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    1. Celebrity

    The 50 Most Expensive Celebrity Wedding Dresses of All Time

    A cool $500,000 could get you a Kardashian-worthy gown.

    Ruby Buddemeyer's avatar
    By Ruby Buddemeyer
    Published 4 December 2017 In Features

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    Kate Middleton wedding dress
    (Image credit: Getty)
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    In the spirit of obsessing over things we can't afford, we combed through every celebrity wedding for a ranking of the 50 most expensive gowns of all time. See them all, ahead, including the simple, the gorgeous, and the ridiculous.

    #50 Jacqueline Kennedy
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #50 Jacqueline Kennedy

    Although one of the most influential wedding dresses of all time, Jacqueline Kennedy's elaborate gown cost only $500. The original dress was destroyed 10 days prior to the ceremony, forcing designer Ann Lowe to remake the entire ensemble. 

    #49 Crystal Harris
    (Image credit: Instagram: @kvanderhambeauty)

    #49 Crystal Harris

    In 2013, Crystal Harris auctioned off her Romona Keveza Couture gown to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The dress was set at $1,000, but has an estimated worth of $7,500.

    #48 Nicole Johnson
    (Image credit: Instagram: @australianweddingrings)

    #48 Nicole Johnson

    In her wedding to Michael Phelps, Johnson wore a $10,000 gown by Julie Vino.

    #47 Heather Mills
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #47 Heather Mills

    The $11,000 price tag of Heather Mills's wedding gown was revealed when designers Caroline Davis and Annie Brown accused the model of not giving them their promised publicity.

    #46 Ronda Rousey
    (Image credit: Instagram: @rondarouseyfans1)

    #46 Ronda Rousey

    Ronda Rousey's gorgeous Galia Lahav gown has an estimated worth of approximately $13,000.

    #45 Dianna Agron
    (Image credit: Instagram: @gleecastnew)

    #45 Dianna Agron

    The Glee actress sported a $20,500 off-the-runway Valentino dress for her alternative wedding.

    #44 Julianne Hough
    (Image credit: Instagram: @valencienneto)

    #44 Julianne Hough

    The dancer wore a fairytale-like, custom Marchesa gown worth approximately $20,000.

    #43 Nicole Kidman
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #43 Nicole Kidman

    Nicole Kidman's Balenciaga gown is worth an estimated $20,000. The actress later donated the dress for an Australian art exhibit, saying, "I'll support anything that supports love."

    #42 Nicole Richie
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #42 Nicole Richie

    Richie walked down the aisle in a $20,000, long-sleeve Marchesa gown.

    #41 Chelsea Clinton
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #41 Chelsea Clinton

    The First Daughter settled on a $20,000, strapless Vera Wang gown for her big day.

    #40 Audrey Hepburn
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #40 Audrey Hepburn

    While filming Roman Holiday, Hepburn had a wedding dress made by the Fontana sisters for her upcoming marriage to James Hanson. The actress and Hanson split before the wedding, and Hepburn ended up donating the dress to a local Italian girl. In 2009, the dress was auctioned off for $23,000.

    #39 Kim Kardashian
    (Image credit: Instagram: @kardashklique)

    #39 Kim Kardashian

    It's reported that Kim K. had a selection of three Vera Wang dresses for her 2011 wedding to Kris Humphries, each costing $25,000.

    #38 Mariah Carey
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #38 Mariah Carey

    For the singer's epic 1993 wedding to Tommy Mottola, Carey wore a $25,000 Vera Wang gown.

    #37 Elizabeth Taylor
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #37 Elizabeth Taylor

    Elizabeth Taylor wore a $25,000 pale-yellow gown to her eighth and final marriage to Larry Fortensky.

    #36 Katharine Hepburn
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #36 Katharine Hepburn

    The wedding gown Hepburn wore to her 1928 wedding to Ludlow Ogden Smith was auctioned off for $27,000 in 2004.

    #35 Alexandra Lenas
    (Image credit: Instagram: @themodestbride)

    #35 Alexandra Lenas

    Sean Parker and Alexandra Lenas's wedding was equal parts outrageous and expensive. Lenas's Elie Saab Haute Couture dress reportedly cost $30,000.

    #34 Christina Aguilera
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #34 Christina Aguilera

    The singer wed Jordan Bratman in a $30,000 Christian Lacroix gown.

    #33 Jessica Simpson
    (Image credit: Instagram: @weddingandbride)

    #33 Jessica Simpson

    Jessica Simpson chose a Carolina Herrera dress for her wedding to Eric Johnson. The dress reportedly cost $30,000.

    #32 Princess Diana
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #32 Princess Diana

    One of the most talked about dresses of all time, Princess Diana wore an elaborate silk taffeta gown adorned with lace, hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. While the dress was estimated to be worth $12,000 in 1981, the value is $34,000 today.

    #31 Myolie Wu
    (Image credit: Instagram: @myoliemyolie)

    #31 Myolie Wu

    The Hong Kong singer and actress wore a traditional, two-piece embroidered dress that cost approximately $36,000.

    #30 Whitney Houston
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #30 Whitney Houston

    Houston's $40,000 high-neck, custom Marc Bouwer dress was auctioned off at Heritage Auctions in 2016.

    #29 Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
    (Image credit: Instagram: @johnjohnkenned.y)

    #29 Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

    Bessette-Kennedy opted for an incredibly simple and chic Narciso Rodriguez gown. She reportedly had two fittings in Paris to ensure the $40,000, silk-crepe gown was perfect.

    #28 Liza Minnelli
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #28 Liza Minnelli

    The 3.5 million wedding of Liza Minnelli and David Gest called for a $45,000 Bob Mackie gown.

    #27 Lee Min-jung
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #27 Lee Min-jung

    South Korean actress Lee Min-jung sported a $45,000 Marchesa lace gown for her wedding.

    #26 Ivanka Trump
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #26 Ivanka Trump

    Trump wore a $50,000 Vera Wang gown inspired by Grace Kelly's iconic dress.

    #25 Keira Knightley
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #25 Keira Knightley

    In Knightley's first wedding reception, the actress opted for a Chanel dress that was already hanging in her closet (pictured, here). It was later discovered that Knightly had a secret, second ceremony in which she wore a custom Valentino gown with an estimated worth of $50,000.

    #24 Katie Holmes
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #24 Katie Holmes

    It took 350 hours to cover Holmes's Giorgio Armani dress with Swarovski crystals, which has an estimated worth of $50,000.

    #23 Elizabeth Taylor
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #23 Elizabeth Taylor

    Taylor sported a $50,000 gown for her first marriage in 1950, which was designed by MGM costume designer Helen Rose. In 2013, the dress was auctioned off for $188,175.

    #22 Tori Spelling
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #22 Tori Spelling

    Spelling wed Charlie Shanian in a gorgeous Badgley Mischka dress worth $50,000.

    #21 Jennifer Aniston
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #21 Jennifer Aniston

    Aniston wore a $50,000 Lawrence Steele gown to her 2000 wedding to Brad Pit.

    #20 Pippa Middleton
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #20 Pippa Middleton

    Middleton married James Matthews in a $52,000 Giles Deacon gown.

    #19 Kim Zolciak
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #19 Kim Zolciak

    The Real Housewives of Atlanta personality wore three dresses during her wedding, the most expensive of which was a $58,000, 32-pound gown by Baracci Beverly Hills.

    #18 Keely Shaye Smith
    (Image credit: Instagram: @onlypiercebrosnan)

    #18 Keely Shaye Smith

    Keely Shaye Smith wore a Grace Kelly inspired gown worth $60,000 to marry Pierce Brosnan.

    #17 Grace Kelly
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #17 Grace Kelly

    To this day, Kelly's dress remains a major inspiration for soon-to-be brides. The gown, designed by Helen Rose, cost an estimated $60,000. Summed up by Oscar de la Renta: "On her wedding day, Grace Kelly gave new meaning to the word icon."

    #16 Elizabeth Taylor
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #16 Elizabeth Taylor

    The vibrant, uniquely colored Gina Fratini dress Taylor wore to her second wedding to Richard Burton in 1975 was auctioned off for $62,500.

    #15 Nicky Hilton
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #15 Nicky Hilton

    Nicky Hilton graced the aisle in a $77,000 Valentino gown.

    #14 Madonna
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #14 Madonna

    Though there's a bit of speculation surrounding the true worth of Madonna's Stella McCartney wedding gown for her marriage to Guy Ritchie, it's estimated to be worth $80,000.

    #13 Madonna
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #13 Madonna

    The wedding dress that Madonna wore to her 1985 wedding to Sean Penn was auctioned off for $81,250 in 2014.

    #12 Melania Trump
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #12 Melania Trump

    Trump's Christian Dior wedding gown is worth $100,000, featuring crystal beadwork that took 500 hours to complete.

    #11 Victoria Beckham
    (Image credit: Instagram: @davidbeckham)

    #11 Victoria Beckham

    Beckham's Vera Wang gown came in at approximately $100,000. The fashion icon says the dress still remains in her closet, where it's on reserve for her daughter Harper.

    #10 Jessica Biel
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #10 Jessica Biel

    Biel opted for the prettiest, pale-pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown worth $100,000, which she wore down the aisle as Justin Timberlake serenaded her.

    #9 Coleen Rooney
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #9 Coleen Rooney

    Coleen Rooney wed soccer player Wayne Rooney in a $100,400 Marchesa dress.

    #8 Catherine Zeta-Jones
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #8 Catherine Zeta-Jones

    Catherine Zeta-Jones said "I do" to long-time husband Michael Douglas wearing a $140,000 Christian Lacroix gown.

    #7 Petra Ecclestone
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #7 Petra Ecclestone

    Daughter of Formula One billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, Petra sported a $140,000, Vera Wang gown at her elaborate, $20-million wedding.

    #6 Marie-Chantal Miller
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #6 Marie-Chantal Miller

    The Crown Princess of Greece wore a custom Valentino, pearl-encrusted gown. The dress took a team of 25 people to complete and is worth an estimated $225,000.

    #5 Mariah Carey
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #5 Mariah Carey

    Though Carey and James Packer never made it down the aisle, it's rumored the singer burnt her $250,000 Valentino gown in a music video.

    #4 Amal Alamuddin
    (Image credit: Instagram: @georgeandamal)

    #4 Amal Alamuddin

    Alamuddin looked stunning in a $380,000 custom-made Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton gown (taking only a small chunk of the couple's $4.6 million wedding budget).

    #3 Kate Middleton
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #3 Kate Middleton

    For the Royal Wedding we truly can't get over, Middleton opted for a $400,000, Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton dress.

    #2 Kim Kardashian
    (Image credit: Instagram: #the_wedding_enthusiast)

    #2 Kim Kardashian

    Leave it to Kim K. to top the Royals with a $500,000 Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy gown (paired with $40,000 Balmain heels, of course).

    #1 Victoria Swarovski
    (Image credit: Getty)

    #1 Victoria Swarovski

    Australian singer and crystal heiress Victoria Swarovski takes the cake for the most expensive wedding dress of all time. The gown was embellished with 500,000 crystals, costing an estimated $1 million. Excuse us while we go pick up our jaws.

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    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Ruby Buddemeyer
    Ruby Buddemeyer
    Social Links Navigation

    Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram.

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