Michael Jackson and the most OTT showbiz wedding of all time: Liza Minnelli and David Gest’s 2002 nuptials were attended by Donald Trump, Diana Ross and Elizabeth Taylor, with MJ as best man
- When singer Liza Minnelli wed producer David Gest, one man was important to them both – Michael Jackson – who stood by their side throughout as best man
- The couple’s OTT post-vows kiss shocked even Donald Trump, who attended the event alongside Michael Douglas, Mel C and hundreds more
Although she had already been married (and divorced) three times, Liza Minnelli’s fourth and final wedding to producer David Gest was surely the most outlandish.
As long-time mutual friends of Michael Jackson, the unlikely couple met while working on the 2001 concert and TV special Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration. Gest produced the show and Minnelli performed.
As portrayed in the 2002 VH1 special Liza and David’s Wedding, Gest was “smitten” and Minnelli immediately admired the producer. Fast forward a few short months and the two celebrities were at the centre of what can be regarded as the most over-the-top showbiz wedding ever, with their superstar bestie MJ right by their side.
So what else made the Minnelli-Gest wedding ceremony so outrageous? Let’s take a look.
The celebrity wedding party
Besides their star-studded guest list, both bride and groom had their famous friends as part of the respective wedding retinues.
During the VH1 special, Minnelli said, “If a coal miner got married a lot of coal miners would come to the wedding. I’m not a coal miner; I’m in show business so all of my friends are in show business.”
The bride had two maids of honour: her Cabaret co-star and long-time friend Marisa Berenson, and Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor.