Melania Trump's Wedding Look Came With A Seriously High Price Tag
Donald Trump has never had a problem flaunting his extreme level of wealth, and when he married Melania Trump in 2005, she practically took an oath to do the same. The first lady, who was working as a successful fashion model when she met the future U.S. president back in 1998, has seamlessly assimilated into her husband's lavish lifestyle, and she blends right in with his high-profile pals. Since day one of their marriage, Melania's expensive taste and flair for the extravagant have proven her to be a perfect companion for a man of Trump's status.
On the day of their wedding, January 22, 2005, Melania officially entered into the Trump world with a bang, walking down the aisle in a custom Dior gown with a six-figure price tag. The over-the-top wedding dress was made from 300 feet of white satin and embroidered with over 1,500 crystal rhinestones, according to British Vogue, which estimates the total cost of the dress to have been around $100,000. With a 13-foot train and a 16-foot veil, Melania's wedding gown was anything but practical, and when ranking the Trump ladies' wedding dresses by timeless appeal, Melania's maximalist choice doesn't even make the list.
Melania Trump had millions of dollars on her left hand
In addition to the exorbitant price of her wedding gown, both Melania Trump's engagement ring and wedding band were wildly expensive, adding millions of dollars worth of jewels to her bridal ensemble. Donald Trump spared no expense when picking out the ring he would propose to Melania with, selecting a 15-carat diamond from the jeweler Graff. At the time of their 2004 proposal, the engagement ring retailed for $1.5 million, as reported by The New York Times, though it is probably worth nearly $4 million nowadays, according to Hello!. Donald later gave Melania's ring an upgrade on their 10-year anniversary, as if her first one wasn't already one of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings in the world. The second ring — the one Melania is usually seen wearing — boasts a whopping 25 carats, and is worth an estimated $3 million.
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Melania's wedding day look only added more glitz and glamour to her already blinged-out left hand, with the addition of her extravagant wedding band. Featuring 13 carats worth of emerald-cut diamonds, Melania's wedding band is estimated to have cost around $380,000 at the time, but is now believed to be worth around $580,000, according to Prestige Pawnbrokers' Alexandra Michell (via the Irish Star).
Keeping up appearances doesn't come cheap for a Trump
Not only did they pull out all the stops to make Melania into a posh, blushing bride, but she and Donald also made sure the big-budget affair was worthy of a Trump. The nuptials took place at the Bethesda-by-the-Sea church in Palm Beach, Florida, before the couple's 350 guests gathered at the ritzy ballroom at Donald's private Mar-a-Lago Club for a lavish reception. "This was not your typical wedding reception," the Palm Beach Daily News reported back in 2005.
The ballroom was said to have been decorated with "enormous candelabrae" covered in white orchids and roses, as well as ornate chandeliers and grand tablescapes with the finest gold and cream linens and flatware. Plus, a stage on the east end of the room held the Michael Rose Orchestra, making the evening undeniably elegant.
More of the grand details for the Trumps' big day included luxurious food and wine service for their esteemed guests, who were served caviar, Grand Marnier cake and Cristal champagne, per the Palm Beach Post. With meals catered by renowned Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, plates at the fancy dinner were priced at $275 a pop, according to Showbiz Cheat Sheet, which also reports that Melania and Donald's wedding cake cost a cool $50,000 (and weighed 200 pounds!). All of that, combined with Melania's other pricey wedding day choices and her six-figure gown, it's no wonder the Trumps are believed to have spent at least $1 million on the entire day.