Celebrity weddings are known to be lavish, marked by a grand reception, a wide range of cuisines, and a long guest list. But not all stars want it that way. Despite their fame and heavy presence in the public domain, some celebs have tied the knot without making it a big affair. Instead of throwing a huge party, they invited a few close friends and family members and kept their special day private.
Lily Allen and David Harbour
This famous couple tied the knot in a private and intimate ceremony at the hallowed Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. The wedding was officiated by an Elvis Presley impersonator. The Stranger Things actor and the Smile singer-songwriter married a day after getting their marriage license made. After the low-key ceremony, the duo, along with Allen’s two daughters, gorged on In-N-Out burgers to celebrate.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Lively and Reynolds’ relationship has been among the most adored and enduring ones. Their Southern wedding featured only a handful of guests and a performance by singer Florence Welch. During the reception, an infamous incident occurred wherein Lively accidentally burnt a hole in her wedding dress with a sparkler. The Deadpool star later told his wife that the burn remains his favorite aspect of her gown.
Emma Stone and Dave McCary
The Saturday Night Live writer Dave McCary met Emma Stone at a sketch comedy show she had hosted in December 2016. The pair kept their relationship private until McCary confirmed their engagement three years later. Even their wedding was pretty low-key. Fans learned about their marriage only when they spotted the pair wearing wedding bands. The Cruella star gave a brief glimpse into their wedding celebrations in 2022 by re-wearing her feathered reception dress at a MET GALA event.
Beyonce and Jay-Z
Few names match up to Beyonce and Jay-Z in terms of star power and recognizability. And yet, the musical pair tied the knot in an incredibly low-profile ceremony at the latter’s New York apartment in 2008. The event was reportedly attended by only 40 guests, which chiefly included family members and close friends from both sides. Beyonce wore an ivory gown that her mother, Tina, had designed for her. The only grand detail of the wedding was the 70,000 white orchids, Beyonce’s favorite flower, used to decorate the apartment.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio
Actor Marilyn Monroe and Major League Baseball stalwart Joe DiMaggio married in the judge’s chambers in San Francisco City Hall. The couple reportedly jetted off to Tokyo, Japan, for their honeymoon after the ceremony. Monroe and DiMaggio were famously greeted by avid fans and photographers outside the City Hall when they walked out after the wedding.
Luciana Barroso and Matt Damon
Few celebrity weddings were as quick and under-publicized as Luciana Bozán Barroso and Matt Damon’s. The only known guest at the wedding was Barroso’s young daughter from a previous marriage. The Bourne Identity actor had a busy filming schedule at the time, so the courthouse wedding needed to be rushed so that he could resume his work. Damon was back at the filming location just a day later. After the wedding, the couple traveled to London, where the actor was working on his next movie, The Good Shepherd.
Keira Knightley and James Righton
The Academy Award-nominated actor Keira Knightley and musician James Righton tied the knot in a low-profile ceremony at a town hall in Mazan, a quaint village in south-eastern France. The Pride & Prejudice star admitted that the pair were not fans of lavish wedding ceremonies. According to news reports, the event lasted 30 minutes and included only those closest to them.
Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig
Despite being so well-known, Weisz and Craig’s wedding ceremony was remarkably elusive. The married couple did not share a single photo of the occasion with the media. The only known details of the wedding of The Constant Gardener actress and the Knives Out actor were that it took place in a private ceremony in New York. Only four guests—two of their kids and two family friends—were present.
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas
This celebrity pair married at Chapel L’Amour in Las Vegas without much fanfare or media presence. Like Harbour and Allen’s wedding, the ceremony was officiated by an Elvis impersonator. The pair exchanged rings, recited their vows, and later danced to a rendition of Viva Las Vegas. The Waffle House singer wore a gray suit for the wedding, while the Game of Thrones actor donned a shiny white jumpsuit. The pair held a more elaborate ceremony in France a couple of months later.
Cherry Seaborn and Ed Sheeran
In 2018, Ed Sheeran married his longtime partner Cherry Seaborn in a private event. The pair reportedly tied the knot at the Perfect singer’s English estate. They did not officially confirm their marriage until July 2019. According to some reports, around 40 guests were present, including the singer’s close school friends, limited family members, and a priest.
