Silvia Ilves and Marek Nõmmik's luxury wedding cost over 250,000 euros

Cellist Silvia Ilves and businessman Marek Nõmmik married on 22 June at Taevaskoja, with celebrations held at Valgesoo's stone mansion with 160 guests. Channel 2's programme "Weddings of the Century" revealed pre-wedding tensions and behind-the-scenes intrigues, including at one point threatening to cancel the wedding if musician Mart Sander did not confirm as a performer.

Cellist Silvia Ilves and businessman Marek Nõmmik were married on 22 June in a ceremony held at Taevaskoja, with celebrations continuing at Valgesoo's stone mansion. Channel 2's programme "Weddings of the Century", hosted by Katrin Lust, followed the couple's journey to their big day and revealed the intriguing behind-the-scenes details of the weeks leading up to the wedding.

Mart Sander or no wedding

One of the biggest sources of tension involved musician Mart Sander and his Bel-Etage swing orchestra. Silvia Ilves-Nõmmik, as she is now known, told Marek unequivocally: "If Mart's Bel-Etage doesn't come, the wedding is off." The programme revealed that Mart Sander's performance fee initially caused the groom to raise his eyebrows, but eventually they reached an agreement. Sander himself recalled in the programme that he had previously been hired for Silvia's wedding, but on that occasion the celebrations were cancelled at the last minute; in 2018, Silvia was supposed to get married, but on the wedding day she had to go to work at the ERSO instead.

Ex-partner appears at band rehearsal

During the pre-wedding period, there was also a stir caused by Silvia's former partner Kristo Puhm, with whom her relationship ended in 2024. During Mart Sander's band rehearsal, Kristo showed up to bring music stands. "The main thing is that Marek doesn't find out about this. He really can't stand Kristo," Silvia said in the programme, adding that Marek is a reasonable man and wouldn't make a big deal about it.

250,000 euros and a Maybach on top

The total cost of the celebrations exceeded 250,000 euros, a sum with which Marek was not entirely happy. Three days before the wedding, he added the purchase of a luxurious Maybach to the bill, which did not please Silvia at all. "A completely pointless car. A waste, I would have put that money towards the wedding instead," she said in the programme. Used Maybach models in Estonia start at around 80,000 euros, with more exclusive ones reaching close to 250,000 euros.

The number of guests also grew unexpectedly: if about 90 people had been invited in early June, there were already 160 by the wedding day. Together with approximately 50 staff members, over 200 people were present. Wedding planner Getter Lehtmaa recalled that Silvia sent her new names via Facebook every day and invitations had to be reprinted constantly.

Silvia also dreamed of all guests arriving in 25 carriages. Marek thought that would be going too far. "Then we might as well have fountains with dragons if we're going that far," he apparently told the wedding planner.

Despite all the tensions, the day ended peacefully. Marek answered Katrin Lust's question about his emotions briefly: "Peace on earth." Silvia added: "There is peace, but now life really begins." The groom summed up the big day in one sentence: "It's the best wedding I've ever been to."