Paris Hilton and Carter Reum’s Wedding, 2021

Paris Hilton has lived much of her adult life in front of cameras, so it was fitting that her wedding came with its own television series. What was less expected was how traditional the day itself turned out to be: a long-sleeved couture gown, a father moved at the first sight of his daughter in white, and a ceremony at the estate of her late grandfather, the hotelier Barron Hilton. The fun came later, in a princess dress, with a pop star singing Whitney Houston.

The couple

Hilton and the entrepreneur Carter Reum became engaged on February 13, 2021, and married nine months later. The planning, from an engagement celebration in New York through dress fittings, venue hunting for a three-day event, a joint bachelor and bachelorette party in Las Vegas and a bridal shower hosted by her mother, Kathy Hilton, was filmed for Paris in Love, which premiered on Peacock on the wedding day itself.

The ceremony

The wedding took place at Barron Hilton’s former estate in Bel Air. The floral designer Mark’s Garden filled the space with sculptural installations in soft cream, and the photographer was Jose Villa. The singer Kim Petras performed as Hilton walked down the aisle. Writing on her blog afterward, Hilton said her father, Rick Hilton, “had the sweetest reaction” to seeing her in her dress.

The dress

For the ceremony, Hilton chose a couture gown by Oscar de la Renta, with long sleeves, a high neckline and floral appliqués. For the reception she changed into a custom Galia Lahav gown, off the shoulder with a sweetheart neckline and a full tulle skirt. “I envisioned a princess,” its designer, Sharon Sever, said. Hilton was reported to have planned as many as eleven looks over the celebrations, but these two were the wedding dresses. See more in our guide to celebrity wedding dresses.

The reception

Demi Lovato performed “I Will Always Love You,” which Hilton later singled out as a highlight, and the party danced into the night. “The reception was everything I wanted,” Hilton wrote, “chic, cute and fun.” Guests included Kim Kardashian, her friend since high school; Nicole Richie, her co-star on The Simple Life; and her aunts Kyle Richards and Kim Richards.

Why it mattered

The wedding showed how a public figure can share a wedding with an audience, through a series and a blog, while keeping much of the day itself for family and friends. Viewers followed the fittings, the shower and the search for a venue. It also showed a bride in full control of her own story: Hilton wrote about the day herself, in her own words, rather than leaving it to anonymous sources.

Even the registry, reported by The Knot to run to about $70,000 of home goods at Geary’s, including a $4,900 Lalique vase, followed a traditional pattern, if at an untraditional price. For how to build a registry at any budget, see our registry and gifts guide. Hilton later attended Sofia Richie’s wedding in 2023 and Selena Gomez’s in 2025.

The couple’s son, Phoenix, was born by surrogate in January 2023, and their daughter, London, in November 2023.

Borrow the idea

Marry at a family place. A grandparent’s house or garden gives a wedding meaning that no venue can buy. Check insurance, parking and neighbors early, and hire a rental company for everything the house cannot provide.

Split the looks by mood. A covered, structured gown for the ceremony and something lighter and fuller for dancing is a practical way to have both. Build the change into your reception timeline so it takes fifteen minutes, not forty-five.

Invite a friend to perform. One song from someone who knows you, even if they are not famous, is the moment guests remember.

If you film it, set limits. Whether it is a professional videographer or a friend with a phone, agree in advance which moments are off-limits, such as the vows or a private first look, and who approves anything that is shared. See our advice on wedding videos.

Plan the father-daughter moment. A private first look with a parent before the ceremony gives you both time to be emotional without an audience.