From Caviar Walls To Elvis Impersonators: Secrets From Celebrity Weddings
When we mere mortals get married, it might take us years to save up for the big day. But the sky's the limit for megarich celebrities who want to say “I do” in style. So what exactly can you expect to find at a couple's wedding for whom money is no object? A wall made entirely of caviar? Check. A headdress featuring 2,000 Swarovski crystals. You betcha. Dogs trained as wedding attendants? Why the heck not? Here are some of the coolest, kookiest, and most extravagant details from behind-the-scenes of celebrity weddings.
1. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt had a wall of caviar
One of the most famous celebrity weddings of all time was that of Friends star Jennifer Aniston and A-List Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. It would all end in divorce five years later, but their extravagant nuptials took place on July 29, 2000, at a Malibu estate with 200 friends and a host of celebrities in attendance.
There to celebrate and see the couple exchange heartfelt vows were Aniston’s co-stars Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow, plus Ed Norton, Cameron Diaz and Salma Hayek, among others.
Estimated cost: $1 million
Pitt and Aniston’s dream Malibu wedding cost a reported $1 million. A portion of that money was spent on security and fireworks, whilst another wedge was frittered away on 50,000 flowers and special candles that were imported from Thailand. Aniston’s dress was a silk-and-satin beaded gown designed by Lawrence Steele.
Another chunk of that sizable change was, as actor Michael Rapaport later revealed, spent on a caviar wall. Rapaport told Andy Cohen in 2023, “I was at Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's wedding. They had a wall of caviar. I still have some saved over.”
2. Princess Diana and Prince Charles had over 3,000 guests
One of the most famous weddings of all time was that of King Charles III — back then plain old Prince Charles — to Lady Diana Spencer, who that day became Princess of Wales. But it wasn’t just one of the most famous wedding ceremonies, it was also one of the most lavish and expensive ever.
The royal nuptials took place on July 29, 1981, and a whopping 3,500 guests came into town to celebrate with the couple, while roughly 750 million watched on TV. Those there in person included world leaders from across the globe, the wife of President Ronald Reagan, Nancy, and most of Europe’s major royalty, with the exception of Spain.
Estimated cost: $110 million
As you might expect, no expense was spared for the wedding of Charles and Diana.
For starters, Diana had a luxurious dress designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, which featured 10,000 pearls and a 25-foot-long train. It is believed to have cost over $100,000.
Besides that, the royal couple had a frankly ridiculous 27 wedding cakes made for the occasion. Adjusted for inflation and everything, it is estimated that the wedding would have cost $110 million.