The Most Over-the-Prime Celeb Weddings of All Time

After assembly on the set of her “Materials Lady” music video, rising Queen of Pop Madonna and breakout big-screen dangerous boy Sean Penn started courting in 1985. Six months later, on Aug. 16 (Madonna’s 27^th birthday), the 2 wed in a lavish Malibu ceremony. 2 hundred and twenty friends (together with Rosanna Arquette, Christopher Walken, Carrie Fisher, Andy Warhol, Diane Keaton, and Tom Cruise) stood poolside at real-estate developer Dan Unger’s $6.5 million dwelling to observe the 2 alternate vows above the Pacific Ocean. Escorted by her father, the bride wore a {custom} strapless robe created by her Madonna Stay: The Virgin Tour designer Marlene Stewart, whereas the groom donned an off-the-rack Versace tux. After a quick ceremony, Penn lifted his new spouse’s veil, and the couple shared a kiss because the theme from “Chariots of Hearth” performed. Later, there was sushi, there was Cristal, there was catering by Spago. In different phrases, it was the most Nineteen Eighties marriage ceremony of the Nineteen Eighties. It was additionally one of many first to be besieged by helicopters hovering not-so-high above the occasion, carrying tabloid photographers hoping to get their cash shot. The cutthroat battle set a harmful precedent for movie star marriage ceremony protection that has some {couples} so involved about privateness they go to excessive lengths to guard it. Like renting out Madison Sq. Backyard and/or staging a faux occasion. Perhaps.

On Sept. 21, 1996, America’s chosen royals have been married in a secret ceremony on Cumberland Island, Georgia. Kennedy had fallen in love with the tiny coastal city years previous to assembly his bride, however she, too, grew to become enamored of the distant locale. Many of the island has been deemed a nationwide park, so the couple held the reception (and housed their 40 friends) at its sole industrial property, the Greyfield Inn. As for his or her vows, JFK Jr. insisted they happen on the island’s First African Baptist Church. The proprietor of the Greyfield later recounted that he had shared a narrative with Kennedy about how the deacon of the church held an island-wide ceremony in honor of Robert F. Kennedy when he was assassinated in 1968. The story touched the youthful Kennedy, and he wished to honor the church by marrying there. The marriage took six months to plan, together with the creation of Bessette’s robe, a easy, bias-cut gown designed by good friend and former Calvin Klein colleague Narciso Rodriguez. It’s laborious to know when you weren’t there (children), however this was the last word Nineties marriage ceremony. From Bessette-Kennedy’s understated-yet-elegant look (the straightforward slip gown! The naked face with a daring lip! The free bun!) to the bare-bones candlelit chapel, it was each a time capsule and a timeless affair.

On this grand marriage of pop music and athletics, Posh and Becks tied the knot at Eire’s Luttrellstown Fortress on July 4, 1999, with solely 29 friends in attendance, as a result of they’re low-key like that. Simply kidding! After two grew to become one, they partied down with practically 300 of their closest associates, together with the Spice Ladies and Elton John. For the reception, Victoria modified out of her {custom} six-figure Vera Wang champagne strapless marriage ceremony robe (full with a 20-foot prepare … and a tiara) and joined David in donning his and hers purple numbers by designer Antonio Berardi. It was in these memorable matching lewks that they might take their rightful place on, ahem, matching gold thrones. The duo would go on to have a good time their 25^th anniversary in 2024 by posting their present-day selves in the identical outfits with Victoria captioning the shoot, “Yep, nonetheless received it!” And sure, the thrones did make the grid.

It was the flip of the century, and the world was respiration a sigh of aid that Y2K hadn’t knocked our world techniques offline. We rejoiced with boy-band music, butterfly clips, and a parasocial relationship with two of Hollywood’s greatest stars: box-office golden boy Brad Pitt and Rachel Inexperienced herself, Jennifer Aniston. We waited with bated breath for a marriage. We prayed Aniston would get the newborn all of us so desperately wished her to desperately need. And on July 29, 2000, we received half our want. The California-cool couple stated “I do” in entrance of 200 family and friends members on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean (within the yard of a Malibu property belonging to TV producer Marcy Carsey). The visitor record was star-studded, and the musical lineup included Melissa Etheridge, a Greek bouzouki band (to honor Aniston’s heritage), and a 40-person gospel choir. Someplace between the 50,000 flowers, lobster-heavy catering unfold, and, sure, numerous helicopters overhead (tents have been erected to protect the occasion from photogs), the duo made it official. Till ending their union in 2005 amid rumors, nicely based, that Pitt and his Mr. and Mrs. Smith co-star Angelina Jolie had began a relationship on set. Pitt would go on to make it official with Jolie in 2014, and Aniston would marry actor Justin Theroux in 2018. When each of these unions subsequently dissolved, the reminiscence of Brad and Jen’s idyllic Malibu marriage ceremony had followers hoping for a reunion. Alas, these hopes have been dashed.

On March 16, 2002, popular culture was given certainly one of its biggest moments when multihyphenate Liza Minnelli married producer Davd Gest at New York’s Marble Collegiate Church. The 2 tied the knot after just a few months of figuring out each other, however their marriage ceremony was an all-star affair. Minnelli’s ivory and crystal gown was designed by Bob Mackie and beloved movie star make-up artist, the late Kevyn Aucoin, was liable for her bridal beat. The pair have been registered at Bergdorf Goodman and Tiffany & Co. Their marriage ceremony celebration was 36 individuals deep. The reception included performances from 45 acts. In different phrases, this factor was actual. However what performed out felt like scene from a David Lynch movie. Minnelli had two maids of honor, certainly one of whom was Elizabeth Taylor. Her bridesmaids included Gina Lollobrigida, Petula Clark, and Mia Farrow. (Additionally, singer Mya, who was solely 22 on the time.) Gest’s finest males have been Tito and Michael Jackson. After which there was the kiss. After saying their vows, Gest planted such an aggressive smacker on Minnelli’s lips that she would later write in her memoir, “Like a shark mangling a chunk of meat. Ugh! I felt degraded.” It’s no marvel the 2 parted methods in 2003 (although their contentious divorce would go on 4 extra years). Now, all that’s left are reminiscences and that iconic photograph of the completely happy couple flanked by Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson.

Whereas many bear in mind Pamela Anderson’s iconic bikini-clad marriage ceremony to Tommy Lee (held on a seashore in Mexico simply 96 hours after assembly), her marriage to Child Rock was equally unhinged (and underdressed). First linked to at least one one other in 2001, the pair have been engaged in 2002, solely to name issues off in 2003. However they fell again into one another’s arms in July of 2006. Later that month (sure, we stated month) the couple have been married on a yacht in St. Tropez. The groom wore a fedora (not a shirt) and the bride wore … one other bikini. On Aug. 2, the pair had a legally binding (and clothed — we hope?) ceremony on the Beverly Hills Courthouse. Shortly thereafter, on Aug. 17, the pair took the stage at Nashville’s Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge honky tonk (she in a white Juicy Couture tracksuit, he in his signature white tank) to say “I do” but once more, earlier than Child Rock serenaded his bride with “Some Sort of Fantastic.” Sadly, the third time was not the appeal. Anderson filed for divorce on Nov. 27 of that 12 months, along with her rep noting, “It was not a cheerful Thanksgiving.”

Little did everyone knows that on April 4, 2008, music’s royal couple stated “I do” in New York Metropolis. The music moguls are famously non-public about their non-public life, and their marriage ceremony was no exception. In truth, they held the intimate gathering at dwelling, a.ok.a. Jay-Z’s 13,500-square-foot penthouse in TriBeCa. Intimate doesn’t at all times imply small, although. The three,000-square-foot lounge (the place the ceremony happened) was lined in a tent crammed with flowers, candles, branches, and crystal icicles to create a winter wonderland theme. The couple additionally had 70,000 white dendrobium orchids flown in from Thailand. Beyoncé wore a robe designed by her mother, Tina Knowles, and the 40 friends included her Future’s Little one bandmates, in addition to Gwenyth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Telephones have been collected as attendees arrived, in order that no footage may very well be leaked. And it labored! None of us knew the 2 have been hitched till 2011, when Bey revealed her marriage ceremony gown in a video for Stay at Roseland. Three years later, Jay-Z included clips of their ceremony in the course of the pair’s joint On the Run tour.

After a whirlwind six-week romance, the singer and the comic made their are-they-or-aren’t-they relationship official with a shock marriage ceremony on April 30, 2008. Held at Carey’s non-public Bahamian property, the nuptials have been a whole shock to the dozen friends who had been flown in for what they thought was a music video shoot. The 2 wed at sundown on the seashore, with Carey donning a easy white Nile Cmylo slip gown and Cannon in a Balenciaga tuxedo. Later, they joined their friends for a lobster feast which they washed down with bottles of Dom Pérignon. Carey, who famously loves an anniversary, discovered a soulmate in Cannon: The 2 renewed their vows yearly after (till their 2016 divorce), together with in a ceremony officiated by Rev. Al Sharpton, on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and at Disneyland (they’d the park closed for the event), the place they dressed as a prince and princess.

Customized designer robes! Traditionally vital venues! An E! digital camera crew! Kim and Kanye’s marriage ceremony had all of the makings of a modern-day fairy story. Deliberate virtually solely by West, the multiday occasion spanned two international locations and two chartered planes. 2 hundred friends have been invited to the rehearsal dinner, for which West rented out all the Palace of Versailles. Like, the entire thing. Dinner was served within the palace’s Corridor of Mirrors, the place everybody loved a shock efficiency from Lana del Rey. The subsequent day, the entire gang was flown to Florence to observe Kim and Kanye alternate vows at Forte di Belvedere. Kim walked down the aisle in a {custom} lace Givenchy robe designed by Riccardo Tisci, estimated to have value about $500,000. (The couple’s 11-month-old daughter North additionally wore Givenchy.) She was escorted by Caitlin Jenner, whereas being serenaded by Andrea Bocelli, which might later give us the enduring scene from The Kardashians during which Kim and Kourtney are feuding concerning the latter’s option to marry Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker in Italy with a efficiency by the identical Italian tenor in 2022, during which Kim declared: “Who carried out at my marriage ceremony? Andrea Bocelli. Who carried out at Kourtney’s marriage ceremony? Andrea Bocelli. You stole my fucking marriage ceremony nation and my marriage ceremony performer.”

America’s sweethearts wed in Venice, Italy, on June 27, 2025, after a lavish three-day celebration match for George and Amal Clooney. (No, critically, it was mainly an Amazon dupe of the A-listers’ personal three-day Venetian nuptials.) On the large day, the bride wore a corseted, mermaid-style marriage ceremony gown custom-designed by Dolce & Gabbana, that includes hand-appliquéd Italian lace and 180 silk chiffon-covered buttons. The robe was impressed by one worn by Sophia Loren within the 1958 movie Houseboat. (Sanchez instructed Vogue forward of her marriage ceremony that the look was extra modest than her ordinary model, saying, “It’s a departure from what individuals anticipate.”) The marriage, which was rumored to have value round $55 million, noticed its share of celeb friends, together with Oprah, a lot of the Kar-Jenners (all of a sudden Kim was cool with somebody stealing her marriage ceremony nation), and climate-change activist and actor Leonardo DiCaprio. We proceed to want the couple our greatest and plenty of completely happy (free) returns.