Weddings are undoubtedly the most anticipated union of not only two individuals but also of their families. Though the traditions and cultures vary across boundaries, the matrimony ceremonies are always extravagant worldwide, be it in India or America. The sky is usually the limit for ultra-rich families when it comes to weddings. So, have you ever wondered how much money these luxurious weddings cost?
From royalties to business tycoons, here are some of the most expensive weddings that the world has ever witnessed. Earlier, Prince Charles and Lady Diana held the world record for the most expensive wedding in the world, but their record is now smashed by another royalty. Read on to find out who.
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This 2004 wedding is one of the most expensive weddings in India's contemporary times. Vanisha Mittal is the only daughter of Indian billionaire, Laxmi Mittal. For the wedding, the steel tycoon threw a grand six-days-long celebration in the historic 17th-century Chateau Veaux le Vicomte near Paris. The wedding invites were silver plated, and all the guests were booked free accommodation in the Intercontinental Paris – Le Grand.
Celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Akshay Kumar, Rani Mukherji, Juhi Chawla and Saif Ali Khan were all in attendance at the wedding, and even the Eiffel Tower was lit up to celebrate the union. The wedding was recorded as the most expensive wedding in the world under the Guinness Book of World Records. However, Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia are now happily mrried with kids.
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Mining baron, Gali Janardhan Reddy's daughter, Brahmani, tied the knot with industrialist Vikram Deva Reddy's son, Rajeev Reddy, in November 2016. The Reddy couple spent US 74 million dollars on their wedding. It was also reported that the couple sent LCD-screen invites to their guests and had their wedding venue created by film set designers.
The bride, Brahmani, donned a red and gold kanjivaram saaree estimated to be worth around USD 2.3 million, which is INR 17 crore. Her jewellery is reportedly made purely of diamonds and rubies, and the total worth of her wedding ornaments is estimated to be around USD 12 million.
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The Ambani family needs no introduction, not only are they the wealthiest family in India, but they are also one of the leading business tycoons of the world. In 2018, Mukesh Ambani got his youngest daughter, Isha, married with such extravagance that the world was in awe. The couple kickstarted their wedding festivities with their daytime engagement ceremony in Italy's Lake Como. All of their wedding festivity outfits and jewellery were custom couture pieces and are estimated to cost in crores.
For the wedding, the Ambani family sent gold invites to their guests, and the bride was decked in a custom Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla outfit, which was gold embroidered and cost around USD 12 million. The entire Bollywood and political fraternity were invited to the wedding festivities and it even included performances from industry biggies like Beyonce, John Legend, Shah Rukh Khan and more.
How can royalties not be a part of the list when we are talking about expensive weddings? King Charles and Lady Diana got married back in 1981 with 35,000 guests in attendence to witness the royal union. Diana walked down the aisle in an unique USD 46,785 worth ivory silk gown, which is, to date, is one of the most expensive wedding gowns ever worn by any royalty. The dress was designed by British duo, Elizabeth and David Emanuel, who enhanced it with lace, hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls.
The entire Buckingham Palace was decked for the occasion, and 27 cakes were presented to the royal couple. Fireworks and beacons lit up not only the whole palace but the entire estate to welcome the new couple. The palace spent USD 600,000 solely on security of the royal wedding, which, along with the other expenses, made this the most expensive wedding of the world at that time. The cost of the wedding was later estimated to be around USD 100 million.
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The Sahara group leader, Subroto Roy, in 2004 threw the most lavish wedding in India. Right before his business went downhill, Subroto Roy married off his two sons, Seemanto Roy and Sushanto Roy, in Lucknow. The double nuptial ceremony alone cost Sushant Roy a whopping USD 75 Million. The wedding guest list had 11,000 people, including Bollywod stars, Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.
The Taj Group of Hotels catered the wedding food. At the same time, the entertainment part was taken over by the British Symphony Orchestra and the Shiamak Davar dance group. Designers Rohit Bal and Sabyasachi designed for the bride and groom and the entire family. Along with such extravagances, Subroto Roy fed 150,000 homeless people, and the tycoon sponsored the wedding of 101 underprivileged girls.
The royal Emirati wedding of the king of Dubai, Sheikha Hind Bint bin Maktoum to his cousin, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum takes the crown for being the most expensive wedding in the world. The ruler of Dubai, Bin Rashid, married his first cousin, Princess Sheikha, in 1979 in an extravagant affair. Their wedding was a week-long, and the royalty had even declared five days of holiday in the state to celebrate their union. There were 20,000 guests invited to the ceremony, and bejewelled camels were sent to deliver gifts to each one of them.
This is the only wedding in history where Dubai's national Air Wing performed a public flying display of aerobatics. The wedding was a massive affair in Dubai, but inside pictures of the ceremony were never released in the media.
Let us know your views on the most expensive weddings in the world and which of the above is your favourite.
Next Read: 8 Sabyasachi Brides Who Donned Soft And Light-Weight Sarees On Their Wedding Festivities
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