What are the most expensive wedding dresses in the world? Topping the list is more expensive than an average Broadway musical production or a three-masted schooner. The Diamond Wedding Gown is what it is, a diamond-studded dress that will set you back by $12 million. We’ve updated the list for this year and, sorry, they are still, really, for most of us just a wedding in our dreams:
- The Diamond Wedding Gown – $12 million
- Yumi Katsura White Gold Dress – $ 8.5 million
- Peacock Wedding Dress – $1.5 million
- Danasha Luxury Gown – $1.5 million
- Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress – $388,088
- Mauro Adami Wedding Dress – $372,564
- Platinum Wedding Dress – $250,000
- 9,999 Carat Gems Wedding Dress – $158,874
- ‘Bach Ngoc Xiem Y’ Wedding Dress – $117,000
- Imperial Pearl Syndicate Gown – $100,000
Every bride spends a lot of time and money in selecting and buying an exquisite wedding dress. But have you ever wondered why a wedding dress is white? This tradition started with Queen Victoria who wore a white silk-satin and lace gown when she married Prince Albert in 1840. This dress shocked traditionalists as at that time white was considered a color of mourning and a red gown was usually worn by royals for their wedding. However, Queen Victoria’s white wedding dress struck a chord among women and this color has become the preferred choice for a wedding dress the world over.
The wedding dress in western culture has an interesting evolution and history reveals BBC.com. Contrary to popular thinking, the color white does not connote purity and many celebrities such as Gwen Stefani, Dita Von Treese, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Biel, and Anne Hathway have bucked the trend and followed their own style by choosing their wedding dresses in another color. Fashionistas have used the occasion of their wedding to make their own unique style statement. For instance, Audrey Hepbern wore a mini dress and head scarf, while Bianca Jagger adorned a white suit on their special day.
The global bridal wear market is driven by the popularity of the institution of marriage and the fact that millennials have reached marriageable age. Strategyr.com reports that the worldwide bridal wear market is predicted to exceed more than $73 billion by 2024. However, the rise of online stores has proved to be a dampener to the prospects and profits of conventional brick-and-mortar stores such as bridal salons. After their wedding, many couples hit a beach resort for their honeymoon. This means there is a good market for practical and beach-friendly honeymoon costumes.
Now that you know the fascinating facts behind the history of the wedding dress and its current market size, let’s take a look at the most expensive wedding dresses that have been designed for the styles and deep pockets of millionaires and billionaires.
#10 Imperial Pearl Syndicate Gown – $100,000
The model in the picture wearing this dress is Mary Joe Connolly, who was a photographer for King Features Syndicate. This wedding gown was estimated to be worth about 100,000 in the 1950s and today its value is more than half a million dollars. However, the money is for a good cause as the dress was donated for the benefit of a cancer fund by its designers.
This dress weighs about 27 pounds and has been modeled by a string of celebrities including Nina Foch, Diana Lynn, Gloria Swanson and others. These models swear that the dress seems to weigh more than that after they have worn it for half an hour.
#9 ‘Bach Ngoc Xiem Y’ Wedding Dress – $117,000
Not surprisingly, this gown still remains unsold after all these years due to its exorbitant price. So if you have the deep pockets and the desire to own one of the most stylish and famous wedding gowns in history, head to the Ruby Plaza in Hanoi to buy this wonderful piece of bridal wear and make a great style statement at your wedding.
#8 9,999 Carat Gems Wedding Dress – $158,874
Though this dress was designed and made way back in 2007, it continues to occupy a place in the list of most expensive wedding dresses in 2024. The precious gems that make up this gown are sure to grow in value as the years go by. So if you are a millionaire or a billionaire, consider investing in this dress not only to make your wedding grand but also as a fail-proof investment that can boost your net worth in the future.
#7 Platinum Wedding Dress – $250,000
You might have heard of wedding dresses that are embroidered with gold and adorned with precious gems. But this gown take the cake as it is made with platinum, one of the most expensive metals in the world. The ornate oriental design adds to its charm and you can go for this gown if you wish to add an Eastern touch to your wedding.
You don’t have to settle for the traditional boring white for your bridal wear. Express your individuality and unique style with this fiery red oriental dress that is sure to be the talk of the town for a long time to come and also give you precious memories to remember when you think back about your wedding as the years go by.
#6 Mauro Adami Wedding Dress – $372,564
This dress was crafted in 2008 by Italian designer Mauro Adami who is famous for other renowned creations such as the platinum jacket he made for The Rolling Stones member Keith Richards. Mauro Adami has added this delectable wedding grown to his Domo Adami collection. It makes news even today because it is made with about 40 meters of silk fabric and adorned with platinum threads and attractive embroidered floral designs.
#5 Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress – $388,088
Let’s take a look at the embellishments that make Kate Middleton’s wedding dress so special: Its narrow waist has been accented by the addition of extra oomph below the midsection. The bottom of the gown has been designed to resemble a blossoming flower. To hold the veil, Queen Elizabeth II gifted a sparkling tiara to Kate and it contains about 1,000 diamonds.
The gown’s long sleeves and lace collar pay homage to iconic bridal wear designs such as Grace Kelly’s famous wedding dress and the Queen’s own gown. Thus, Kate’s dress combines modernity and tradition to provide stunning results. It included both ivory and white fabric as well as lace with plenty of delicate flowers.
Kate Middleton’s train stretched to 9 feet, but the record is owned by Princess Diana whose train was an amazing 25 feet long. The bride wore ivory satin heels embroidered with added lace. Finally, for her reception, Kate changed into another outfit that was topped with a shrug and included a circle skirt that had diamante detailing at the waist.
#4 Danasha Luxury Gown – $1.5 million
This dress was unveiled at the Miami International Fashion Week in 2010. It still makes headlines in 2024 and continues to be one of the most elite gowns on earth. The designers aver that their intention was not to just throw gold and diamonds to create a glaring gown. They wished to design a dazzling costume with the finest materials without making it look too overwrought or gimmicky. The result proves their point and this stunning outfit is just perfect for any rich girl’s Cinderella moment at her wedding.
#3 Peacock Wedding Dress – $1.5 million
Is it a dream dress or a nightmare? Animal rights activists are still horrified at the inclusion of the peacock feathers in this dress. An average male peacock sheds about 200 feathers each molting season. This means the designers would have collected the feathers of more than 10 birds over a year for this costume. A peacock feather has a shimmering blue and green color and resembles an eye as our picture shows. Apart from the animal rights angle, this dress may not be ideal for your wedding for another reason: In some cultures, peacock feathers are thought to bring bad luck so you may be better off investing your hard-earned moolah elsewhere.
#2 Yumi Katsura White Gold Dress – $ 8.5 million
Not surprisingly, this dress also remains unsold given its hefty price tag of $8.5 million. The designer Yumi Katsura made only two gowns of this type. Katsura is an accomplished craftswoman who has been in the business for 50 years. She studied fashion in Paris at Les Ecoles de la Chambre Syndicale de La Couture Parisienne. In addition, she holds the distinction of presenting her wares at the first ever bridal collection show to be held in Japan. In 1981, Katsura expanded her business into England, France, and the US to become a renowned global designer. So if you have a spare $8.5 million, think of investing in this alluring costume to make your wedding day ever so special.
#1 The Diamond Wedding Gown – $12 million
What makes this wedding gown stand out is the fact that it has been designed in such a way that when the bride turns and moves, light shines off the diamonds and creates a wonderful sparkle.
Renee Strauss is known for her popular bridal salon in Beverly Hills. Here client list includes celebrities such as Shannen Doherty, Kathy Ireland, Rosanne, and Paul Abdul, and her wares have been featured in Hollywood productions like General Hospital, He’s Just Not That Into You, Because I Said So, and Coyote Ugly. Her teammate in this effort, Martin Katz, is also famous in Beverly Hills as a designer and jeweler. His creations have been worn by leading Hollywood ladies such as Angelina Jolie, Hilary Swank, Carrie Mulligan, and Claire Daines.
The designers have priced this dress at an astronomical $12 million and are in no hurry to sell it. They are using this stunning creation to promote their designs and wares at luxury fashion and bridal exhibitions. However, even at $12 million, this gown is not still the most expensive diamond dress ever made. The honor is held by a masterpiece named the “Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur” created by Malaysian designer Faisol Abdullah. This amazing artwork features 751 diamonds and its price tag is an astonishing $30 million.
Why is FinancesOnline free?
I hope they have a really good cleaner, or do they have to remove all the stones first? My daughter's gown had water pearls, sequence and goodness knows how many stones (not diamond) but the cleaners were awestruck when they saw it. I guess they took special care. Anyway, what amazed me about beaded wedding gowns is how they have to literally take it apart, fit it
to you then put it back together. My daughter was a size 5 and I had to buy the gown in a size 12? It was an experience, but so was the wedding. I really believe a small group of family and friends in Hawaii is a much better idea. My best friend did that. Beautiful beach ceremony and location.
Paul Abdul??? Paula Abdul? Just wondering if there is a typo?
12 million on a dress is a bot over the top. I wonder when women will start buying what they based on what they really adore without having to impress people with the amount they spend on a dress r a name on the dress.
The diamond dress is gorgeous!! However, brides need to get a dress that makes them feel magical. If a multi million dollar dress does so then let that be it! All that matters at a wedding is if the bride and groom truly love each other despite all looks
It just matters how a dress makes you feel. If diamonds make you feel beautiful, wear the most expensive gowns. If a simple cut and silky fabric dress on sale makes you want to make that marriage last, wear the one you love. The bride is more important than the dress, and the union of the bride and groom more important than the bride herself or the dress.
I think that price has nothing to do with how beautiful a dress is. It all comes downs to personal opinion and how a dress makes you feel.
Well, it's true that most women find the perfect dress for a fraction of the price, but hey, the only reason you would say stuff about nicer dresses for a lower price and that you don't like these dresses is just to have something about which to complain.
These gowns are beautiful, but I have seen more stunning wedding gowns at a fraction of the cost. Pound for pound in creativity, many of these expensive gowns will not make it to the list of best wedding gowns ever.
I agree that there are pretty dresses for a fraction of the cost.
Great! and under all these opulent dresses are $5 Target undies because, frankly my dear, we bottom scrape our savings.
Leave a comment!