They say, money can’t buy happiness. Sure, it’s definitely true when it comes to a marriage, for which the foundation is (and should be) love, loyalty, and shared moments and memories. But the case gets reversed, when you speak of weddings. For celebrations, where budgets play a pivotal part, money can surely help you put together a super extravagant wedding. And when your budget is limitless, the possibilities of creating the wedding of your dreams is endless.
Ahead, we take you inside the biggest billionaire weddings of the last decade, where royalty, business tycoons and celebrities seriously splurged on their nuptials. Because, naturally, if you’ve found the one and have the budget to blow, why not celebrate with a wedding for the books?
Khadija Uzhakhovs and Said Gutseriev’s Wedding: $1 billion
The wedding of Khadija Uzhakhovs and Said Gutseriev is said to have surpassed every extravagant one there ever was. How did they pull off you ask? The groom is oil billionaire and media tycoon Mikhaeil Gutseriev’s son, who married 20-year-old student Khadija Uzhakhovs in Moscow in March 2016.
Venue: The couple sealed the deal at the luxurious Safisa Restaurant in Moscow. Every single surface was dripping in grandiose and pomp. The hall and lawns were decked up in swathes of fresh flowers.
Dress: The bride wore an haute couture Elie Saab wedding dress covered in ornate beading, which reportedly weighed 14 kilos and cost a million.
Wow factor: No expense was spared, no leaf unturned. The entertainment included performances by Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias and Sting. A dazzling display of fireworks wrapped up the evening. The guests were gifted fine jewels for favours.
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Wedding: $600 million
A performance by global icons like Rihanna and Justin Bieber, hundreds of dishes, a guest list with some of the most influential names in the world and a multi-million-dollar budget… Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding is one for the books.
Venue: The couple got married in a three-day wedding and reception in July 2024 at the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai, owned by the Ambani family. Some of the best wedding vendors put together a setup second to none.
Dress: Radhika’s bridal trousseau featured a series of wedding couture, from Manish Malhotra to Tarun Tahiliani. Her actual wedding lehenga was a bespoke piece by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. An exquisite interpretation of Panetar, it was covered with zardozi work and precious gemstones.
Wow factor: The couple kicked off their pre-wedding festivities a year prior with a cruise from Palermo to Portofino, followed by their prestigious three-day pre-wedding in Jamnagar.
Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal’s Wedding: $100 million
Only second to Anant Ambani’s wedding is his sister Isha Ambani’s wedding with industrialist Anand Piramal. The multi-day, multi-event, multi-million dollar wedding is estimated at over INR 700 crores. The guest list included names like Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, Aamir Khan, Gauri Khan, Ayan Mukerji, to name a few.
Venue: In September 2018, the couple officially celebrated their engagement overlooking the picturesque Lake Como in Italy. The grand pre-wedding celebrations were hosted in Udaipur, Rajasthan. They got married at the bride’s residence Antilia in Mumbai that was decked decorated with millions of fresh blooms.
Dress: Isha wore a custom lehenga by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla for her big day. The bridal ensemble was a 16-panelled ghagra in two shades of off-white, where each panel was hand-embroidered, and was accentuated with alternating Mughal jaalis combined with floral panels in the finest zardozi, vasli, mukaish and nakshi work. She rounded it off with an heirloom sari, draped as a dupatta.
Wow factor: Among the many extraordinary elements, a highlight was the wedding invitation that was an emotional tribute to their grandparents. The floral-themed invite was decorated with a wreath of flowers, it featured a chant, and the Om symbol around a monogram comprising the couple’s initials. On opening, the card played the Gayatri Mantra.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Wedding: $45 million
Just like Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s nuptials, their sons had two of the most expensive weddings of all time. Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle, which cost $45 million soirée, is touted as one of the most watched weddings too.
Venue: The couple’s fairy tale wedding took place on May 19, 2018, at St. George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The ceremony was a blend of tradition and modernity, and welcomed 600 guests.
Dress: Instead of a princess gown, Meghan opted for a custom piece by designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The sculptural outfit was brought to life using double bonded silk cady that was sourced after extensive research across mills in Europe. The pure white gown was complemented with a 16.5-foot silk tulle veil, which was embroidered with flowers representing all 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
Wow factor: Meghan and Harry made their day their own. While they abided by many of the royal traditions, after the ceremony Harry emerged in a classic tux while Meghan wore a Stella McCartney evening gown and the two drove themselves to the reception in a classic Jaguar convertible.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Wedding: $33 million
After fans got swept off their feet by the couple’s ‘royal falls for commoner’ love story, they fell in love with their fairy tale, royal wedding. More than 23 million viewers worldwide tuned in to the televised broadcast.
Venue: The royal couple’s wedding took place in Westminster Abbey in 2011, followed by a traditional carriage ride. A whopping $800,000 worth of fresh flowers decorated the venue, but it was the $32 million security fee that took up most of the couple’s wedding budget.
Dress: The now, Duchess of Cambridge, wore a delicate, lacey Alexander McQueen creation made in collaboration with the designer Sarah Burton, which accounted for $434,000. A lace bodice and long sleeves of embroidered flowers lent itself to a full skirt with a delicate veil held in place by the Cartier tiara.
Wow-factor: At the royal wedding reception at Buckingham palace, pop star Ellie Goulding performed in front of the newly-weds and their guests. They also relished an indulgent menu featuring fresh crabs, Hebridean langoustines, North Highland organic lamb from his organic farm, and an eight-tier fruit cake.
Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Wedding: $11.5 million
In December 2017, when actress Anushka Sharma and cricketer Virat Kohli posted picture from their Tuscany wedding, the world was in a tizzy.
Venue: The duo tied the knot at Borgo Finocchieto, a heritage village-turned-boutique-property that dates back to the 13th-century. The 22 suite and room property was perfect to accommodate their 45 guests.
Dress: Anushka wore a blush Sabyasachi lehenga, which served as a great departure from the traditional reds. The hand embroidered lehenga took 67 karigars and 32 days to be completed. It featured motifs of lotus flowers, as well as exotic birds and butterflies in gold and silver tilla work.
Wow factor: The couple exchanged vows under a deconstructed mandap, comprising lots of fresh flowers and lanterns. The wedding decorator, Devika Narain “chose a palette of lavender, soft pink and powder blue. The setting was inspired by the idea of growth and prosperity and designed like an overgrown garden. Our teams worked tirelessly for 45 days with flowers flown in from Holland and intricate fabrics from India to create this magical wedding.”
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin’s Wedding: $8 million
When George Clooney, often touted as the “eternal bachelor” got married to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, fans couldn’t keep calm. The couple sealed the deal in a gorgeous destination wedding in Italy.
Venue: In 2014, Barrister, Amal Alamuddin, married Hollywood heartthrob, George Clooney. The nuptials were exchanged in the seven-star Aman Canal Grande Hotel. Elegant floral arches and an abundance of white roses provided a romantic and luxurious setting.
Dress: Amal wore an off-the-shoulder Oscar de la Renta lace dress, handcrafted with pearls and dusted with crystal. The look was complemented by a matching cathedral-length veil.
Wow factor: It’s rumoured their wedding featured 600 bottles of tequila! But if that’s not your drink of choice, being flown out to Venice, and staying in a luxury hotel, courtesy of the bride and groom, should be enough to put a smile on your face…
