Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Wedding Will Cost 800 Times More than an Average Wedding

It's a good thing the royal family's net worth is so astronomical because they're paying for one exorbitantly expensive royal wedding on May 19! The average British wedding costs the equivalent of $24,000, while the average American wedding costs more than $33,000 — and neither sum is anywhere close to the estimated royal wedding cost for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's big day.

"I estimate the dress, bridesmaids' dresses, invitations, flowers, drinks, food, music, and entertainment will be around £20 million," a royal wedding expert recently told Marie Claire. That's the equivalent of $27 million, which his more than 800 times the cost of an average American wedding! So where's all that money going? Let's break it down the cost of the royal wedding!

The venue

No one is sure how much a Windsor Castle wedding costs, it seems, but the "luxury marquee" that will house the private evening reception will set the royal family back around $475,000, per Bridebook. The average spend for an American wedding venue is $15,163, according to The Knot.

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Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments following the release of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle's engagement photographs. The couple are so grateful for the warm and generous messages they have received during such a happy time in their lives. As a way to say thank you, they have decided to share this candid photograph from the day of their portrait sittings directly with all of you.

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Dec 21, 2017 at 6:00am PST

The dress

While experts think Meghan won't want to upstage Kate Middleton's $434,000 Alexander McQueen wedding dress, Meghan's pick will still cost six figures. "You know, [it will cost] $100,000 to $300,000, because she's going to showcase everyone: herself, her family, his family, the country, our country, Canada. She's representing everything," designer Mark Zunino told ET. Meanwhile, the average spend for an American wedding dress is $1,509.

The flowers

Bridebook estimated the floral arrangements for Harry and Meghan's wedding ceremony and receptions will cost around $149,000. The average spend for the flowers and decor at an American wedding, however, is $2,379.

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Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have chosen floral designer @philippacraddock to create the church flowers for their wedding💐 The displays in St George's Chapel will feature foliage from The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park, and will use seasonal plants including branches of beech, birch and hornbeam, as well as white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves. The designs will reflect the wild and natural landscapes from which many of the plants will be drawn. The Royal Parks will also supply pollinator-friendly plants from their wildflower meadows. These plants provide a great habitat for bees and help to sustain healthy and biodiverse ecosystems. 📷PA

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Apr 1, 2018 at 1:16am PDT

The music

Kensington Palace stated the guests will enjoy tunes from "the Choir of St George's Chapel and a selection of choral groups, soloists, and musicians." Marie Claire speculated this melodiousness will cost at least five figures, if not more, and that's probably not including the rumored Spice Girls appearance! The average spend for music at an American wedding, though, is just $761.

The food

For the luncheon reception and the evening reception, Harry and Meghan reportedly hired Table Talk, a London-based caterer that also fed the guests at Kate and Pippa Middleton's weddings. Bridebook pegged that cost at $388,000. The average spend for a food at an American wedding is $70 per person.

The cake

London-based pastry chef Claire Ptak has the honor of making the lemon elderflower wedding cake for the happy couple and their 800 reception guests. The cost of that sweet treat, though, is estimated at $68,000. The average spend for an American wedding cake is $540. Royals… they're definitely not just like us!

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