Weddings are primarily recognised as ceremonies and festivities that signify the union of two individuals through marriage - but they can also serve as a platform for showcasing wealth, social standing, and cultural importance.
The custom of organising lavish wedding ceremonies has grown over the past few decades, with socialites and celebrities throwing lavish receptions to commemorate their union.
Amazon owner Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez could soon join the list with their upcoming multi-day Venice wedding celebrations.
Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger, and Ivanka Trump are reported to be on the guest list.
Let's take a closer look at some of the most expensive weddings of all time,
Khadija Uzhakhovs and Said Gutseriev - $1 billion
Russian heiress Khadija Uzhakhova and oil heir Said Gutseriev currently hold the record for the most expensive wedding ever.
The wedding reportedly cost $1 billion, and the couple got married in Moscow in March, 2016. The media tycoon and oil magnate Mikhail Gutseriev, the groom's father, paid for the whole thing reportedly.
A retinue of opulent Bentleys drove the couple's loved ones to the restaurant location. The room was filled from floor to ceiling with ornate arrangements of fresh flowers when they arrived.
The bride wore a couture Elie Saab wedding dress with elaborate beading, which allegedly weighed 28 pounds. The newlyweds cut into a nine-foot wedding cake that loomed over the guests during the event.
But what about the entertainment? Sting, Enrique Iglesias, and Jennifer Lopez all gave performances throughout the incredible celebrations. For private parties, JLo is reported to cost about $1 million each hour.
The evening concluded with a vibrant fireworks show, and guests took home personalised jewelled boxes as souvenirs.
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant - $600 Million
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia, wed Radhika Merchant in Mumbai in 2024.
The ceremony was one of the most costly in history, with an estimated price tag of $600 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The festivities for the wedding began in January 2024. In May, it featured a Backstreet Boys and Katy Perry concert on a European ship, as well as a traditional Sangeet night in Mumbai featuring Justin Bieber.
High-profile attendees at the closing event included Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, along with a host of other international leaders.
Wearing a 5-metre head veil, a tissue shoulder dupatta, and an ivory Zardozi skirt with a trailing design, the bride was styled by Rhea Kapoor. Sequins and stones were used all over the ensemble. The bride wore a set of diamonds that had been worn at the weddings of her mother, sister, and grandmother.
Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal - $100 million
The Ambani family has a flair for extravagance as another sibling makes the list.
On December 12, 2018, in Mumbai, India, Isha Ambani married financier Anand Piramal, the son of billionaire Ajay Piramal. John Legend sang at the couple's Lake Como engagement party to kick off the wedding festivities.
Formal wedding invitations were sent to guests in flower-filled boxes that, when opened, played music. The celebrations were held in the Ambani family's 27-story Mumbai house, which was decked up in flowers.
For the event, the bride donned a specially designed lehenga with a train that was 65 feet long. The estimated total value of Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal's wedding is reportedly $100 million.
Amit Bhatia and Vanisha Mittal - $55 million
Over the course of their wedding weekend in 2004, the pair transformed the Palace of Versailles into their own playground. The bride's father chartered 12 private jets to transport the 1,000 guests on their guest list throughout the course of the six-day extravaganza.
The schedule, which included a concert by Australian pop star Kylie Minogue, fireworks in front of the Eiffel Tower, and a ceremony in the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, was laid out in a 20-page invitation that was silver-plated. Over 100 meals were created by some of India's top chefs, and the wine price alone came to almost $2 million.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana - $48 million
On July 29, 1981, Prince Charles married Diana Spencer in front of millions of people worldwide at St Paul's Cathedral. The royal wedding is estimated to have cost around $48 million, or roughly $166 million when adjusted for inflation.
The fairytale wedding was a spectacle that came with an equally extravagant price tag. The soon-to-be couple celebrated with a gala at Buckingham Palace prior to the wedding day, which ended with a fireworks show that illuminated London.
