Meghan's expensive wedding dress

Publish Date: Thursday, 8 March 2018, 11:21AM

She raised eyebrows with the $106,000 Ralph and Russo couture gown worn on her engagement shoot but compared to Meghan Markle's wedding dress it was a snip.

The dress that she will marry Prince Harry in is said to have cost an eye-watering $763,000 with the couple's wedding budget reported to have doubled.

According to the Daily Mail, a source close to Meghan said a total of $763, 000 has been spent on beauty and fashion for her big day with the bulk of it spent on the dress.

Meghan raised eyebrows when she wore a pricey Ralph & Russo dress for her engagment photos. Photo / AP

Speaking to the magazine the insider said: "Meghan is like any other bride preparing for her dream day.

"The wedding dress has been the biggest expense, and the budget has now doubled from what it originally was."

As well as the reportedly sky high wedding cost, Meghan is reported to have spent over $190,000 on post-wedding celebrations.

The source added: "Then there's the honeymoon, which is $229,000 - but that is her gift to Harry."

MailOnline has contacted Kensington Palace for a comment.

Speculation has been growing as to which designer Meghan will choose when it comes to her wedding dress.

Last month bookies suspended bets that Harry's fiance will follow in the Duchess of Cambridge's footsteps and opt for an Alexander McQueen gown.

Bookmakers say that a "flurry of activity" saw odds for McQueen tumble from 16/1, leading to speculation that the wedding dress designer may have been leaked.

Kate turned to Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen to design her intricate lace wedding gown in 2011.
The Duchess wore custom Alexander McQueen. Photo / Getty Images

The identity of Kate's dress designer was revealed by eagle-eyed fashion fans a day before the big day, after recognising Burton as she arrived at the Duchess of Cambridge's hotel.

Previous favourites had included Ralph and Russo, Erdem, Roland Mouret and the Queen's dressmaker Stewart Parvin.

When asked by WWD if he would be designing his friend's dress Roland Mouret remained tight lipped.

The designer said: "Mmmmm, I don't want to say. No comment. It's…there is no comment on that. She's a friend. And that's…I can't say."

Meghan's stylist and close friend Jessica Mulroney runs a bridal store in Toronto and is said to have been helping the bride choose her gown.

The former actress has previously hinted that her ideal wedding dress would be "classic and simple", which would make the royal couturier the perfect choice.

Speaking in an interview with Glamour in March 2016, before her romance with Harry emerged, Meghan said: "Classic and simple is the name of the game, perhaps with a modern twist.

"I personally prefer wedding dresses that are whimsical or subtly romantic."

Meghan also explained that she would not choose a gown like the Anne Barge wedding dress by her Suits character Rachel Zane in season 5.

"It's not my personal style, because I'm a lot more relaxed than Rachel but I love that I got to play dress up in this gown," she said.

Meghan and Harry will on May 19 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

This article was first posted at nzherald.co.nz and was republished here with permission.

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