Celebrity Weddings Exposed: The Stars Whose 'Marriages' Were Never Legal
Lavish weddings, emotional vows, and picture-perfect ceremonies are often presented as authentic glimpses into a couple's private life. However, while they may be portrayed as the ultimate declaration of love, not all of these events actually hold any legal significance. From reality television spectacles to publicity-driven unions, some celebrities have chosen to stage commitment ceremonies that look entirely real, yet carry no legal weight whatsoever.
On Thursday, it was revealed that Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash's televised wedding was not official, despite the couple describing it as 'the best day of their lives'. But they are far from the only stars to have faked their nuptials. Here, we take an in-depth look at the celebrities who have orchestrated these elaborate yet legally invalid big days.
Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash
Their wedding was celebrated with family and celebrity friends at their £1.2 million home in Essex, known as Pickle Cottage, back in July 2022. However, there was one critical element missing: legal binding. The couple tied the knot in a beautiful garden ceremony, but it has now been disclosed that they never formalised their marriage through official channels.
At the time, Stacey explained that they planned to register their marriage afterward, as their home lacked a civil ceremony licence. Yet, three and a half years later, television's golden couple have still not completed the legal process. This revelation emerged just two weeks after Stacey was questioned about her relationship with Joe, 44, following sightings without her wedding ring.
A source informed The Sun: 'They always intended to do the legal part, but with six kids and busy diaries just haven't got round to it, life has got in the way.' Stacey and Joe were reportedly upfront about the non-legal nature of their garden wedding, but fans who watched their BBC reality show, Stacey & Joe, might be surprised. The show documented their lives with children Rex, six, Rose, four, and Belle, three, alongside Stacey's older sons Zachary, 18, and Leighton, 13, and Joe's son Harry from a previous relationship.
An insider added: 'It will certainly raise eyebrows with firms and even TV execs that they've invested in a perfect picture that's all a sham.' Stacey also maintains lucrative family fashion ranges with Asda and Primark, adding another layer to the scrutiny.
Olivia Attwood and Bradley Dack
Olivia Attwood and her now-ex, Bradley Dack, documented their £200,000 wedding for a 12-episode series, Olivia Marries Her Match on ITV. Walking down the aisle in a couture £30,000 lace-sleeved gown by Israeli designer Galia Lahav, the reality star appeared every inch the blushing bride. The ceremony took place on June 3, 2023, at the five-star Bulgari hotel in Knightsbridge, a no-expense-spared affair.
Viewers watched her nervously sign the marriage register as friends and family, including her proud parents Kai and Jen, looked on. However, The Mail on Sunday later revealed there is no official record of the marriage with the General Register Office, the archive for all marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales. Essentially, the entire show, commissioned by ITV for a 'significant' sum, was a sham.
One source familiar with Olivia stated: 'They never married, it was all about the cash, seemingly. Can you believe anything Olivia tells us anymore? Who knows?' The source continued: 'It will be very disappointing for Olivia's fans. Her team brokered the deal but she didn't actually get married. You couldn't make it up. What a sham, what a huge lie to tell your fans. What a joke.'
Jake Paul and Tana Mongeau
YouTube stars Jake Paul and Tana Mongeau shocked their fans by deciding to tie the knot after just two months of dating. They held a televised ceremony in Las Vegas in July 2019, which was streamed online with thousands of fans paying $49.99 to watch via livestream. Their wedding was officiated by their friend Arman Izadi, but InTouch confirmed he is not a licensed Marriage Officiant in Nevada.
The Clark County, Nevada website specifies that for a marriage to be legal, 'a ceremony must be performed by a licensed Marriage Officiant who has been issued a valid Certificate of Permission by a Nevada County Clerk. Having an online ordination or religious affiliation is not sufficient.' Within days, Tana admitted on her MTV reality show, Tana Turns 21, that the wedding was not legally binding and was done for 'fun and content.' She revealed they never intended to marry for real, saying: 'I have a lot of love for him, but it's something fun and light-hearted … obviously done for content.'
Brody Jenner and Kaitlynn Carter
Brody Jenner and Kaitlynn Carter held a 'dreamy' destination wedding ceremony in June 2018 at the Nihi Sumba Resort in Indonesia. The intimate four-day celebration included 50 guests, featuring beachside horse races and a white party, with the pair selling their wedding pictures to People magazine. Kaitlynn told the publication: 'It was the most dreamy, incredible night ever. And it was about us, and a celebration of the relationship we've always had.'
However, speculation quickly arose over whether their marriage was legally binding. In scenes from The Hills, Brody defended their relationship, telling friend Spencer Pratt that while they hadn't made things legal, they considered themselves married. He said: 'We're fine with the way our marriage is set up, just perfectly set up. Thank you for your concern.' In another scene, he explained they had been 'incredibly busy' and hadn't gotten around to the courthouse. Ultimately, no marriage certificate was filed, and the couple split a year after their big day.
Tom Schwartz and Katie Maloney
Vanderpump Rules star Tom Schwartz and Katie Maloney's wedding was aired in season five of the show, featuring the entire day from preparations to the ceremony officiated by Lisa Vanderpump. However, in 2020, Tom shocked friends by revealing he wasn't legally married to Katie, admitting he had never submitted their marriage license. He told pal Jax Taylor: 'At the wedding, it was sort of my duty to make sure the marriage certificate was in a secure place, and I lost it,' with a flashback suggesting he left it in his car.
Katie recalled in a confessional: 'I wanted Tom to take initiative. I planned the entire wedding. I said, "This is on you, bro." This is why I do things in the house, okay?' Tom added: 'It's a piece of paper. I didn't understand the importance of it.' The couple, who married in 2016, eventually had a second, official legal wedding at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in July 2019, attended by most of the cast.
Reza Jarrahy and Geena Davis
Reza Jarrahy and Geena Davis held a marriage-like ceremony in 2001, with the couple stating in a joint statement to Hello!: 'We are very happy and we look forward to spending the rest of our lives together.' They remained together for 17 years and raised three children, but a legal dispute during their 2018 split revealed they were never legally married. Geena argued in court that they never obtained a marriage license, a claim supported by separate financial records.
This pattern of staged weddings highlights a growing trend among celebrities, where the spectacle often overshadows legal formalities. As these cases show, the line between reality and performance can blur significantly in the world of entertainment.
