The life of the rich and famous almost never disappoints when it comes to their lavish lifestyle choices. It only makes sense that for the most important day of their lives celebrities go above and beyond to get married at a destination that will surely spark attention and obsession.
Being constantly in the spotlight can get rough, which is why some stars tied the knot completely in secret. Because when you’re as famous as Jay-Z and Beyoncé sometimes a small intimate ceremony in your hip apartment is all you need. Sometimes celebrities leave us in the dark, wondering which exotic destination they’ll choose for their big day until they are ready to shock the world. On the other more extreme hand, there are a select few celebrities on this list whose guests had no clue where the wedding would take place until the day of. It must be a pretty special destination when even your guests aren’t aware of the location and must be transported via a top-secret bus!
From majestic castles to ultra-exclusive resorts, these celebrities leave us in awe with their choice of wedding destinations. Ladies (and gents too), start taking notes because some of these stunning locations will definitely inspire you and your betrothed to plan a destination wedding.
22 1.Lake Como, Italy (John Legend and Chrissy Teigen)
It was in 2006 that Grammy-winning John Legend had the stunning Chrissy Teigen star in his music video for his song ‘Stereo’. Seven years and one day later on September 14th, 2013 the pair exchanged vows in Italy’s stunning Lake Como with 125 guests in attendance. It took the lovebirds just about two years after getting engaged to settle on the venue for their wedding.
In John’s words, they had to decide on a location which “fit the rustic-chic, elegant-but-not-too-glossy” atmosphere they wanted. John also admitted Lake Como was where he and Chrissy had gone on their first vacation and fell in love so it only made sense that’s where they’d decide to make their love official.
21 2.Dublin, Ireland (Victoria and David Beckham)
The Beckham wedding has a significant importance in history as an iconic Irish wedding which the Irish are quite proud of. It was back in 1999 when David and Victoria wed in the Lutrellstown Castle in the beautiful Clonsilla just on the outskirts of Dublin.
Today the lovable couple has four kids and on the 4th of July 1999, their first son Brooklyn was the sweetest of ring bearers to his famous parents. In 1999 it has even been reported about 457 staff members were employed to be at the beck and call of the Beckham’s and their guests. I wouldn't expect anything less for Posh Spice and the soccer superstar.
20 3. Parrot Cay Resort, Turks and Caicos (Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck)
Voted best wedding destination in the Caribbean by magazines is the Parrot Cay Resort in Turks and Caicos. It’s also the private island where Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck decided to tie the knot amidst the utmost luxury. Despite choosing an extravagant destination wedding, the ceremony and reception itself was a quiet and intimate affair on July 29th, 2005.
At the same time, on the glistening turquoise beaches of the Turks and Caicos, the pair who met on the set of Daredevil also announced they were pregnant with their first child.
19 4. Aman-i-Khán Resort, India (Katy Perry and Russell Brand)
Although not married for long, Katy Perry and Russell Brand started their marriage off by a totally exotic wedding. Their outrageous wedding destination was Jaipur in India, specifically the Aman-i Khás Resort. Katy and Russell, both equally exotic and unpredictable exchanged their vows at an exclusive resort not too far from the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan with about 80 guests present.
For the unusual wedding procession, 21 camels along with elephants and horses were booked to partake in the celebrations. Also, all documentation was done from the paparazzi who were trying to keep up via a Jeep Safari.
18 5. Private Home In Corsica, Italy (Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz)
After reportedly first meeting in their teens, Alicia Keys and Kaseem ‘Swizz Beatz’ Dean started dating in 2008. During their vacation in Hawaii in January 2010, Swizz Beatz proposed to the R&B starlet with a seven-carat diamond ring a day before her 29th birthday. The setting for their nuptials was a private home on the breath-taking coastal Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Some very famous and powerful guests were in attendance including public speaker Deepak Chopra who officiated the marriage as well as Queen Latifah and Bono from U2. The couple recently celebrated seven years of marriage and could not appear to be any happier together.
17 6. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo)
Maroon 5’s lead singer Adam Levine and Victoria’s Secret Angel Behati Prinsloo selected the unique, organic and luxurious Flora Farm in San Jose del Cabo as the venue for their special wedding.
Known as a tranquil sanctuary just a mile from the turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez, this organic hand-tended farm was the perfect setting for the pair and their guests who danced the night away. The guests were a ‘dancing crowd’ and had live music from Maroon 5, Sublime, Stevie Nicks and the lovely bride Behati Prinsloo who sang ‘First Day of My Life’ for her groom.
16 7. Chateau des Condé, Vallery France (Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez)
With 60 loved ones in attendance, Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry wed French film star Olivier Martinez in the picturesque Vallery, France. Although six years ago Halle told InStyle “I will never, never get married again”, she confidently called him “The One” right before their intimate ceremony at the rustic Chateau des Condé.
Their setting at the early Renaissance French chateau set the tone for their discreet and down-to earth ceremony with only their closest friends and family present to celebrate. The ceremony included an elegant dinner, firework display and dancing late into the night.
15 8. Sugar Beach, St. Lucia (Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso)
Celebrating thirteen years of marriage and love, the Bourne Identity star Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso have been crowned with the title of Hollywood’s Best Couple. This destination wedding took place on the to-die-for Caribbean island of St-Lucia right by the waters of Sugar Beach. It was reported only 50 lucky guests got the invite to the ceremony, which included stars like Jimmy Kimmel and Chris Hemsworth.
A staff member stated that Damon had used an alias name to rent out the entire resort on Sugar Beach, and until the last moment, they thought it was a Mr. and Mrs. Naff getting married!
14 9. Palm Beach, Florida (Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto)
The greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan wed the former model Yvette Prieto in complete extravagance, under the largest tent in wedding history. The ceremony was conducted in the Episcopal Church of Bethesda by the Sea in the gorgeous Palm Beach, Florida with about 300 guests in attendance. Following the exchange of vows was the reception under a massive tent at the luxurious Bear’s Club private golf course, with an over the top firework show when the sun set.
Rather than receiving wedding gifts, donations were made to the James R. Jordan Foundation and their extensive selection of flowers including white roses and peonies
13 10. Mandelieu, South Of France (Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger)
Although no longer together, Avril Lavigne and Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger celebrated a full-fledged gothic wedding at a Chateau near Cannes, with Avril walking down the aisle in a jaw-dropping black lace gown.
The setting was at a restored castle in the region of Mandelieu-la-Napoule which is also a French historical landmark. Justifying her wedding choices, Avril told HELLO magazine “I wanted it to be over the top. I’m obsessed with castles and I love French décor and Goth”. Looks like Avril succeeded. She looked stunning in her black wedding gown.
12 11. Borgo Egnazia, Italy (Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel)
The luxury hotel Borgo Egnazia in Italy’s Puglia was the modern-day castle where Justin Timberlake married his beautiful bride Jessica Biel. In Italian ‘borgo’ signifies village, and the Borgo Egnazia is arranged like a village with villas, hotel rooms, pools and private beaches. Surrounded by about 100 family and friends in the Italian countryside, the two wed in the stunning white-stoned castle.
The 7th Heaven star walked down the aisle in a custom-made petal pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown while the groom rocked a Tom Ford tuxedo which he helped design. Following the wedding and reception was a weeklong celebration in the stunning region of Puglia and the Mediterranean.
11 12. Boone Hall Plantation, South Carolina (Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds)
When we think of couple goals a picture of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds instantly comes to mind. The couple which met on the set of Green Lantern chose a true charming Southern wedding destination to say their “I Do’s”. The couple is known for loving their privacy (Blake kept a lot of secrets on Gossip Girl), and their wedding was no exception to this, even asking guests to sign a non-disclosure agreement according to Vogue.
Defying all traditions, Blake and Ryan chose a plantation as their idyllic wedding venue. The Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant South Carolina was also the setting for the beloved movie The Notebook in 2010. I guess Boone Hall Plantation is a lover’s haven after all.
10 13. Notre Dame Basilica, Canada (Celine Dion and Rene Angelil)
The whole world was watching as Celine Dion married her manager and fiancé René Angelil which was broadcast on live television in 1994. Adorned in a 20-foot train and enormous Swarovski-crystal tiara, Celine walked down the aisle of Montreal’s breath-taking and ornate Notre Dame Basilica to her lover René. Hundreds of fans and paparazzo’s crowed outside the basilica to catch a glimpse of the charming couple, and a Quebec magazine even paid a hefty $200,000 for an exclusive look of the ceremony.
The pair renewed their wedding vows on their five year wedding anniversary during an Orthodox ceremony at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas (talk about over the top).
9 14. Forti Di Belvedere, Florence, Italy (Kim Kardashian and Kanye West)
The Belvedere Fort in Florence was the exclusive spot where the most talked about celebrities, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian tied the knot in May of 2014. The 21-time Grammy winner has been quoted with raving about how much he adores Florence, adding that “It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world - for me the most beautiful in Europe”. It only makes sense the power couple made their love official in Firenze, arriving to the 16th century Forti di Belvedere in a jaw-dropping gilded carriage.
The stunning Belvedere Fort set atop the rolling Florentine hills cost just $400,000 to rent for the occasion, which is nothing compared to the total price tag of the wedding which was a whopping $2.8 million! Of course we’d expect nothing less from Mr. West and Kim.
8 15. Venice, Italy (George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin)
The world’s most eligible bachelor, Mr. George Clooney was finally tied down by the gorgeous Amal Alamuddin in 2014 at a historic hotel along Venice’s Canal Grande. The Aman Hotel is ranked a ‘7 star’ and includes opulent rooms decorated with historic frescoes and ornate hand-crafted chandeliers from the nearby island of Murano. George and Amal arrived at the posh hotel via gondola with the former mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, who also officiated the nuptials.
Although their wedding destination was as lavish as weddings can get, their romantic honeymoon was surprisingly spent in their home they had recently bought together which was still unfinished. Amal admitted they mostly had to camp out in their new home, which only confirms to us that no matter how famous you are, down-to earth experiences are underrated.
7 16. Big Sur, California: Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman
Wearing an off the shoulder Valentino gown, Princess Diaries actress Anne Hathaway wed her boyfriend of four years Adam Shulman on a private estate in Big Sur, California. On the big day, 180 guests were transported to the ceremony location at the Wind and Sea Big Sur Resort, which remained undisclosed until the last moment.
This incredible destination is a romantic favorite among celebrities, including Natalie Portman, Nicolas Cage and Brooke Shields who all celebrated their wedding vows by the waters of Big Sur. Anne and Adam’s wedding was quite the affair, with a white, pink and rustic theme and elaborate flower arrangements which took over one week to prepare!
6 17. Historic Ka'upulehu, Hawaii (Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green)
Brian Austin Green, who starred in 90210, and Transformers’ Megan Fox met back in 2004, and despite their twelve year age gap have made it through eleven years of marriage. The couple which has about seven pets celebrated their love with a wedding ceremony by the beautiful beaches of Hawaii.
Having been engaged to each other twice, the resilient pair decided on a very much intimate wedding and only had one guest in attendance, Green’s son Kassius. Today their family has expanded to three kids and who knows, maybe we’ll see Fox and Green’s continue to expand in the future!
5 18. In Secret In Australia (Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley)
For the longest time the public believed Margot Robbie had been secretly married to her longtime boyfriend, British director Tom Ackerley for years. This hush hush wedding actually took place in Margot’s native country, Australia, on a private estate in Bryon Bay.
In fact, this wedding was so top-secret that their 50 guests were picked up from various spots around the actual location, and finally dropped off at the venue where Margot shined in a white bohemian Oscar de la Renta gown. Despite trying to keep her wedding plans secret, the DailyMail captured Margot rocking a T-shirt with ‘Say I Do Down-Under’ sprawled across the front as she arrived in Australia.
4 19. Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher
One of the sweetest love stories in Hollywood belongs to That 70’s Show co-stars Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. In the late 90’s the two were paired as a couple, playing the roles of Jackie Burkhart (Mila 14 at the time) and Michael Kelso (Ashton was 19). Only in 2012 at an awards show did the two actually feel become romantically involved.
The very private couple had an incredibly secret wedding, despite having their first kiss together on national television! Kutcher even confessed they had been creating false news about their wedding venue, posting incorrect locations all over social media.
3 20. Tribeca Apartment (Jay-Z and Beyonce)
One of the most powerful couples, Jay-Z and Beyoncé have gone through their fair share of time in the spotlight. The Crazy In Love singer and rap superstar have just recently celebrated their eleventh anniversary together but since the 90’s the couple were evasive about their relationship. Craving a private wedding ceremony, the two seemingly played a joke on the world when, on April 1st, 2008 they exchanged vows in Jay-Z’s 13,500 sq.-ft. apartment in Tribeca, New York.
Some secret details include Jay-Z’s indoor gym being transformed into Bey’s dressing room and decorations consisting of 70,000 special orchids flown in all the way from Thailand!