Celebrity Weddings of the Summer by Katrina Frolov
Most of us are endlessly and shamelessly entangled in celebrity culture. Our feeds are filled with their engagements, Twitter feuds and rehab stints, so it’s no surprise that when our favorites decide to tie the knot – we want to know every detail. While there is no shortage of recent weddings to pick from, here are a few that were our absolute favorites.
Let’s begin with the picture-perfect fairy tale that was Nicky Hilton and James Rothschild’s wedding this summer. Everything from the Kensington Palace venue, to the Maison Valentino gown, and celebrity guest list was reminiscent of a modern day royal affair. Hilton met her husband-to-be at a 2011 wedding of Petra Ecclestone and businessman James Stunt in Rome. It was love at first sight, according to the heiress, who explains that she and Rothschild are very similar in nature and enjoy the same things – mainly, avoiding the hectic social scene and being homebodies. Rothschild proposed while on summer vacation in Italy in 2014, after receiving her father’s permission.
It came as no surprise to anyone that in true Hilton style, the couple chose to get married in the very same place where only years before Prince William and Kate Middleton became man and wife. Paris Hilton, the bride’s infamous sister was in attendance as the maid of honor. According to the press, her boyfriend Thomas Gross was also at the event. The rest of the guests included the bride’s aunts Kim and Kyle Richards, stars of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills; Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and former president Bill Clinton; and others.
Judging by the photos touted across social media, the exquisitely planned event was something for the history books. We wouldn’t have expected anything less since both the bride and groom’s families are some of the wealthiest on both side’s of the pond.
And how about Guy Ritchie’s wedding to long-time fiancée Jacqui Ainsley? This star studded event, although less formal and traditional, had all the elements of a stunning, memorable affair. The setting was the couple’s country estate in Wiltshire, England, a home Ritchie inherited after the dissolution of his marriage to Madonna. The bride and groom opted for a “glamping” experience, arranging white teepees and tents for their guests to sleep in.
The bride, who also happens to share three children with Ritchie (Rafael, 3; Rivka, 2; Levi, 13 months) wore a beautiful gown by Phillipa Lepley. In attendance were the likes of Brad Pitt, David Beckham, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham, Henry Cavill and others. Guests teased the public with social media posts of the happy couple and group selfies from the event. Although Ritchie’s ex-wife Madonna was not in attendance, their son Rocco, 14, walked the glowing bride down the aisle. The groom later joked that he had waited for some time for his bride to come down.
The photos shared by the guests and newlyweds reveal an intimate setting devoid of the usual stuffiness that sometimes accompanies a traditional setting. Instead, the guests danced the night away and then snuggled into casual wear to watch a screening of Ritchie’s “The Man from U.N.C.L.E” on their lawn. Sounds like the perfect ending to a perfect day!
Finally, Hollywood royalty Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux tied the knot this summer in a surprise ceremony at their home in Bel Air. The entire affair was kept a secret. The staff operated under the assumption that the party was to be a birthday celebration for Theroux who was turning 44. According to multiple sources, the guests were let in on the secret, but imagine everyone else’s surprise when the pastor arrived and the real reason behind the party was revealed!
While the truth couldn’t be further from it, after a highly-publicized and painful divorce from ex-husband Brad Pitt (who then notoriously shacked up with co-star, now wife Angelina Jolie around the time of the divorce), Aniston had become the symbol of spinsterhood in the eyes of the media. Cynical eyes watched her every move, her comings and goings splashed across the pages of tabloids.
The bride met her husband-to-be on set in 2010, but it wasn’t until the following year that rumors of their relationship began to swirl. Theroux proposed in August 2012, after several reports by the media that the couple had split due to his unwillingness to commit (which fueled the media’s perception that a happy ending was simply not in the cards for Aniston). The ensuing three year engagement came under a lot of scrutiny from the media, with constant erroneous claims that the long engagement is a sign of an unhappy home. Notoriously private, Aniston shook off the media reports with a shrug – classy, as always.
Perhaps this is why their eventual nuptials caused so much commotion and surprise. The skeptics were finally overturned and while we’re sure the media remains cynical about their happy ending, we couldn’t be more excited for the couple!
The wedding guest list ranged from members of the Friends cast, to Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, Jimmy Kimmel and others. Although engaged for three years, nobody had suspected that they were planning on tying the knot that day. When asked about the ceremony, Aniston was quoted admitting that the night was a special, private moment between the two of them and she planned to keep it that way. Despite us wanting to know every detail, we love everything about this!
Whether scandalous or not, weddings, especially those involving our favorite celebrities, are beautiful celebrations of love. Perhaps this is why our culture is so fascinated with these moments – we’re all just romantics at heart.
