By David Whitley

Everybody loves a celebrity wedding — not just paparazzi photographers and private security firms sensing a windfall.

And when the big stars tie the knot, they tend to do it in style, calling upon some of the most lavish, beautiful locations in the world. But where are these romantic spots? We embarked on a quick world tour to find out...


Where: Dornoch, Scotland
Who: Madonna and Guy Ritchie
The Wedding
When the Queen of Pop tied the knot with her film director fiancé Guy Ritchie in 2000, it was a predictably all-star affair. Stella McCartney designed the dress, while the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Sting were among the guest list flown in by private jet to the Scottish Highlands. They all had to brave the cold, though — that part of the world's not particularly warm in December. Ritchie, in particular, must have felt it — he was wearing a kilt.
The Venue
Skibo Castle — where Madge and Guy's ceremony took place — has been described by Catherine Zeta Jones as ''the most romantic place on earth'' and dates back to the 12th century. The castle looks out on the Dornoch Firth and plays host to the exclusive (and very expensive) Carnegie private members' club. It's become an increasingly popular wedding destination in recent years, with Ewan McGregor among other people to use it as a location for the big day.

Where: St James, Barbados, The Caribbean
Who: Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
The Wedding
When the Tiger finally pounced on his Swedish girlfriend, it was supposedly a low-key affair. That is, of course, if you can call arriving by yacht, ordering over 500 roses, renting an entire five-star hotel out and inviting guests from the A-plus list to attend ''low key''. Among the attendees for the 2004 ceremony on the West Indian paradise isle were Michael Jordan, Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey.
The Venue
Tiger tied the knot at the Sandy Lane Hotel on the island's West Coast. In the '60s and '70s, this was where the It Crowd hung out; rock stars and royalty regularly rubbed shoulders. Now it's one of the most luxurious properties in the world, with rooms going for more than $1000 a night. It has a huge spa, its own country club looking out over the sea, massive gardens and every mod-con you could possibly imagine. Yet with Tiger's golf winnings, renting the lot out was a mere drop in the ocean.

Where: Bracciano, Italy
Who: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
The Wedding
Shrouded in secrecy, and easily the most high-profile hitch of 2006, the TomKat wedding finally took place near Rome in the November of that year. It was overseen, of course, by a Scientology minister, but it seems as though the star-studded guest list weren't too weirded out by that to pull out. Among the big names that showed up on the big day were Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Jim Carrey and Richard Gere. No expense was spared on the entertainment either — the happy couple were serenaded afterwards by Andrea Bocelli.
The Venue: Odescalchi Castle
The 15th century Odescalchi Castle has a magnificent location, peering over Lake Bracciano. In the past it has hosted popes and kings — as well as the odd battle and siege. Nowadays, it is open to the public for tours — well, at least it is when Hollywood superstars aren't in town for a wedding. The views from the battlements alone are worth the entrance fee.

Where: Dublin, Ireland
Who: David Beckham and Victoria Adams
The Wedding
Nothing, it seems, was too tacky for the union of Posh and Becks in 1999. The pair hired an 18-piece orchestra, sat on his-and-hers thrones and released a dove after the ''I dos''. Classy, huh? Still, the guest list was impressive — three of the other Spice Girls and squeaky Dave's (then) Manchester United teammates all rolled up, and Sir Elton John flew in specially from Italy to perform a couple of numbers.
The Venue
Luttrellstown Castle on the outskirts of Dublin has been standing since around 1420, and it now plays host to one of Ireland's most prestigious five star resorts. It's currently closed for refurbishment, and will open again next year, but when it does it will again become one of the country's most expensive wedding destinations. The castle usually attracts more golfers than footballers — it boasts an 18-hole championship course in its enormous 567 acre estate. Hackers and pros can tee off in the shadow of the castle's multiple turrets — it has the classic fairytale look.

Where: Sydney, Australia
Who: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban
The Wedding
Our Nicole got married amid a media frenzy — there were almost more security guards than guests — but she proved that you don't need to go to a lavish foreign location for star nuptials. Nic got hitched to country singer Keith in her (some time) home town of Sydney. And although it was as low-key as they could get away with, the likes of Neil Finn and Hugh Jackman were still on hand to provide the entertainment.
The Venue
Nic and Keith made it official at the Cardinal Cerretti Chapel, on the St Patrick's Estate in Manly. Sitting on the top of a cliff, it's one of Australia's most understatedly beautiful buildings. The ordinary Joe can also get married there among the columnless nave and stained glass windows, but being Catholic would kinda help when making the booking.