Inside the world's most expensive billion‑dollar weddings from Jeff Bezos to Anant Ambani

Time of India

4 days ago

Weddings are a symbol of love and unity, but for the ultra-rich, they transform into grand spectacles of unmatched luxury, prestige, and mind-boggling expense. From royal unions watched by billions around the world to private, invitation-only celebrations featuring million-dollar gowns and performances by global superstars, these lavish affairs push the boundaries of extravagance.
Whether hosted in palaces, castles, or 27-story mansions, these weddings spare no detail from diamond-studded invitations to billion-dollar price tags.
According to Britannica reports, explore some of the most lavish weddings of the 21st century, prepare to be amazed by the sheer scale, celebrity lineups, and fairytale settings that make these events not just personal milestones, but historic and cultural moments in their own right.
10
Most luxurious weddings in the world
Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos (2025)
Location: Venice, Italy
Estimated cost: $10 million
The highly anticipated wedding of journalist Lauren Sánchez and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is set to take place in Venice in late June 2025. With an estimated 200 guests expected, the event promises luxury and exclusivity. However, the lead-up to the celebration hasn't been without controversy—Venetian locals have voiced concerns through protests, claiming that the city's transformation into a lavish wedding destination has made it increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible for residents.
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Said Gutseriev and Khadija Uzhakhova (2016)
Source: Pinterest
Location: Safisa Banqueting Hall, Moscow
Estimated cost: $1 billion
At only 20, Khadija Uzhakhova wed Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Gutseriev's son, Said Gutseriev, in what is reportedly the most-costly wedding of our time. The bride walked in a 28-pound Elie Saab crystal and custom-beaded gown, which made it hard for her to walk on her own.
The Moscow site was turned into a floral fantasy, and flowers blanketed every surface of the walls and ceilings. Guests were driven to and from the venue in a posse of luxury cars, and the entertainment roster looked like a Grammy lineup: Jennifer Lopez, Sting, and Enrique Iglesias sang, with fees said to be over a million dollars per show.
The nine-tiered towering cake was the last word in a wedding characterized by unthinkable extravagance.
Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani (2024)
Location: Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai
Estimated cost: $600 million - $1 billion
Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, were India's response to monarch-level extravagance. Extending over several months and with multiple celebrity-studded events, this wedding was as much about cultural observance as it was a display.
The invitees included the likes of Kim Kardashian, Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra, and even British ex-PM Tony Blair.
More than 60 flower animal sculptures were made using over one million flowers. Global concerts at every event were created through performances by international musicians like Rihanna, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, and Justin Bieber.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles (1981)
Source: Vogue
Location: St. Paul's Cathedral, London
Estimated cost: $48 million (equivalent to about $166 million today)
Nicknamed "The Wedding of the Century," the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles was a fairy tale observed by the world. Diana's dress, created by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, contained 10,000 pearls and a 25-foot train.
Pre-wedding festivities involved a gala at Buckingham Palace and a huge fireworks display. The real wedding reception was quite small with only 120 guests but every aspect of the lavishness was apparent, from serving 27 cakes to global audiences.
Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal (2018)
Source: Vogue
Location: Antilia, Mumbai
Estimated cost: $100 million
Isha Ambani, daughter of Mukesh Ambani, celebrated her wedding with Anand Piramal in a multi-day spectacle that began with an engagement at Lake Como, Italy. John Legend performed at the lakeside event, while Beyoncé headlined a private concert at the Udaipur City Palace.
The wedding ceremony was held at the Ambanis' skyscraper Mumbai home, Antilia, which was covered in flowers enough to blanket its 27 stories. The invitations were flower boxes filled with sacred mantras. As a charitable offering, food was served to 5,000 residents for four days.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (2018)
Source: BBC
Location: Windsor Castle, England
Estimated cost: $45 million
American actress Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry bridged Hollywood and British royalty. Seen by almost 2 billion viewers worldwide, the ceremony included a minimalist Givenchy wedding dress priced at $265,000 and renditions of orchestras, gospel choirs, and Elton John.
Almost $40 million was used to secure the couple and guests, which reflects the high-stakes part of royal rituals in today's modern world.
Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia (2004)
Source: Forbes
Location: Paris, France
Estimated cost: $60 million
Lakshmi Mittal's daughter, Vanisha Mittal, hosted her wedding to Amit Bhatia in a seven-day Parisian dream. The ceremony took place over famous sites such as the Palace of Versailles and Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. Guests traveled first class and were accommodated in five-star hotels.
Invitations arrived in silver packages, and entertainment comprised Kylie Minogue and Eiffel Tower firework displays. The wine alone cost a whopping $1.5 million.
Kate Middleton and Prince William (2011)
Location: Westminster Abbey, London
Estimated cost: $33 million
As Prince William wed Kate Middleton, the world marveled. Her Alexander McQueen wedding gown included lace embroidery and a 9-foot train. Westminster Abbey was adorned with eight indoor trees and thousands of flowers at a cost of almost $800,000.
Following the official ceremony, a royal luncheon was hosted by Queen Elizabeth, with an evening reception courtesy of Prince Charles.
The chocolate biscuit groom's cake was a sentimental personal flourish.
Angelababy and Huang Xiaoming (2015)
Source: SCMP
Location: Shanghai Exhibition Center
Estimated cost: $31 million
The wedding of Chinese actress Angelababy and actor Huang Xiaoming was live-streamed and contained a Dior dress made up of lace roses and layers of tulle. Only their 10-foot wedding cake and 2,000 guest list were rivaled by the high-tech show, complete with a holographic castle. The pair also gave their guests high-end electronics as presents.
Although they split in 2022, their wedding is still a pop-culture standard for wedding excess in Asia.
Petra Ecclestone and James Stunt
Source: SCMP
Location: Castello Odescalchi, Bracciano, Italy
Cost: $19 million
Petra Ecclestone, daughter of Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone, married businessman James Stunt in a lavish three-day celebration at the 15th-century Castello Odescalchi, overlooking Italy's Lake Bracciano. Petra wore a Vera Wang gown valued at over $125,000. After the ceremony, Andrea Bocelli performed for the newlyweds, followed by a champagne reception. The extravagant event featured fireworks and musical performances by the Black Eyed Peas and Eric Clapton.
The couple later divorced in 2017.