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Society wedding season officially kicked off over the weekend as British billionaire Alan Howard tied-the-knot with celebrity chef Caroline Byron at a very lavish event in Italy.
The founder of the highly profitable Brevan Howard Asset Management hedge fund, 59, who according to Forbes boasts a personal net worth of $1.6billion, exchanged vows at the weekend with the American gluten-free chef, 33, who counts Princess Beatrice among her friends, at a black-tie event at Villa Olmo in Como, Italy.
Alan is reported to have paid €1.3million to close the 18th-century lakeside mansion for almost a month. He officially tied the knot with Caroline amid the early days of the pandemic in 2020 – although it’s unclear where their first service was held.
The couple were joined at the star studded event by guests including Pixie Lott and her new husband Oliver Cheshire, who only earlier this month celebrated their own nuptials.
Attendees watched the pair make their marriage vows in a Jewish ceremony beneath a chuppah adorned with white flowers, before being serenaded by Lady Gaga and watching a huge firework display.
The wedding has not been without controversy, with residents said to be angered at the month-long closure of the villa and its surrounding parks ahead of the couple’s big day.
Popular culture expert Nick Ede told FEMAIL the wedding would have cost ‘in excess of £10 million’, adding: ‘To hire Lady GaGa to perform at a private event you are looking at over 3 million dollars and that is before her entourage and their travel and accommodation and rider and tech.
Society wedding season officially kicked off over the weekend as British billionaire Alan Howard tied-the-knot with celebrity chef Caroline Byron at a very lavish event in Italy
The founder of the highly profitable Brevan Howard Asset Management hedge fund exchanged vows at the weekend with the American gluten-free chef at a black-tie event at Villa Olmo in Como, Italy, over the weekend (left and right)
Guests including Pixie Lott and her new husband Oliver Cheshire attended the event (right), before being serenaded to a private performance by Lady Gaga (left)
Alan, who officially tied the knot with Caroline amid the early days of the pandemic in 2020, is reported to have paid €1.3 million to close the 18th-century lakeside mansion for almost a month
The couples guests, and locals, were treated to an enormous fireworks display at the end of the night on the shores of Lake Como
Caroline Byron pictured on Sunday. Alan and Caroline went all out for their big day and decorated the already stunning garden with a massive arch adorned with white flowers and greenery
‘Flowers can cost in excess of 500k and with catering accommodation, venue hire and a lavish firework display plus security – this wedding will have cost in excess of 10 million.’
Meanwhile Chris Driver-Ayre, managing director at AYRE Event Solutions, said he expected the entertainment alone to have cost well over £2 million.
He explained: ‘A named performer could cost anywhere between £80,000 and £1.2 million. Someone like Lady Gaga will be commanding a high range, although, given she may be a close friend of Pixie Lott, she may have done it for free gratis. But there still would have been a big tech rider which could have been in the range of £10,000 – £20,000.
‘Fireworks for weddings can be extravagant, going from anywhere between £5,000 for 10 mins (if that) to well over £40,000.
‘Other tech for the wedding may have comprised of uplighting and spot lighting of key areas, this could have added an additional £5,000 – £15,000 depending on how much lighting was utlised.
‘Additional equipment will have included a PA system for the outside ceremony and all the crew and technicians to install and operate, possibly adding a further £15,000 to the bill.’
‘Overall this wedding with have cost way over £2 million! ‘
Alan and Caroline went all out for their big day and decorated the already stunning garden with a massive arch adorned with white flowers and greenery.
Guests were seated in white wrought iron chairs as they watched the couple exchange vows in front of their family and friends.
While Alan appeared to wear a traditional black suit for the occasion, his striking bride Caroline could be seen in a flowing white gown with a cathedral style veil.
Pixie Lott was elegant in a turquoise gown as she arrived for the nuptials alongside her new husband Oliver Cheshire. The couple themselves only tied the knot earlier this month
Caroline looked gorgeous in a floral white frock with matching accessories when pictured ahead of the celebration
Meanwhile Swedish model and actress Victoria Silvstedt was also in attendance, arriving on a boat at the venue alongside a number of other guests
Victoria opted for a striking green and red strapless gown for the occasion (left) and could be seen sweeping her hair from her face as she arrived (right)
The Swedish actress and model offered a wave to waiting fans as she arrived at the wedding venue in Lake Como on Saturday for the big day
Victoria was joined by a number of other guests as she walked along the jetty towards the venue earlier this week for the big event
Other guests attending the black tie event donned floor length gowns in vibrant greens and pinks as they stepped onto the jetty
One guest appeared to remove her shoes for the boat ride to the venue on Saturday (left) while another opted for a striking green and blue number (right)
As well as closing the site for a month ahead of their big day on Saturday, the couple also installed a floating lakeside dock to welcome their 250 guests to the villa, meaning the surrounding parkland behind the villa was also closed
Victoria Silvstedt (C) and guests are seen arriving at the Alan Howard and Caroline Byron wedding celebration on June 26, 2022 in Como, Italy
Glamorous guests are pictured in all their finery as they arrive at the lavish celebrations this weekend in Lake Como
Who is hedge fund billionaire Alan Howard and how did he make his money?
Mr Howard, a stalwart Conservative supporter, became well known after astute reading of imminent danger helped him become a billionaire, as his Brevan Howard hedge fund liquidated 80 per cent of its investments into cash at an early point in the global financial crisis
Born in September 1963, publicity-shy billionaire Alan Howard grew up in London where he attended Hasmonean Grammar School, an all boys’ secondary school and sixth form college serving Orthodox Jewish families.
He remained in the city for university, completing his master’s degree at Imperial College London.
His financial career began at Salomon Brothers, where he made a name for himself as a bond trader. In 2002, he went out on his own co-founded Brevan Howard Asset Management, a European hedge fund specialising in macro trading.
It became one of the world’s leading macro hedge funds, peaking in 2013 with $40 billion in assets under management. A year later Howard was ranked 53rd on the UK’s Sunday Times Rich List.
Unlike other billionaires, Howard has chosen to stay out of the spotlight. He has granted only a handful of press interviews and a Google search brings up very few photos of the enigmatic financier.
Howard shares four children with his French-born first wife, Sabine. The children speak both French and English.
In 2010, Howard reportedly shelled out £25,000 each to singer Pixie Lott and boy band JLS to perform at his 13-year-old son Daniel’s bar mitzvah celebrations.
That same year, the Howard family moved from their home in Hampstead, north London, to Geneva. The move, which was put down to a desire for a ‘change in lifestyle’, raised eyebrows within the industry because it called into question London’s place as a hedge fund hub.
The billionaire had owned a property in Switzerland for ‘several years’ before his move. In 2015 he bought a four-bedroom, six-bathroom condo in Florida for $14.5million. He and Sabine divorced that same year.
In 2017, Howard returned to the UK after seven years in Switzerland, citing family reasons.
The businessman owns a number of properties in London and in March 2008, bought a sprawling apartment in Central Park for for $11,330,000 (£7.51million).
In 2013, Howard became embroiled in controversy in 2013 when New York prosecutors claimed a $43million Monet masterpiece he bought in 2010 from the London art dealer Hazlitt, Gooden & Fox. was pilfered by a former aide to ousted Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos.
Disgraced secretary Vilma Bautista went on trial on charges that she illegally sold the 1899 painting, titled Japanese Footbridge Over Water Lily Pond in Giverny, from Mrs Marcos’ vast collection.
Bautista, then 75, was found guilty in Manhattan’s Supreme Court of tax fraud, conspiracy and offering a false instrument for filing.
Howard stepped down as CEO of Brevan Howard in 2019 to focus on investing and to give portfolio managers more freedom. Mr Howard is acquainted with top figures including George Osborne, but his spokesman has denied persistent reports that he is a donor to the Conservative party.
The billionaire welcomed a daughter with new wife Caroline in May this year but the couple haven’t shared any further details or pictures.
The couple were seen mingling with guests at the lavish outdoor ceremony at Villa Olmo, where they were treated to views of Lake Como.
Among those who were attending the event was Pixie Lott, who has known Alan for a number of years. She previously was paid £25,000 to perform for just 20 minutes at his son’s bar mitzvah celebrations in 2010.
The 250-strong guest list were then treated to a private performance by Lady Gaga, who took to the piano to sing a number of her hit songs.
Among her set-list were ‘Always Remember Us This Way’ and ‘Shallow’ from the Academy Award-winning film A Star Is Born with Bradley Cooper.
Meanwhile the singer also had a number of dress changes during the performance, switching a black strapless gown for a glittering gold number during her set.
Villa Olmo is a must-see spot in Como, and it’s easy to see why. The intricately designed estate boasts a number of columns and arches and is decorated with sculptures by Francesco Carabelli.
Marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi commissioned Swiss architect Simone Cantoni to build the neoclassical villa along the lake as a summer retreat for the aristocracy in 1797.
Many of those attending the event opted for elegant floor length gowns, including a purple frilly number (left). Another took off her shoes as she arrived in an eye-catching gold dress (right)
Another woman attending the event this weekend opted for a floor length yellow gown, which featured a black floral print
From bright red dresses to floral numbers, the women attending the occasion made sure to stand out in statement dresses
Charming! Male attendees to the event put their best fashion foot forward in dashing suits and black bow ties
All in the details: Caroline donned a pair of sparkling earrings when arriving at the villa by boat this weekend during the celebrations
Looking good! Guests’ outfits varied in style, with some opting for daring plunging numbers, featuring knee-high splits, while others wore more modest garments
Pretty in pink! One guest commanded attention in a baby pink gown with gold detailing when at the event this weekend
Arriving in style! Guests dressed up in luxurious ensembles journeyed to the villa in glamorous boats during the event
A number of luminaries have visited the villa over the years, including Napolean Bonaparte and Austrian Emperors Franz II and Ferdinand I.
In 1924, the villa became the property of the city, and it’s now used for cultural events and art exhibitions in Como.
As well as closing the site for a month ahead of their big day on Saturday, the couple also installed a floating lakeside dock to welcome their 250 guests to the villa, meaning the surrounding parkland behind the villa was also closed.
Livia Cioffi, the culture chief of Como council, told the Times: ‘Shutting down the property for 27 days was possibly too much,’ adding that preparations for a previous large wedding ‘only took it over for two weeks.’
She continued that ‘this money will be much needed for paying day-to-day expenses like the wages of police and rubbish collectors.’
Meanwhile Davide Cantoni, of local news outlet ComoZero stated: ‘The parkland is the most beautiful stretch of greenery in Como… so sealing it off for a month in June has upset people.’
Local councillor Maurizio Traglio told La Provincia Di Como newspaper: ‘Our town is not in default or in difficulty and does not need to make sacrifices or accept extreme measures to pay off debts.’
Mr Howard, a stalwart Conservative supporter, became well known after astute reading of imminent danger helped him become a billionaire, as his Brevan Howard hedge fund liquidated 80 per cent of its investments into cash at an early point in the global financial crisis.
Snaps shared on social media by guests show how the couple walked down an aisle of stunning white flowers and greenery before tying the knot beneath a stunning archway of flowers (left and right)
While Alan appeared to wear a traditional black suit for the occasion, his striking bride Caroline could be seen in a flowing white gown with a cathedral style veil
The couple, who first tied the knot during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2010 and welcomed a daughter together in May, stood side-by-side as they exchanged their vows
Caroline wore a stunning floor length white gown for the event in Italy on Saturday, sweeping her hair into a low bun to reveal the back of her dress
The former Salomon Brothers bond trader founded Brevan Howard in 2003 and the firm, based in Marks & Spencer’s former headquarters on Baker Street, has grown to become the world’s fourth-largest hedge fund with £20bn run by 300 staff.
Following a global macro strategy of betting on international financial trends, Brevan Howard’s key fund produced a 21per cent return in 2008 while most of its rivals suffered.
He now boasts a large art collection and a £22million penthouse in Trump Tower.
In 2010, he made headlines after paying £25,000 for the singer Pixie Lott and boy band JLS to perform at his 13-year-old son Daniel’s bar mitzvah celebrations in 2010.
And in 2015, he forked out $14million for a swanky apartment in Miami, Florida.
The 250-strong guest list were treated to a private performance by Lady Gaga, who took to the piano to sing a number of her hit songs
Among her set-list were ‘Always Remember Us This Way’ and ‘Shallow’ from the Academy Award-winning film A Star Is Born with Bradley Cooper
Later, attendees watched an incredible fireworks display over the lake as the wedding reception came to an end
The fireworks display, which lit up the night sky on Saturday, was watched on by locals who gathered at the banks of the lake
He has four children with his ex-wife Sabine, whom he divorced in 2015.
Forbes magazine put Mr Howard’s personal fortune at $1.8bn (£1.2m) , ranking him 556th among the world’s richest people.
In a rare interview with Bloomberg News in 2009, Mr Howard, who is a diminutive 5ft 5in, admitted he prefers to refrain from the spotlight, saying: ‘We’re a company that prefers to have a low profile. That’s just the way we are.’
Mr Howard is acquainted with top figures including George Osborne and has served on the board of Conservative Friends of Israel.
But his spokesman has denied persistent reports that he is a donor to the Conservative party.
Meanwhile gluten-free chef and New Yorker Caroline Byron counts stars and royalty, including Princess Beatrice, among her friends (pictured)
He owns a number of properties in London and in March 2008, bought a sprawling apartment in Central Park for for $11,330,000 (£7.51million).
His new wife, a former model, runs her gluten-free food business Simply Caro, which counts celebrity fans including Princess Beatrice.
Caroline, who is from New York, became interested in food and cooking when she got Lyme disease at the age of 10.
She dropped out of college in Boston to pursue her love of cooking, and she enrolled at the French Culinary Institute in New York.
The couple have been incredibly private about their romance – with Caroline hinting she often ‘cooked for her boyfriend’ in a 2016 interview but refusing to name him.
Meanwhile they welcomed a daughter in May, although they have not shared any photographs of her and haven’t shared her name.
Inside the Lake Como villa where British hedge fund billionaire Alan Howard, 59, and his wife chef Caroline Byron, 33, welcomed 250 guests to watch them tie the knot – after paying ‘€1.3million’ to close it down for a month to prepare
British billionaire Alan Howard tied-the-knot with celebrity chef Caroline Byron at a black-tie event at Villa Olmo in Como, Italy, this weekend.
The couple, who were officially married in 2020 (although it’s unclear where that union took place), were joined at the star-studded event by glamorous guests including singer Pixie Lott and her new husband Oliver Cheshire, who only earlier this month celebrated their own nuptials.
Alan is said to have paid €1.3million to close the 18th-century lakeside mansion and its surrounding parks for almost a month – reportedly leading to angry local residents.
Villa Olmo (pictured) is a must-see spot in Como, and it’s easy to see why. The intricately designed estate boasts a number of columns and arches and is decorated with sculptures by Francesco Carabelli
Marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi commissioned Swiss architect Simone Cantoni to build the neoclassical villa along the lake as a summer retreat for the aristocracy in 1797. Pictured, one of the rooms in the villa
In front of the villa is a stunning Italian garden featuring symmetrical flowerbeds, a large fountain and several statues (pictured)
Villa Olmo is a must-see spot in Como, and it’s easy to see why. The intricately designed estate boasts a number of columns and arches and is decorated with sculptures by Francesco Carabelli.
Marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi commissioned Swiss architect Simone Cantoni to build the neoclassical villa along the lake as a summer retreat for the aristocracy in 1797.
A number of luminaries have visited the villa over the years, including Napolean Bonaparte and Austrian Emperors Franz II and Ferdinand I.
The villa – often dubbed on tourist websites as one of the must-see attractions in Como – is located in the northwest part of the city, at the end of a 500 metre lakeside walk.
The interiors of Villa Olmo – which was named after an elm tree planted in its gardens, which is no longer alive today – feature lavish paintings and statues. There is also a theatre which dates back to 1883.
The villa (pictured left) – often dubbed on tourist websites as one of the must-see attractions in Como – is located in the northwest part of the city, at the end of a 500 metre lakeside walk
Vintage cars displayed in the gardens of the Villa Olmo, with Lake Como in the background, at the Fuori Concorso automobile exhibition in May 2022
As well as closing the site for a month ahead of their big day on Saturday, Alan and Caroline also had a floating lakeside dock installed to welcome their 250 guests to the villa (pictured), meaning the surrounding parkland behind the villa was also closed
In front of the villa is a stunning Italian garden featuring symmetrical flowerbeds, a large fountain and several statues.
In 1924, the villa became the property of the city, and it’s now used for cultural events and art exhibitions in Como.
The villa has been used for weddings in the past, however, residents have reportedly been angered this time around by the number of days it has been closed.
As well as closing the site for a month ahead of their big day on Saturday, Alan and Caroline also had a floating lakeside dock installed to welcome their 250 guests to the villa, meaning the surrounding parkland behind the villa was also closed.
Attendees watched the pair make their marriage vows in a Jewish ceremony beneath a chuppah adorned with white flowers, before being serenaded by Lady Gaga and watching a huge firework display.
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