Put a Ring On It

Musicians Who Chose Intimate ‘I Dos’

By Gianna Ucci

Graphic by Rhiannon Li

Is it just me, or has Charli XCX’s Italian wedding been the only thing on Instagram lately? The Essex-born icon tied the knot in Italy just two months after her intimate civil ceremony at Hackney Town Hall, where she stunned in a Vivienne Westwood mini dress. 

Celebrity weddings are always a pop culture spectacle (and an intriguing day on Twitter). However, even the most opulent of celebrities sometimes opt for a more simple approach to their big days. 

The most famous stars from the 20th century prioritized simplicity over style when it came to their weddings. Take a look at Elvis and Priscilla Presley: with the whole city of Las Vegas at their fingertips, the two snuck away with their close family and friends for a small, intimate chapel wedding, followed by a visit to the courthouse. Priscilla herself even said, “We didn’t want a fan club. We didn’t want a circus.” 

Similarly, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were set to get married on a boat in Paris, but after legal complications (and maybe some seasickness), the two were married on Gibraltar, a small English territory on the southern coast of Spain. Both of these weddings prompted a popularity in the small-yet-spontaneous wedding trend. Back in 2022, Las Vegas chapels had to stop using Elvis impersonators after Elvis-themed weddings surged in popularity.

Inspired by weddings from past musicians, the trend of more simplified nuptials began to flow throughout the intimate moments of 21st century celebs. Ariana Grande broke the internet in 2021 when she tied the knot in her living room wearing a subtly chic silk dress. Similarly, the Queen of Pop — Britney Spears — went the simple route as well in 2022, with an elegant, fitted white gown coupled with a ceremony in her Thousand Oaks home. 

When you think of these two stars: their successes, their aesthetics, their choreography and their social media, they are almost always seen by the public as over-the-top. But, in their most private and human moments, they reverted to simplicity. To my knowledge, Ariana didn’t hit a whistle note to end her reception, and Britney didn’t wear a snake on her shoulders while walking down the aisle. With lives so publicly grandiose, is it really so surprising to recognize when artists need to step back, take in their lives, and allow the most special moments to occur behind closed doors? 

Looking into the future, the question writes itself: What will Taylor Swift’s wedding to Travis Kelce look like? While rumors have been circulating, many point to the two wanting to get married at Taylor’s home in Rhode Island. No matter how public or private the couple decides to be, it’s clear the wedding won’t resemble Taylor’s three-hour spectacle that was “The Eras Tour.” But, as fans, it’s always fun to see the sides of our favorite artists that aren’t present in the eyes of TMZ 24/7.