Every day is someone’s wedding day – and in celeb-land 2013 it was definitely a very romantic year. From big international stars, to those who looked to gain a little more exposure by selling their story to a glossy mag, celebs all over the place were getting wed, promising to love, cherish, mix the cocktails, and keep their five international homes neat and tidy. Let’s have a recap!
Keira Knightley & James Righton
In May, Keira Knightley married her fiancé James Righton (of the Klaxons), in France. The weather was fab and only a lucky few attended the lovely low-key day, not counting the paparazzi who turned up uninvited anyway. The details were kept secret, however the wedding made BIG news around the world for one chief reason – that GOWN. A Rodarte ballerina-style dress, all tulle and romance, knee-length and simple as can be… which Keira had allegedly already worn in 2008. For her wedding, she paired it up with simple ballet flats, a Chanel jacket, and a romantic flower headdress. Love her or hate her, the gossipy fashionistas the world over all jumped on the ‘thrifty’ bandwagon, praising her for being so clever and unlike other celebs. We loved it! And kudos to Keira for doing it the way she wanted – we’ve a sneaky suspicion her husband loved it low-key too.
Image of Keira & James’s wedding courtesy of the Daily Mail
Jessica Ennis & Andy Hill
May was also the month of romance for Olympic champion Jessica Ennis, who wed fiancé Andy Hill. The Peak District in Derbyshire had a smidgen less sun than Keira’s day in France, but it was okay anyway – the bride’s glow was definitely enough. The gown was by Monique L’huillier, but it’s funny how very few publications picked up on that – they all called it a “V-necked gown with a ruffle skirt”… an accurate if not a little boring description. In fact, the dress was dazzling – something we’d come to expect from Monique anyway. Judging from the cream and pink bouquet, it was likely the colour theme of the day, although the couple did the classy thing and kept the reception private.
Jessica & Andy’s wedding image courtesy of vogue.co.uk
Amir Khan & Faryal Makhdoom
Another May day belonged to boxer Amir Khan and his stunning-beyond-words bride Faryal Makhdoom. This wedding was a global affair, with the first wedding held at the New York’s Waldorf Astoria, and the second… in Bolton, Lancashire, England, the groom’s hometown. And – you may find this hilarious – Amir invited Hello Magazine to exclusively cover his New York wedding, with the limited pictures being published on June the 10th in the… ‘Souvenir Coronation Edition’. That’s right – he had to share the print space with Her Majesty the Queen herself, reflecting on her 60 years on the throne. The couple are now expecting their first child!
Image of Amir Khan’s wedding courtesy of Hello Magazine
Karen Koster & John McGuire
Ireland’s own Karen Koster chose Italy for her wedding – ciao Sicily – marrying her boyfriend of four years, John McGuire. We loved her hair style, worn loose in gorgeous blonde curls, perfectly accessorised with a short veil. She had the right idea for the event itself too: even before the wedding, Karen said in an interview that it’s going to be a “small do, big dress”. And that’s exactly what she got! We can’t help but give her two thumbs up for choosing a more intimate option of a wedding abroad, because – among other things – it meant she was the star of the day. The most interesting thing is that we know where her dress was purchased (at The White Room in Mullingar), but still nobody seems to have mentioned who the designer was. Perhaps there wasn’t one – maybe it was a true one-of-a-kind. And, while on the subject of dresses – her bridesmaids wore the palest of pinks, a stunning choice.
Image of Karen Koster’s wedding courtesy of the Irish Mirror
Avril Lavigne & Chad Kroeger
France, the land of l’amour, was the right choice for Avril Lavigne’s July wedding to rocker Chad Kroeger of Nickleback. Those in-the-know when it comes to wedding dress trends were probably rolling their eyes at all the media hysterics over Avril’s black dress – Vera Wang’s Fall 2012 collection had paved the path for brides long before! Selling exclusive rights to their wedding album to Hello Magazine, they shared the cover privileges with none other than the unborn Prince George in a ‘Royal Baby Latest’ issue. We say – it was fantastic to see a celeb bride wearing something other than white and we totally loved her gorgeous black rose bouquet and choice of Goth themed ceremony. We love a brave bride who makes alternative choices.
Image of Avril and Chad’s wedding courtesy of Hello Magazine
Tina Turner & Erwin Bach
This lady’s got absolute heaps of style, and is a true icon of talent and creativity – she has the kind of celebrity existence where she’s known for her music and talent, not so much for tabloid antics. If you haven’t seen Tina Turner’s gown yet, you simply must – a dramatic green-and-black Armani creation, with bodice covered in Swarovski crystals, shorter at the front to give a glimpse of those famous legs, it was exactly what we expected of Tina. It was reported that up to 200 guests attended her Swiss nuptials to Erwin Bach, and we bet that David Bowie, Oprah Winfrey and Bryan Adams brought really cool gifts. Tina then shared her wedding photos exclusively with Hello Magazine… can you guess what happened next? Ha ha… it was the ‘Welcome to the World Baby Cambridge’ issue. The royals trumped the wedding… again!
Image of Tina & Erwin’s wedding courtesy of Hello Magazine
Victoria Pendleton & Scott Gardner
Beijing Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton and Scott Gardner finally silenced the nay-sayers when they got wed in Cheshire in September. Many criticised their romance as inappropriate (he was the Team GB coach), but love won in the end, and rightly so. Victoria looked simply stunning in her Suzanne Neville gown. The modest gown, covered all over with lace, made her look regal and elegant, while the groom wore a dark grey suit. After the ceremony, they took their two dogs for a walk too – how sweet! And for another unusual touch, they had the Strictly Come Dancing band provide the entertainment at their wedding reception. Those looks of love were unmistakable – what a perfect day it was.
Image of Victoria & Scott’s wedding courtesy of Hello Magazine
