Most Expensive Weddings in the World: Weddings are a time-honored tradition that celebrates the love and commitment between two people. While the average wedding cost in the United States was around $30,000 in 2023, some couples have gone above and beyond, hosting extravagant affairs that far exceed that price tag.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the 10 most expensive weddings in the world as of 2024. These lavish celebrations showcase the lengths that some couples will go to create their dream wedding day.
Most Popular Wedding of 2024
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant Wedding: $1 Billion
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia’s wealthiest man, Mukesh Ambani, married Radhika Merchant on Friday in Mumbai. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the ceremony was estimated at $600 million, making it one of the most expensive in history.
The wedding celebrations started in January 2024. It included a European cruise in May with concerts by Backstreet Boys and Katy Perry and a traditional sangeet night in Mumbai with a performance by Justin Bieber.
The final ceremony featured high-profile guests, including Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Shahrukh Khan, and numerous international dignitaries.
10 Most Expensive Weddings in the World
Here’s a list of the top 10 most expensive weddings in history, with price tags ranging from $33 million to $1 billion or more.
1. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant Wedding
Cost: $1 billion+ (2024):
It ranks as the most expensive weddings in the world. The pre-wedding festivities for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in 2024 featured Rihanna and numerous global celebrities.
2. Sheikha Hind Bint bin Maktoum and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Cost: $137 million (1979)
In 1981, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, married Princess Salama in a celebration that reportedly cost $137 million. The extravagant week-long event featured a 20-mile-long wedding dress adorned with gold and pearls, a 20,000-seat stadium for the reception, and fireworks visible for miles around.
3. Chandni Toor and Seemanto Roy; Richa Roy and Sushanto Roy
Cost: $123 million (2004).
In 2004, the double wedding of Sushanto and Seemanto Roy, the sons of the late Sahara Group Chief Subrata Roy, was one of the most expensive weddings in India. The wedding cost over INR 550 crore and had over 11,000 guests in attendance. The grand wedding took place in Lucknow.
4. Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles –
Cost: $115 million (1981)
The 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and is estimated to have cost $115 million. The grandeur of the occasion was evident in the 25-foot wedding train and a flyover by the Royal Air Force.
5. Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal Wedding
Cost: $100 million (2018)
According to reports, the 2018 wedding of Isha Ambani, daughter of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Anand Piramal cost an estimated $100 million, making it one of the most expensive weddings in the world.
The sheer scale, luxury, and star-studded guest list of Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal’s wedding cemented its place as one of the most expensive weddings ever held. It truly was a celebration befitting the scions of two of India’s most powerful business families.
6. Rajeev Reddy and Brahmani Janardhana Reddy
Cost: $74 million (2016)
This wedding lasted for 5 days in Bangalore, India, and featured multiple elaborate events and ceremonies.
According to reports, the 2016 wedding of Rajeev Reddy and Brahmani Janardhana Reddy in India cost an estimated $74 million, making it one of the most expensive weddings on record.
The extravagant wedding of the daughter of one of India’s prominent mining barons showcased the potential for Indian weddings to reach unprecedented levels of grandeur. The $74 million price tag cemented it as one of the most expensive weddings ever held.
7. Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia
Cost: $65 million (2004)
The 2004 wedding of Vanisha Mittal, the daughter of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, and Amit Bhatia reportedly cost $65 million. The extravagant six-day celebration took place in multiple locations across France, including the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte and the Palace of Versailles.
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8. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Cost: $63 million (2018)
The 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, UK. It is estimated to have cost $45 million, including expenses for security, floral arrangements, and other elements that contributed to the grand, globally televised affair.
9. Madelaine Brockway and Jacob Lagrone –
Cost: $59 million (2024)
Madelaine Brockway and Jacob LaGrone tied the knot on November 18. Videos from the lavish celebrations, reportedly costing $59 million, have gone viral on social media.
10. Kate Middleton and Prince William Wedding
Cost: $34 million (2011)
The 2011 wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, is estimated to have cost around £23.7 million (approximately $34 million at the time).
Despite the immense cost, the wedding was watched by a global television audience of an estimated 2 billion people, making it one of the most viewed events in history. The pomp and pageantry ensured it would be remembered as a landmark royal occasion.
Summary
These are just a few of the most extravagant and expensive weddings in recent history. While the vast majority of couples will never spend anywhere close to these amounts, the willingness of some to invest so heavily in their wedding day speaks to the significance and importance of this milestone event.
