France is known for its lavish, luxurious parties and events, especially in cities like Paris, Cannes, and Monaco. Over the years, celebrities from around the world have flocked to France to attend some truly spectacular parties that cost an absolute fortune to host. Here is an overview of some of the most expensive, celebrity-filled parties that have taken place in France.
What were some of the most expensive private parties held in France?
The Bal du Moulin Rouge – €10 million
One of the most expensive private parties ever held in France was the Bal du Moulin Rouge, hosted by Etienne Rubichon in 2011 at the world-famous Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris. The lavish event celebrated the cabaret’s 120th anniversary and was attended by about 1000 guests.
No expense was spared – the interior was decked out with chandeliers, fresh flowers, and candles. A 30-foot mistletoe tree was erected in the middle of the dance floor area. Guests dined on foie gras and lamb served on Versace plates and drank the finest champagnes. There were aerial dancers, circus performers, burlesque dancers, and many celebrities in attendance. The whole event cost a whopping €10 million!
Marie-Ange Casta’s Wedding – €3 million
When French model and actress Marie-Ange Casta married businessman Louis Buckens in 2019, they hosted a magical wedding weekend at Chateau La Coste in Provence. The entire 3-day event cost an estimated €3 million.
An outdoor pre-wedding dinner featured long tables decorated with 10,000 roses and wisteria blooms hanging overhead. The actual wedding ceremony took place in the chateau’s art gallery, and the reception was held in a glass marquee with photos from the couple’s relationship hanging on the walls. Celebrity guests included Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and Natalia Vodianova.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Birthday Bash – €2 million
In 2017, actor Leonardo DiCaprio turned 43 in classic Leo style – with a lavish party in Saint-Tropez. He rented the Domaine Bertaud Belieu vineyard and had the entire estate transformed into a dazzling event space complete with dance floors, bars, and lighting installations. The party had a “Before the Flood” theme with many environmental references.
Over 500 guests including celebrities like Madonna, Tobey Maguire, and Kate Hudson were flown in from all over the world. The entertainment and food cost over €2 million for this epic birthday celebration.
What are some notable celebrity weddings held in France?
Paul McCartney & Heather Mills Wedding – €3 million
The 2002 wedding of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills at Castle Leslie in Ireland was an extravagant affair, with the week-long celebrations also extending to France. The ceremony itself cost approximately £1.5 million, with the French reception at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris costing £1.5 million, for a total of around €3 million.
300 guests were flown to France for the lavish dinner reception, which featured dancers, acrobats, magicians, and musical performances. The event was decorated with 10,000 flowers imported from the Netherlands, along with an enormous art nouveau stained glass window as the centerpiece over the banquet table.
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt Wedding – €2 million
When Hollywood stars Angeline Jolie and Brad Pitt wed in 2014 at their estate Château Miraval in Provence, it was a long time coming and well worth the wait. While the intimate ceremony cost around €300,000, the lavish post-wedding party for their 150 guests cost approximately €2 million.
Jolie wore a custom Atelier Versace silk satin gown that featured colorful artwork painted by her children. Guests including celeb friends like George Clooney dined on food prepared by renowned chef Guy Martin. There was also live music and fireworks over the chateau’s vineyards and lake.
Sofia Coppola & Thomas Mars Wedding – €1 million
Director Sofia Coppola and musician Thomas Mars were married in 2011 at Palazzo Margherita in Bernalda, Italy. But the weekend of celebrations also carried over to Château de Bonalgue in the south of France.
With 80 guests including family and friends like Jason Schwartzman and actresses Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning, the elegant French garden reception reportedly cost around €1 million. Details of the event were kept private, but the chateau grounds were said to be decorated with thousands of candles and fresh blooms.
What are some of the most star-studded Cannes Film Festival parties?
amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala – €11 million raised
The amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala during the Cannes Film Festival is one of the most important events on the celebrity social calendar. The black-tie soirée includes a lavish dinner, auction, and the hottest musical performers. It has raised over $175 million for AIDS research since 1993.
The 2019 edition hosted by Charlize Theron featured performances by Mariah Carey, Dua Lipa, and Tom Jones in front of 850 guests at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. The event raised a record-breaking €11 million, with some items selling for hundreds of thousands during the auction portion.
de Grisogono Diamond Party – Funded by Isabel dos Santos
Many know the Cannes Film Festival for its lavish yacht and private estate parties, the most extravagant of which has traditionally been hosted by jeweller de Grisogono. In 2017, the luxury brand’s annual Diamond Party was estimated to cost €13.5 million, funded by billionaire Isabel dos Santos.
Taking place at the Eden Roc hotel, it featured live performances from Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder. Supermodels danced alongside de Grisogono’s latest jewellery collection. The event was so expensive thanks to private flights, hotel stays, performances, food, decor, and jewellery security for celebrity guests.
Vanity Fair Cannes Party – €500,000
Hosted by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, the magazine’s exclusive Cannes party has been dubbed “the party of the year” and is the hottest ticket during the film festival. Though budgeted at around €500,000, the lavish soiree usually ends up costing double that, thanks to last-minute additions like surprise musical guests.
Vanity Fair always invites the most elite mix of celebrities, royalty, and artists. In 2018, guests included Ryan Gosling, Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, Spike Lee, and Paul Bettany. The decor is always ornate with chandeliers, fresh blooms, and dramatic lighting.
What extravagant events have celebrities hosted in the South of France?
Bono’s 2017 Party in Èze – €2 million
While Bono hosts an annual summer party at his villa in Èze in the South of France, his 2017 bash was particularly special, celebrating his 57th birthday and daughter Eve Hewson’s film debut. He flew in 100 of his closest friends via helicopter to the cliffside mansion.
The invite featured a poem penned by Bono specially for the occasion. The entertainment spanned two days and included easel painting, jazz bands, and pop-up restaurants from famous chefs. In total, the intimate yet indulgent soiree cost approximately €2 million.
Beyoncé & Jay-Z Louvre Event – €1 million
When Beyoncé and Jay-Z visited the Louvre Museum in Paris while on their On the Run II tour in 2018, they decided to have an after-hours private event. They rented out the iconic museum at a reported cost of €1 million.
Beyoncé posted photos posing by famous works like the Mona Lisa and a recreation of their “APES**T” music video shoot. Their celebrity guests explored the empty Louvre before dining on a feast catered by the museum’s in-house chefs. It was an ultra-exclusive event befitting music royalty.
David Guetta’s Album Release Party – €300,000
DJ David Guetta hosted a lavish party in Saint-Tropez in June 2019 to celebrate the release of his 7th album, aptly named 7. He invited 50 close friends to the exclusive Résidence du Pré Catelan in Saint-Tropez which is tucked away in a lush forest.
The modern villa was transformed into a neon-lit dance club for the occasion. Guests included Nicki Minaj, Akon, and Cuban Doll who all took turns on the decks playing DJ sets. The night cost Guetta around €300,000, complete with a set menu crafted by a private chef.
What are some iconic celebrity weddings that took place on the French Riviera?
Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier civil ceremony – $2.5 million
On April 18, 1956, Hollywood star Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in a short civil ceremony at the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. Though the church wedding was smaller, the civil ceremony was a grand gala event with thousands of fans outside the palace.
Kelly wore a now-iconic flower-trimmed tweed suit and matching floral hat designed by MGM costume designer Helen Rose. 800 guests attended a champagne reception and dinner catered by the legendary Hotel de Paris. The celebrations cost an estimated $2.5 million in today’s money.
Mohammed Al Fayed & Heini Wathen Cannes Wedding – $1 million
Former Harrods owner Mohammed Al Fayed married Finnish model and socialite Heini Wathen in 1985 with a lavish Cannes wedding. The ceremony took place on Al Fayed’s yacht in Cannes harbor, followed by a reception at the posh Carlton Hotel on La Croisette.
There were pink and white flowers everywhere, 5 wedding cakes, and endless champagne, and Heini wore a princess gown designed by Polish prince Dimitri of Paris. The couple later hosted another reception at the Ritz in Paris. In total, the wedding cost around $1 million.
Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton Wedding – $100,000
Second weddings are usually more low-key, but not for Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. After their 1964 divorce, the famous couple remarried in a lavish ceremony in Kasane, Botswana in October 1975. Why Africa? To avoid the paparazzi.
Taylor wore a green chiffon dress, and Burton a safari suit. The bash after the ceremony included cases of Dom Perignon and caviar flown in from Paris. They then had a second honeymoon at the Villa Bethania on the French Riviera built for Burton as a gift by Taylor. The wedding cost approx $100,000.
Conclusion
France’s lavish party scene, especially on the French Riviera, is legendary around the world for attracting the rich, famous and fabulous. Over the decades, celebrity weddings, birthdays, galas and festivals in cities like Paris, Cannes and Saint-Tropez have featured over-the-top decor, entertainment, and price tags running into the millions.
Event companies in France specialize in catering to the luxury demands of high-profile clients from around the globe. Celebrities spare no expense when it comes to hosting milestone events at storied venues, inviting A-list guests and wowing them with bespoke details. Even amidst economic ups and downs, the allure of iconic French fetes continues to attract celebrities who want to celebrate in serious style.
Frequently Asked Questions About Expensive Parties in France
How much do top French event planners charge?
The most elite French event planning companies charge between €100,000 to €300,000+ to organize luxury events. This includes full-service design, decor, rentals, catering, entertainment, and logistics coordination for complex celebrity events like weddings, birthdays, or corporate launches.
Which cities in France are renowned for extravagant parties?
The top cities in France for lavish parties are Paris, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco. Paris is unmatched for chic venues like palace hotels, chateaux, and private mansions. The Côte d’Azur meanwhile provides glamorous coastal backdrops for events during summer festival season or on luxury yachts.
What are popular party venues used by celebrities in France?
Favorite celebrity event venues in France include Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Mar-a-Lago Club, Château de Valmer, Four Seasons Hotel George V, and the Palace of Versailles. Many stars also rent castles, chateaux or palatial villas on the French Riviera or in Paris.
How much might a luxury caterer charge per person in France?
For A-list events in France with Michelin-starred cuisine and premium drinks, catering usually starts at around €300 per person and can exceed €1000+ per person. Minimum spends are often €100,000+ especially in the French Riviera. Expect seasonal ingredients, top wines, champagnes, caviar, foie gras, truffles, etc.
What entertainment do celebrities request at French parties?
Celebrity entertainment at French events includes top DJs like David Guetta, high fashion runway shows, aerial circus acts, dance troupes, pyrotechnic displays, and private concerts featuring stars like Madonna, Diana Ross, or Mariah Carey. The budgets for entertainment alone often run into the millions.