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We all dream about marrying the person we love, but most of us plan on doing so at modest venues surrounded by close friends and family members. The weddings of the wealthy are a little different. From spending hundreds of thousands on flowers to hundred-dollar slices of cake, here are eight celebrity couples whose weddings cost more than most of us are worth.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding was as extravagant as you might expect. In fact, the couple is said to have spent $34 million on it. A lot of that money went into security, but the duo also paid massive sums for everyday wedding items.
They’re said to have paid $80,000 for their wedding cake — which comes out to about $134 per slice. William and Kate’s flowers set them back the most. The duo reportedly spent $800,000 to spread them across the procession route and wedding venue.
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin
Outside of the royal wedding, few nuptials in recent years have garnered the level of attention George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin received when they tied the knot. The A-list celebrity and human rights lawyer spent approximately $4.6 million on their big day.
The main expense was around $3 million as the pair put their guests up at the iconic Hotel Cipriani. Rooms cost $5,000 or more per night and the couple reserved 95 rooms for three nights each.
Clooney and Alamuddin also paid $250,000 for their venue, $300,000 to produce the wedding and at least several hundred thousand dollars on flowers. Add to that the cost of Alamuddin’s dress, catering and other associated expenses and you get to a price tag that’s more than many will earn in a lifetime.
Sir Elton John and David Furnish
When Elton John tied the knot with long-time boyfriend David Furnish in 2014, the couple went all out to throw an unforgettable wedding. They’re said to have spent around $2.2 million on the event, even though they saved money by hosting it at their mansion in Windsor.
John and Furnish invited over 600 guests to their home to celebrate. Attendees included David and Victoria Beckham, Donatella Versace and other international stars.
Reports share that the couple spent nearly $200,000 on caviar and champagne alone. It must have been some party!
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Another pop culture wedding event was the 2014 marriage of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. The now-divorced duo reportedly spent $12 million to tie the knot.
Around $500,000 of that went toward Kim’s wedding dress, which was designed by Riccardo Tisci, the creative director of Givenchy at the time. She complimented the dress with a pair of $40,000 Balmain heels.
The wedding took place in a picturesque Italian villa, which cost Kim and Kanye $410,000 to rent. They had opera star Andrea Bocelli sing after the ceremony, which estimates suggest may have cost them as much as $1.3 million.
Kanye even spent $478,000 on a 230-foot marble table for the wedding reception. The designer of the table said it was so big, they had to lift it to the venue by crane in 22 pieces.
David Beckham and Victoria Adams
Although a slightly older event, the 1999 marriage between David Beckham and Victoria Adams was a tabloid reporter’s dream. Beckham was soccer’s biggest star, and Adams was just as popular as a member of The Spice Girls.
The pair reportedly spent $1.5 million in today’s dollars on the event, which took place at a castle in Dublin. Adams spent $100,000 on her dress, which was designed by Vera Wang. They spent even more to change outfits several times throughout the reception.
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For those who remember it as it was happening, it may be strange to hear that the couple’s son followed in their footsteps with his marriage. Twenty-three-year-old Brooklyn Beckham married Nicola Peltz in a ceremony that’s said to have cost $3 million or more.
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise
When Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise got married in 2004, it was one of the most talked-about events of the year. The couple rented out the Odeschalchi Castle in Italy for a multiday celebration that supposedly cost over $3 million. That’s nearly $5 million in today’s dollars.
The couple had a reception full of Hollywood A-listers, plus a candlelit dinner serenade from Andrea Bocelli. Holmes wore two dresses on her special night — each designed by Giorgio Armani. One featured a lace design with Swarovski crystals that supposedly took 350 hours to place.
Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello
“Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara made the tabloids when she married fellow actor Joe Manganiello. The couple spent $3 million over three days to host the lavish affair at the Breakers Palm Beach Resort.
The wedding had more than 400 guests in all, including celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Vergara’s “Modern Family” co-stars. The duo is said to have honeymooned at an exclusive resort in the Caribbean after the ceremony, which surely increased their final price tag by tens of thousands.
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
In 2012, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were two of the biggest stars in Hollywood. The couple reportedly spent $6.5 million to fly their friends and family out to a historic villa in Italy. Before the wedding began, guests were treated to beach parties, firework displays and live concerts on the beautiful Italian coast. Guests included many celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon, Andy Samberg and Questlove. Biel’s dress for her big day reportedly cost around $100,000. It’s yet another example of how celebrities aren’t just like us.
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