The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge went all out when they tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 [1]. While the royal couple found a few ways to make their special day all their own [2], that doesn't mean it was any less extravagant. Even though they were able to get their wedding venue free of charge (perks of being a royal [3]), they spared no expense for everything else. In fact, the total for their big day ended up being a whopping $34 million — no wonder it was so picture-perfect! Of course, most of that went towards the high-level security [4] for the event. We certainly can't wait to see how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's upcoming wedding [5] stacks up. See the breakdown of Kate and Will's nuptials below.
The Flowers
The flowers arrangements for the ceremony and reception [7] cost a hefty $800,000. Thankfully, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles helped out by footing the bill.
The Rings
Kate's sapphire engagement ring, which once belonged to Princess Diana, was originally purchased for $60,000, while her Welsh gold wedding band is estimated to be worth $11,000.
The Wedding Cakes
Prince Charles gifted the bride and groom with a chocolate biscuit cake and fruitcake that cost $80,000 [8].
Kate's Dress
Kate wasted no expense for her iconic wedding dress [9]. The custom Alexander McQueen gown totalled at $434,000.