Two weddings and a splash in Italy

He has insisted that his daughters are a pair of "level headed girls" who are "not stupid about money".

But on Sunday, Formula 1 boss and indulgent father Bernie Ecclestone showed no such restraint — splashing out an astonishing £5 million (Dh30 million) on his youngest daughter Petra's wedding.

Some of the world's biggest music acts — including Eric Clapton, tenor Andrea Bocelli, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and American pop group The Black Eyed Peas — were flown to Italy to provide entertainment as Petra, 24, married businessman James Stunt.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their mother Sarah, Duchess of York, mingled with American socialite sisters Paris and Nicky Hilton at the extravaganza, held at the spectacular Odescalchi Castle, a 15th century walled fort in the medieval town of Bracciano, 30 miles from Rome.

On Sunday the town ground to a halt, the cobbled piazza closed off as fleets of cars ferried 250 VIP guests for the twilight ceremony inside the castle, which cost the bride's father £310,000 to hire.

The bride and her father were last to arrive, in his vintage Rolls-Royce, with former Formula 1 driver Jean Alesi at the wheel. But one Rolls-Royce was not enough for fashion designer and model Petra. She had left her suite at the Hassler Hotel in Rome in a white Rolls-Royce Phantom before switching to the second car for her grand entrance.

Magical world

The castle grounds had been transformed into what was described as a "magical world" themed setting, with air-conditioned, flower-filled canopies to keep guests cool.

They were greeted by an 18-piece string section from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, led by renowned conductor Nigel Short, who performed a 40-minute selection of classical music. Accompanying them was the 20-member Tenebrae Choir, described as "one of the greatest choirs in the world'"

At 6pm, guests congregated for the ceremony, carried out by the Rev Nick Papadopolous from St Peter's church, Eaton Square, in London's Belgravia, close to the £56 million home in Chelsea Ecclestone bought for her in January.

Petra, dressed in an £80,000 couture wedding gown by designer Vera Wang, was accompanied by her older sister Tamara, 27, who acted as maid of honour, and two bridemaids, close friends Skye Mellar and Ines Raddock.

It was a night of opulent celebrations, which next saw Eric Clapton — a friend of the Ecclestone family — providing the music for the couple's first dance.

Clapton, 66, was followed by The Black Eyed Peas, paid a reported £1.5 million fee, and DJ David Guetta, who was believed to have received £500,000 for his night's work.

The celebrations were rounded off with a midnight fireworks display costing an estimated £42,000.

Petra wore a stunning, floor-length, white, beaded gown with lace cut-out panel, while older sister Tamara, accompanied by businessman boyfriend Omar Khyami, wore a strapless, beaded, petrol-blue cocktail dress.

Three hundred guests were treated to a meal created by celebrity chef Alain Ducasse who devised an Italian-themed menu of Beluga caviar, followed by ravioli and lamb chops on a bed of spinach.

Heights of excess

£1.5 million — The Black Eyed Peas
£600,000 — Alicia Keys
£500,000 — DJ David Guetta
£310,000 — Odescalchi Castle
£250,000 — Gifts for wedding party and key participants
£150,000 — Andrea Bocelli
£140,000 — Alain Ducasse
£250,000 — Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, fee plus transport costs.
£150,000 — Food for guests on Saturday night.
£140,000 — Hiring all 122 rooms for guests at Rome's Hotel De Russe.
£80,000 — Vera Wang wedding dress
.£100,000 — Bridesmaids and maid of honour gowns.
£100,000 — Firework displays£9,200 — Two suites at the Hassler Hotel.
£50,000 — 90 rooms at Hassler for guests.
£1,000 — Phantom Rolls-Royce hire
.£400,000 — Additional costs including security and wedding planner.
No charge for Eric Clapton