Every year a new crop of celebrities walk down the aisle, serving up some major planning inspo for couples who are planning their own vows. Even with the pandemic still interfering with many people’s plans—including the rich and famous—these celebrities proved that even the most intimate of weddings can be the most beautiful!
Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton said "I do" in front of 40 guests—including officiant Carson Daly—in a chapel Shelton had built on the grounds of his Oklahoma ranch. The bride wore two strapless, custom-made Vera Wang dresses, with her gown for the ceremony paired with a showstopping chapel-length veil hand-embroidered with the names of her newly blended family: "Blake, Gwen, Kingston, Zuma, Apollo.”
Shelton, who donned blue jeans with a tuxedo jacket, vest, and bow tie, surprised his bride with a special song during the ceremony. "Gwen and I decided we were going to write our own vows for the wedding, but I decided to surprise her by writing a song instead," he explained on Instagram.
Lily Collins & Charlie McDowell
The “Emily in Paris” star got married to her director beau in Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado, with their famous parents (her dad is musician Phil Collins, while he is the son of actors Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen) in attendance. Collins wore a lace Ralph Lauren gown with long lace sleeves and an embroidered mock neck and flowed into a lace train, which matched perfectly with the couple’s cottagecore theme.
Issa Rae & Louis Diame
Issa Rae married longtime love Louis Diame in a private ceremony in the South of France. The bride walked down the aisle in a custom Vera Wang gown, while the groom—a businessman—wore a red Dolce & Gabbana suit. The nuptials were kept quiet until Rae announced them on her Instagram page: "A) Impromptu photoshoot in a custom @verawang dress. B) My girls came to help me, but they all coincidentally had on the same dress! They were sooooo embarrassed. C) Then I took a few flicks with Somebody’s Husband."
Ariana Grande & Dalton Gomez
The singer married Gomez—a real estate agent—at her home with less than 20 guests in attendance. Grande wore a strapless, floor-length gown with a corset-style bodice and a dipped, open back, completed by a custom veil with a bow. The wedding décor consisted of candles on black tabletops and hanging florals cascading from the ceiling.
Simon Huck & Phil Riportella
Huck, the founder of Command Entertainment Group, and Riportella, the cofounder of the fragrance brand Snif, got hitched in a wedding inspired by 1950s Hollywood glamour. The goal for the ceremony was for guests, including Hailey Bieber, Kim Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner, “to feel as if you were being invited over to your friend’s chic living room,” said Huck. The grooms both wore Dolce & Gabbana, with Huck in a more classic look and Riportella choosing a lightweight velvet tux jacket with a black trim. The reception space was transformed into a nightclub so everyone could dance the night away.
Jeannie Mai & Jeezy
While they originally wanted a European wedding, like many couples, the couple had to change plans due to the pandemic. Instead, Mai and Jeezy transformed their backyard into the perfect wedding venue. The bride wore a custom-designed dress, while the groom donned a champagne blush suit. The garden ceremony was especially personal, with handwritten vows, as well as their take on a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony, which was led by Mai's brother. They kicked off their reception with drinks taken from a ski shot board designed by a close family friend.
Anna Faris & Michael Barrett
Faris revealed on her podcast that she and her cinematographer fiancé eloped during the pandemic. The couple kept everything so quiet, even her family didn’t know they had wed at a courthouse in Washington until four days later! "Everything about it just felt right," Faris explained. "It was San Juan Island up in Washington state, which is just the most magical place on earth."
Malala Yousafzai & Asser Malik
The Nobel Peace Prize winner said "I do" to Asser Malik in front of family and their closest friends at home in Birmingham. Putting together the wedding was a family affair: Yousafzai’s mother and her friend bought the bride’s wedding clothes, while the groom’s mother and sister gave Yousafzai the jewelry she wore during the ceremony. And while her father booked the food and decorations, Yousafzai applied her own henna. “We were thrilled to share this joyful surprise with everyone who cares for us – and we are excited for the journey ahead,” said Yousafzai.
Paris Hilton & Carter Reum
The couple got married at the former estate of the bride's late grandfather, Barron Hilton, in Bel-Air. Hilton walked down the aisle in a couture gown by Oscar de la Renta and then changed into two different outfits during the reception, while the bridesmaids wore pink Alice & Olivia gowns. Celebrity guests including Demi Lovato performed during the reception, which featured a six-foot tall wedding cake and a flash mob dance arranged by the groom. With classic white and blush roses, lavish chandeliers, and gold accents, this was the most glam celebrity wedding of the year!
Hero photo courtesy of Lauren Fair