Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Nuptials Top the List of the Biggest Marriages of 2011
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The world of celebrity might not have the best track record to maintaining a long and happy marriage, but they all have to start somewhere. These are the 10 most famous nuptials that made the most headlines in 2011.
Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell
The music legend has taken two strolls down the aisle before he remarried in 2011. The first ended in heartache when Linda passed away in 1998 after a three-year battle with breast cancer. The second ended in heartbreak when Heather Mills tried to squeeze more than $38 million out of him after he filed for divorce in 2006. Could the third time be the charm for this Beatle?
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Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed
The KISS frontman and B-movie actress had taken things as slow as any couple could, 28 years to be exact. Their long dating record came to an abrupt end when the two finally tied the knot in Beverly Hills before 400 guests with their son, Nick, as a groomsmen and daughter, Sophie, as the maid of honor. The family’s dog, Snippy, joined in as the ring bearer.
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Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo
The former 98 Degrees band member's first widely publicized marriage to fellow pop star Jessica Simpson ended in heart-wrenching divorce, but he took the plunge again in 2011 when he married former Miss Teen USA and MTV host Vanessa Minnillio in a private ceremony. The pair had been dating for five years after meeting on the set for one of Lachey's music videos.
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Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz
Two of Hollywood's most sought after dramatic stars also said “I do” in 2011. Craig and Weisz were married in an extremely small private ceremony in New York with just four guests in attendance including Craig's 18-year-old daughter and Weisz's 4-year-old son. The couple appeared together in the 2011 thriller 'Dream House.'
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Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene
Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal nuptials weren't the only royal wedding to hit the front pages of 2011. Monaco celebrated the wedding of Prince Albert II to former South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock in a lavish ceremony and reception, exchanging rings made from white gold and platinum.
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Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries
America may not have royalty, but the press coverage of the wedding between Kim Kardashian and former NBA MVP Kris Humphries was treated like they were the king and queen of reality television. Their wedded bliss was short-lived since the couple filed for an annulment just 72 days after they exchanged vows. Did they write them in shorthand?
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Shania Twain and Frederic Nicolas Thiebaud
Country music's dream girl disappointed her male fans in 2011 by tying the knot for a second time with Frederic Thiebaud. The two had a rather auspicious start as Twain's ex-husband had an affair with Thiebaud's ex-wife. Twain wrote to her fans that Thiebaud has been a “compassionate, understanding friend. Over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this friendship.”
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Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
The Oscar-winning actress and star of such films as 'Legally Blonde' and 'Walk the Line' walked down the aisle in 2011 with entertainment agent Jim Toth. The ceremony was held at Witherspoon's ranch in Ojai, Calif. in a private ceremony with stars such as Renee Zellweger, Sean Penn, Scarlett Johansson, Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey Jr. in attendance.
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Michael Buble and Luisana Lopilato
Pop music's most popular crooner had not one, not two, but three weddings in 2011. No, he didn't divorce and get married three times like Kim Kardashian. Buble and Lopilato first had a small civil ceremony in Buenos Aires, followed by a second bash for 300 invited guests. The third was in Michael's hometown of Vancouver, organized by his parents for friends and family.
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Prince William and Princess Kate
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in Westminster Abbey seemed like a ceremony that could only come out of a fairy tale. At least that's how the worldwide media viewed the lead up to the big day that saw the middle Middleton being swept off her feet by the handsome Prince Charming. In addition to the 600,000 people who lined the streets of the wedding's motorcade and gathered around public screenings of the ceremony, nearly 2 billion people watched the entire ceremony from around the world.
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