The World's Most Expensive Weddings of All Time

It's no secret that weddings can cost a pretty penny, no matter how much you plan and budget accordingly. But some lucky brides and grooms have taken it to a whole new level with their unlimited big-day budgets, earning them a spot on the list of the most expensive weddings of all time.

From celebrities to billionaires, these couples seriously splurged on their nuptials—we're talking up to eight figures here (yes, you read that right). Because, naturally, if you've found the one and have the budget to blow, why not celebrate with a wedding for the books?

Although there's nothing wrong with a reasonably-priced wedding celebration (who doesn't love a good deal?), these historic nuptials feature the likes of 10-foot-tall wedding cakes, custom couture wedding dresses, and even $75,000 worth of flowers alone (we're looking at you, Brad Pitt).

Starting small (er, small-ish) and working our way toward the highest priced over-the-top wedding blowouts, check out some of the most expensive weddings to date below. These price tags seem almost too high to be true.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston

Our '90s hearts were always rooting for this pair, who walked down the aisle in July 2000 in a million-dollar wedding at a Malibu estate. As for their budget breakdown, the couple spent about $100,000 on security for the big day, which included restricting the airspace around the venue (gotta have their privacy), and dropped another $75,000 on florals (because what would a wedding be without tens of thousands of dollars worth of flowers?). The bride and groom also splurged on multiple musical performers, including a six-piece band, and they ended the wedding with a bang (literally), with $20,000 worth of fireworks to close out the monumental evening. The pair announced their split in 2005, but both Brad and Jennifer are currently single, giving us a little glimmer of hope for round two.

Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky

The eight-time bride had her fair share of weddings, but her nuptials to Larry Fortensky took the over-the-top cake. For her eighth (and final) wedding in 1991, the Old Hollywood actress spared no expense, raking in an estimated $1.5 million bill, which her close friend Micheal Jackson covered the majority of. A large percentage of the budget most likely went to hiring event security, which included 100 security guards and a former Israeli army officer. The bride sported a $25,000 Valentino gown as she said "I do" at Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Santa Ynez Valley, California. A wedding of such epic proportions naturally equates to equally standout guests, and the list included stars like Eddie Murphy, Diane von Furstenberg, Macaulay Culkin, and Brooke Shields. Unfortunately, the couple divorced five years later.

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas

This couple's wedding bash at the Plaza Hotel, in New York City, reportedly cost between $1.5 and $2 million. The bride wore a custom $140,000 Christian Lacroix gown, hand beading and all. But, that's nothing compared to her tiara, which allegedly cost $300,000. The actor duo also reportedly hired 50 rent-a-cops for the big day, and guests were required to present their invitations, which had been decked out with invisible ink and holograms to avoid any wedding crashers.

Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman

In honor of finding her sweet talkin', sugarcoated candy man, the "Genie in a Bottle" singer splurged on a $2 million affair in December 2005. Aguilera's dress alone cost a cool $30,000, which is more than what most people spend on their entire weddings in general. Although the duo divorced in 2011, their Napa Valley wedding featured a winter wonderland theme. The bride enlisted the help of wedding planner Michael Gapinski to decorate the estate venue with costly birch trees, white faux fur, chandeliers made from tree branches, and centerpieces with hydrangeas, roses, and amaryllis.

Sargis Karapetyan and Salome Kintsurashvili

Son of a Russian billionaire, Karapetyan wed his bride at an estimated $2 million wedding in 2016. Their nuptials featured flower walls galore, massive centerpieces, and a reception hall decked out to look like a woodland forest. Kintsurashvili wore not one, but three couture gowns and accessorized with a diamond Tiffany & Co. tiara. The luxury doesn't end there—none other than Maroon 5 performed at the reception, which reportedly cost between $500,000 and $800,000. It's getting "Harder to Breathe" imagining such a massive wedding band bill.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Unsurprisingly, this notoriously extravagant couple also broke the bank to wed in style. Although cost estimates for their epic weekend-long celebration vary, Kimye most likely spent at least $2.8 million on their lavish nuptials. The affluent lovebirds kicked the pre-wedding festivities off in Paris and then flew their guests to Florence via private jets (duh), where they rented their venue, Forte di Belvedere, for $400,000. Kim also donned two gowns for her big day, one of which was a $500,000 custom-made, couture Givenchy gown. Hotel accommodations for their 200 guests in both Paris and Florence most likely racked up a half a million dollar bill, as well.

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

You can't always get what you want...unless you're marrying a former Beatles band member and have a $3 million budget. McCartney and Mills said "I do" in 2002, with a castle in Glaslough, Ireland as their venue of choice. The couple tried to keep their nuptials under wraps (perhaps kicking off the surprise celeb wedding trend?), but they parted ways in 2008, leading to a divorce settlement that cost more than the wedding itself.

Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky

Coming in hot with another estimated $3 million wedding, Clinton and Mezvinksy wed in July 2010 at the Astor Courts Estate in Rhinebeck, New York. Clinton donned two Vera Wang gowns, and the designer actually attended the wedding herself. The first dress is estimated to cost $20,000, and the couple reportedly splurged $500,000 on flowers, $600,000 on tents to decorate the 13,000-foot venue space, and $200,000 on security.

Aleksey Shapovalov and Ksenia Tsaritsina

With an estimated $8 million engagement ring, you can bet your bottom dollar the corresponding wedding would be equally as extravagant. Russian oligarch Aleksey Shapovalov said "I do" to model Ksenia Tsaritsina in a multi-million dollar affair in August 2017, according to Bravo. The newlyweds enjoyed an eight-tier cake suspended in midair, hundreds of flowers, and even acrobats. The bride wore two gowns—an off-the-shoulder beaded number for the ceremony, and a lacey gown with matching veil for the reception.

Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto

The basketball and Space Jam star's second wedding to model Yvette Prieto in April 2013 reportedly racked up a $10 million dollar bill. The couple held the 300-guest wedding at Bear's Club in Jupiter, Florida, with celebs like Tiger Woods and Spike Lee in attendance. Plus, Jordan and his bride enjoyed live performances from Usher, K'Jon, and Robin Thicke. Prieto wore a J'Aton Couture wedding dress, decked out in Swarovski crystals, which probably cost top dollar.

Lolita Osmanova and Gaspar Avdolyan

When you're the daughter of a Russian energy big shot marrying the son of a millionaire, a $10 million wedding is just a given. Osmanov and Avdolyan tied the knot at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where the Oscars are held (no biggie). The couple decked out the venue with $500,000 of flowers and a gold aisle. As for entertainment, Jason Derulo and Lady Gaga lent their vocal talents to the newlyweds, which reportedly cost $2 million alone (looks like Gaga won't be performing at the rest of our weddings).

Angelababy

This Chinese socialite, whose custom Dior gown will go down in history as being one of the most expensive wedding dresses ever, tied the knot in a $31 million ceremony. Known as the "Kim Kardashian of China," Angelababy's nuptials to actor Huang Xiaoming included a venue entirely decked out in roses, a 10-foot tall wedding cake with a carousel middle layer, and over-the-top goodie bags for guests (think cell phones and flowers). Her wedding dress also blows most out of the water, featuring a a 10-foot train and 100 hand-cut, Chantilly lace roses. Casual.

Prince William and Kate Middleton

A wedding fit for is destined to have a huge price tag attached, and Will and Kate's 2011 nuptials were no exception. In fact, $32 million went toward security alone (God save the Duke and Duchess!). The royal wedding itself totaled $34 million (let that soak in), and Kate stunned in a $434,000 Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles

And, of course, yet another royal wedding tops the list, ranking in as one of the most expensive weddings to date. Denoted the "wedding of the century," the People's Princess and her groom said "I do" in 1981 in true royal fashion...with a $48 million bill, that is. Which, after inflation, would probably cost closer to $110 million today, according to Business Insider (that's a lot of zeroes). It's no easy feat putting an exact price tag on Princess Di's iconic puff-sleeve David and Elizabeth Emanuel wedding gown, but it's estimated to be worth as much as $150,000. Just like Will and Kate, the pair also had to spend big bucks on heightened security for their wedding. Plus, having 27 wedding cakes was also a major contribution to their hefty budget.