How Much These A-List Celebrity Weddings Really Cost

Celebrity weddings are lavish affairs that include all the bells and whistles fans can only dream of. They reflect a fairytale celebration of all the finest things life has to offer and easily attract worldwide attention as famous figures splurge on all their favorite things. Marie Claire reported that many celebrities face the very high cost of the security that is required to host a party of this magnitude, and this is especially true for royal celebrations. High-powered couples often select the finest food, florals, décor elements, and fashions that money can buy for their big day, all of which drive the price tag way up.

Fans love taking in the sights of multi-million dollar weddings and are impressed by the sheer opulence they involve. The rich and famous have the financial means to indulge in all their favorite things for their wedding day, and the possibilities for upgrades are endless. Weddings that have topped the "most expensive" list include the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, as well as Prince Charles and Princess Diana. These big-budget festivities often include jaw-dropping dresses with enormous trains and veils that keep fans talking for months, according to Brides.

Some lavish wedding celebrations resulted in the couples spending a significant amount of money for a union that ultimately resulted in divorce, as was the case for Kim Kardashian and Kris Humpheries, among others. Let's take a look at just how much these A-list celebrity weddings actually cost.

Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was an absolute spectacle for fans of the royal family, and it attracted viewers from all over the world. They spent an exorbitant amount of money to execute their perfect wedding day, with the celebrations racking up a $43 million bill that primarily went toward security. The focus was on keeping the happy couple and their guests safe at all costs, and it's estimated that nearly $40 million was spent on security alone, according to the Daily Mail. The royals tied the knot at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in May in a very emotional moment, according to Hello!, so the security efforts seem to have paid off.

Other expenses included 20 silver-plated trumpets that were secured for $125,000 and a $70,000 cake from Violet Bakery in East London. The couple reportedly also spent upwards of $150,000 on flowers, according to Fox Business.

British publication Bridebook estimated that the other big ticket items included the cost of Markle's Clare Waight Keller wedding gown, which is said to have been designed for $286,000. The couple reportedly also spent a small fortune installing a PA system and on flags and banners to help include the swarms of fans who lined the streets. Roughly 2,640 people were invited to enjoy the experience from the grounds of Windsor Castle, while 600 of the couple's closest friends stayed to enjoy the main reception. 200 additional guests were invited to the after party.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' wedding cost $10 million and, in true reality TV fashion, the cameras were rolling as the happy couple planned and prepared for every single detail. In fact, the only cameras allowed in to capture the vow exchange were those from E! Entertainment. The reality star and NBA player only dated for six months before their wedding ceremony that was later aired as a two-part special on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," per The Hollywood Reporter.

The over-the-top Montecito wedding was attended by some big names in Hollywood, including Lindsay Lohan, Eva Longoria, George Lopez, Kathy Lee Gifford, Ryan Seacrest, Mel B, and close friend of Kardashian, Serena Williams. Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind and Fire performed live. Kardashian's wedding ring was a 20.5 carat stunner worth $2 million. Kardashian also spent $150,000 on her hair for her wedding day, as well as Lehr & Black crystal-embellished invitations that cost $10,000. Her dress was designed by Vera Wang and accented by Nicole Richie, per People. Kardashian wore two other Vera Wang dresses throughout her wedding, as well, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Interestingly, Kardashian profited from this wedding and didn't have to pay out of pocket. Discounts and freebies were offered to the high-profile couple and media outlets such as People paid upward of $1.5 million to them for details and photos of the big day, per The Hollywood Reporter. The couple broke up 72 days after they said "I do."

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel reportedly spent a jaw-dropping $6.5 million on their wedding, and they made some unconventional plans along the way, by Hollywood's standards. Instead of making a huge spectacle of their nuptials, the pair tied the knot in an intimate celebration in southern Italy and were surrounded only by their closest friends and relatives, according to Radar Online. Their plans included a number of pre-wedding festivities with their loved ones, and, of course, there were some big celebrities in attendance. Jimmy Fallon, Timbaland, and Questlove were among those who enjoyed the wedding celebrations that included fireworks, bike rides, and a number of small parties that spanned over a number of days, per Popsugar. Guests of the superstar couple enjoyed the very best that Italian cuisine had to offer, including lobster in turnip tops, steak, sea bass, and the classic Italian dessert, affogato.

Biel indulged in the finest of fabrics for her special day and spent $100,000 on a custom pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown and veil, while Timberlake was dressed in a sharp Tom Ford tuxedo, according to Popsugar.

"I had a little bit of butterflies," Biel told People. She went on to explain what it felt like for her as she prepared to walk down the aisle. "I was about to stand up in front of my friends and family and bare my soul for the person I love. It was terribly emotional," she said.

Former President Bill Clinton's only child, Chelsea Clinton, married her longtime boyfriend, investment banker Marc Mezvinsky, in a stunning $3 million wedding at the Astor Courts estate in New York. The hefty price tag for this celebration embraced extreme security measures to ensure the privacy and safety of all those who were lucky enough to attend the event. The BBC reported that a no-fly zone was put in place above the Hudson valley and guests arrived in chauffeured limousines on roads that were closed to the public. The July 31, 2010 event was a low-key gathering of Clinton and Mezvinsky's closest friends and family members, and the couple opted against inviting the who's-who in the world of celebrities in favor of a more intimate affair, according to ABC News. Prominent figures who made the guest list included Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Vernon Jordan, and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.

The 400 guests who were invited were surrounded by a harpist, stunning visual décor elements, and were given a gift bag full of wine from a local vineyard, according to ABC News. The gift bags also included peaches and a personal note from the bride and groom.

Clinton wore a strapless ivory silk gown designed by Vera Wang. Her dress boasted dainty silver beading on the waist and was one of two dresses that she wore for the evening. The party reportedly went on until 3:00 a.m.

Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky met at the Betty Ford Clinic in 1998. "Elizabeth was in there for pills, I was in there for beer," Fortensky told People in an exclusive interview. "I knew who she was, of course, but I can't tell you that I remember watching any of her films," he said. "Of course, she was very pretty, and I wasn't too bad looking in those days, either. We had an instant physical attraction." That attraction led them down the aisle, as Fortensky became Taylor's eighth, and last, husband.

Columnist Liz Smith was the only reporter permitted to attend the ceremony of Taylor and Fortensky and she opened up to The Washington Post about all the elegant details of this reportedly $1.5 million wedding. The couple married on October 6, 1991 at 5:00 p.m. at Neverland Valley, the ranch belonging to Taylor's long-time friend, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. They exchanged their vows under a white gazebo while guests sat under the sun and were surrounded by a white grand piano and four violinists. Famous fashion designer Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani is said to have helped Taylor get into the dress he designed for her before she walked down the aisle.

The Economic Times reported that Taylor and Fortensky sold their wedding photographs to a magazine for $1 million and the money went toward establishing Taylor's AIDS Foundation.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt celebrated their wedding day while surrounded by a high-caliber guest list that included Courteney Cox; Cox's then-husband, David Arquette; David Schwimmer; Mili Avital; Matthew Perry; and Lisa Kudrow. Edward Norton attended with Salma Hayek and Cameron Diaz and David Spade also took in the luxe affair, per People. A massive team of workers transformed a 5-acre Malibu property the couple rented for the celebration, erecting tents around the estate and completely customizing the space to reflect Aniston's personal preferences. Elegant florals from La Premiere of Beverly Hills and brown sugar candles shipped in from Thailand graced the tables.

Guests were treated to a performance by Melissa Etheridge, who sang an acoustic version of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," accompanied by actor Dermot Mulroney, who played the mandolin, People reported. Music enveloped the magical evening and included a Greek bouzouki band that played traditional music.

The Mirror reported the airspace above the property was restricted, and tents were constructed in an effort to secure Aniston and Pitt's privacy. It is reported that guests were asked to sign confidentiality agreements and traffic control was provided by Los Angeles County sheriffs. Aniston wore a floor-length silk and satin gown designed by famed Milan designer Lawrence Steele that was paired with ivory suede heels by Manolo Blahnik. The celebration included a gospel choir for the ceremony and a six-tier cake, all of which cost the couple a cool $1 million.