives for when the two are combined. She's attended weddings at a number of glamorous wedding venues Sydney has showcased to the world and enjoys every moment of those special days.