A worldwide pandemic has proved the age-old saying: true love always perseveres. While the rapid spread of COVID-19 in 2020 meant celebrities could no longer host grand weddings in foreign countries or intimate, mask-less affairs with their families and famous friends, that didn’t stop stars from having their dream weddings — safely, of course. There just had to be a few adjustments!
Some stars cancelled their grandiose plans in favor of safer, small-scale ceremonies, while others carried on with their dream weddings but with safety measures in place, like Cynthia Bailey. And there were the celebrities who just went ahead and put a ring on one another in secret, like Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost! No matter how they celebrated their nuptials, they made 2020 just a tiny bit brighter with their love.
Scarlett Johansson & Colin Jost
Scarlett and Colin were one of the couples who opted for the classic secret wedding — and they didn’t even announced it themselves! Instead, the Avengers star and Saturday Night Live comedian revealed their nuptials through a post on Meals On Wheels America’s Instagram page on Oct. 29, 2020, in an attempt to encourage fans to donate to the non-profit that helps delivers meals to older and “vulnerable” people amid the pandemic.
“We’re thrilled to break the news that Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost were married over the weekend in an intimate ceremony with their immediate family and loved ones, following COVID-19 safety precautions as directed by the CDC. Their wedding wish is to help make a difference for vulnerable older adults during this difficult time by supporting @mealsonwheelsamerica,” the post read. Scarlett and Colin began dating in 2017, and were engaged by May of 2019.
Emma Stone & Dave McCary
La La Land star Emma Stone and former Saturday Night Live director Dave McCary also didn’t care to announce their marriage. Instead, a report from PEOPLE that surfaced on Sept. 26, 2020 confirmed the happy news! The report arrived two weeks after the couple was seen wearing matching bands on the ring fingers of their left hands. Emma met Dave while hosting an episode of SNL in 2016, and their relationship became public in 2017. Dave revealed that they were engaged in Dec. 2019 with a photo of Emma’s ring, which you can see above!
Cynthia Bailey & Mike Hill
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star made some adjustments so that she could still have an upscale wedding with sportcaster Mike Hill at the Governors Towne Club in the gorgeous countryside of Acworth, Georgia on Oct. 10, 2020. Although 210 guests reportedly attended the nuptials, there were “many rules and regulations” planned ahead of time (like socially-distanced seating), which Cynthia revealed to Page Six.
Cynthia dazzled in a Nneka C. Alexander gown from Brides by Nona, Badgley Mischka shoes and a Bridal Styles Boutique headpiece to walk down the aisle. Both Cynthia and Mike even wore matching face shields as an extra safety precaution. The bride’s RHOA family was in attendance for the special day, of course: Kenya Moore, Kandi Burruss and Eva Marcille were all bridesmaids! Cynthia and Mike met on an episode of Steve Harvey‘s talk show that aired in April of 2018, and Mike proposed in July of 2019.
John Cena & Shay Shariatzadeh
John Cena‘s marriage to software company product manager Shay Shariatzadeh was actually revealed through court documents! HollywoodLife obtained a marriage license from the couple, which showed that they had tied the knot in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 12, 2020. It was the cherry on top for their whirlwind romance! They were first linked together in March of 2019, when John was spotted on a date with Shay in Vancouver where he was filming his movie Playing with Fire (Shay is from Canada). However, an engagement was never announced — making their secret wedding even more of a surprise!
Larry David & Ashley Underwood
Curb Your Enthusiasm star Larry David tied the knot with television producer Ashley Underwood on Oct. 7, 2020 in Southern California, per a report from PEOPLE. Larry and Ashley — who had met at the birthday party of Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen in 2017 — started living together in Larry’s Pacific Palisades home in Los Angeles in 2019.
Jordan Fisher & Ellie Woods
Jordan Fisher tweeted that he was “off to get MARRIED” on Nov. 19, 2020 — and that’s exactly what he did! The Work It star married his childhood best friend Ellie Woods on Nov. 21, 2020 “in front of family and friends,” according to a report from Us Weekly.
The location of the nuptials wasn’t disclosed, after Jordan and Ellie initially had plans to tie the knot in Hawaii. “Obviously as things have moved and shifted, but my goal is that happy wife, happy life. My goal is that she is thrilled about everything that’s going on. Ultimately, we both just want to get married,” Jordan EXCLUSIVELY told HollywoodLife in Oct. 2020. He added, “I don’t really care where or when or how — we’re looking we’re looking forward to stepping into that new phase of our lives.”
Raven-Symoné & Miranda Pearman-Maday
That’s So Raven star Raven-Symoné revealed that she married social media manager Miranda Pearman-Maday in a surprise social media post on June 18, 2020 (they had married two days beforehand). The pair tied the knot in the garden of legend Debbie Allen, famous for her role on Grey’s Anatomy! “I got married to a woman who understands me from trigger to joy, from breakfast to midnight snack, from stage to home. I love you Mrs. Pearman-Maday! Let’s tear this world a new a–hole!!!,” Raven-Symoné gushed in her announcement post.
Stassi Schroeder & Beau Clark
Vanderpump Rules stars Stassi Schroeder and Beau Clark were another pair of famous newlyweds who postponed plans of a destination wedding. Instead, they exchanged vows in a backyard ceremony on Oct. 7, 2020 — with a baby on the way! In the wedding announcement post, Stassi revealed that their “Italian dream wedding” would “hopefully” still happen in 2021. Stassi and Beau have been dating since the end of 2017, and Beau popped the question at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in July of 2019.
Kelly Dodd & Rick Leventhal
The Real Housewives of Orange County star Kelly Dodd took her wedding with Fox News reporter Rick Leventhal outdoors in a ceremony in Santa Rosa, California on Oct. 10, 2020. Kelly broke tradition by wearing a black gown for the picturesque ceremony, which you can see photos of here. Rick also shared a photo of the seats at the wedding for the friends and family attending, which were notably close together. Kelly had previously apologized for once saying that the the pandemic was “God’s way of thinning the herd.”
Alex Pettyfer & Toni Garrn
After proposing to model Toni Garnn in Dec. 2019, Magic Mike star Alex Pettyfer revealed that he and Toni finally got married in an Instagram post shared on Oct. 4, 2020! The newlyweds happily flashed their matching wedding bands in the post. “Mr & Mrs Pettyfer,” Alex captioned the sweet snapshot.
Brittany Snow & Tyler Stanaland
The wedding of Pitch Perfect star Brittany Snow to Tyler Stanaland was perfect! It happened in mid-March of 2020 — so, right at the beginning of the pandemic — at Cielo Farms, an estate in Malibu. Brittany later reflected on the nuptials in an Instagram post in July of 2020, writing, “In early March, before we knew how much we’d miss hugs and live in our sweatpants, I got to marry my favorite person. The whole world shut down a few days later & we were stunned at the timing.
“We knew we felt incredibly lucky to have found each other but we had no idea how lucky it would be to get married right before a monumental time in our history. Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong that day… but it was absolutely and impossibly perfect. I knew on that day, more than ever before, there was no one else I’d rather hold my hand while in the middle of a (life) hurricane.” The two began dating in 2018, and got engaged in Feb. 2019.
Lily Allen & David Harbour
Singer Lily Allen and Stranger Things star David Harbour had a classic Las Vegas wedding — complete with an Elvis Presley impersonator! While wearing a retro-inspired Dior mini dress, Lily said “I do” to the actor at the Graceland Wedding Chapel on Sept. 7, 2020. They had just obtained their marriage license one day prior, according to a court document reviewed by HollywoodLife. Lily and David have been romantically linked to one another since Aug. 2019.
Niecy Nash & Jessica Betts
Claws star Niecy Nash surprised the world with one incredible Instagram post. Not only did she come out, but she revealed that she had tied the knot with singer Jessica Betts. Niecy and Jessica exchanged vows in a small California ceremony on Aug. 29, 2020, five months after Niecy finalized her divorce with her second husband of nine years, Jay Tucker.
Debby Ryan & Josh Dun
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“We began to flirt with the idea of having a destination party celebrating the new decade, then decided in December to get married [in Austin] on New Year’s Eve, and just keep dancing until after the ball dropped,” the Insatiable star told the magazine, after getting engaged in Dec. 2018.
Bindi Irwin & Chandler Powell
As the daughter of the late animal-loving legend Steve Irwin, Bindi Irwin got married in the perfect location: the Australia Zoo! Bindi revealed that she tied the knot with her “best friend” Chandler Powell in a “small ceremony” at the zoo on March 25, 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic. The wedding venue was also where Bindi and Chandler first crossed paths years ago in 2013: Bindi was giving tours at the zoo, while Chandler was visiting the area for a wakeboarding competition! They became engaged in July of 2019.