Wedding throwdown: Kim Kardashian vs. the royal wedding
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The Kardashian family could be considered America’s own form of reality television royalty. Kim Kardashian first popped onto our radar as a socialite and the girl in that, ahem, steamy video, but it wasn’t long before she and her family built an empire. Sure they don’t actually have any royal privileges of any kind, but when it comes to throwing a wedding, or any sort of lavish affair, Kim is sure to get the royal treatment.
Kardashian married basketball star Kris Humphries on Saturday in Montecito in a wedding spectacle that by all accounts rivaled the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton earlier this year. Both high-profile couples went all out for their big days, but who did it better? It’s time for a good old wedding throwdown.
The gown:
Kate Middleton walked down the aisle in a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen white silk gown with detailed Chantilly lace sleeves. This was a big moment for the Alexander McQueen line and its designer, as noted by our own Booth Moore. For the reception, Kate donned an ivory gown with diamante waist embellishment, also by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Kim Kardashian wore three custom gowns by Vera Wang. The exact order is at the moment unclear but Us magazine reports that the first was an ivory ball gown that featured a full tulle skirt, basque waist and a bodice and train covered in hand-pieced Chantilly lace applique. The second was an ivory georgette mermaid gown with hand-pieced Chantilly lace applique on the bodice and a skirt with hand cut-organza petals and Chantilly lace motifs. For her final gown, Kim wore a bias-cut crepe back ivory satin gown with circle skirt and V-neck.
The jewels:
Kate Middleton sparkled in Queen Elizabeth II’s jewels. She borrowed a 1936 Cartier tiara from the monarch for her big day.
Kardashian wore more than $10 million of exclusive Lorraine Schwartz jewels, including a diamond-encrusted headpiece. Kim and Kris also exhanged Lorraine Schwartz wedding bands.
The coverage:
The entire world got to watch the royal couple wed, with live feeds from major networks and a multitude of specials.
Kris and Kim decided to give their wedding top-secret status -- and to make money from it. The couple sold the rights to their wedding footage to E!, which produces Kim’s show “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.” Fans will have to wait until October (gasp!) to watch Kim and Kris walk down the aisle.
Major dough:
Usually when a couple gets married it involves major splurging. CBS’ MoneyWatch.com reported that when Kate and Will got hitched, it cost the royal family an estimated $34 million, and that was after some serious budgeting.
It’s no surprise that Kim has turned her star power into profit with her clothing store, clothing line and perfume line, but who would have thought she’d find a way to make money off her own wedding? According to Mogulite.com, Kim not only scored major wedding freebies, but also made some serious cash. She held the wedding at Google exec Eric Schmidt’s house, received nearly a half a million dollars of free bubbly from Perrier-Jouet Champagne and wore a comped $20,000 Vera Wang wedding dress.
Here is a breakdown by the New York Post of Kardashian’s estimated $17.9-million profit:
-- Two-part TV special: $15 million.
-- Sale of wedding photos to People: $2.5 million.
-- Sale of rights to engagement announcement to People: $300,000.
-- Sale of rights of bridal-shower photos to OK!: $100,000.
-- Paid to have the bachelorette party at Tao Las Vegas : $50,000.
The guest list:
Europe’s royal elite, as well as celebrities such as David and Victoria Beckham and Elton John, joined a guest list of about 1,900 for the royal wedding, the Independent reported.
Serena Williams, Eva Longoria and Lindsay Lohan were among the 450 guests who attended the Kardashian-Humphries wedding, USA Today reported.
Who do you think did it better? Comment and let us know.
-- Jenn Harris
twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_
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