In an era of instant social media updates and 24-hour news cycles, pulling off a truly private wedding is the ultimate Hollywood power move. While most stars opt for televised extravaganzas or multi-day destination galas, a select few have mastered the art of the stealth ceremony. From backyard elopements to high-security courthouse visits, these couples proved that the most meaningful “I dos” are often the ones said when the rest of the world isn’t watching.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z
Music’s ultimate power couple has always maintained a tight grip on their privacy, and their 2008 nuptials were no exception. The pair exchanged vows in a low-key ceremony at Jay-Z’s penthouse in New York City. The wedding was a small affair with only around 40 guests, and details of the event weren’t confirmed until years later, with grainy photos and home videos eventually being shared with fans during their “On the Run” tour.
Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley
The actress and her film producer managed to keep their wedding a complete secret until after it happened. The couple married in a private ceremony in Byron Bay, Australia, in December 2016. It was a close-knit event, with only 50 guests in attendance. Attendees were reportedly kept in the dark about the location and were asked to hand over their phones to ensure no photos were leaked.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher
This pair, who first met on the set of That ’70s Show, took their relationship public and then surprised everyone by tying the knot in a hidden ceremony. The couple, who share two children, got married over the Fourth of July weekend in 2015 at a private ranch in Oak Glen, California. Details of the wedding were scarce, fitting with their preference for a low-key family life.
Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn
The singer-songwriter married his childhood sweetheart in a surprisingly small and intimate ceremony. The couple wed in January 2019 at a quiet gathering with no more than 40 guests. Sheeran later revealed in an interview that the ceremony was a very simple, nighttime event. The couple held a larger, “less private” celebration later for friends.
Allison Williams and Alexander Dreymon
The Girls actress and The Last Kingdom actor kept their marriage a secret for several months. Williams quietly wed Dreymon in an intimate ceremony. The news only broke after she referred to him as her “husband” in an interview, leading to confirmation from a source that the two had indeed tied the knot in private.
Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz
One of Hollywood’s most private couples, Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, shocked fans when they announced they had married after just a year of dating. The actors, who met on the set of their film Dream House, wed in a small, private ceremony in New York in June 2011. The guest list was reportedly limited to just four people, including their respective children from previous relationships.
Emma Stone and Dave McCary
The Oscar-winning actress and the Saturday Night Live writer managed to keep their nuptials under wraps, despite being a high-profile couple. The pair, who had to postpone their original wedding plans due to the pandemic, reportedly tied the knot in a private ceremony in September 2020. They never officially confirmed the marriage, but she was seen wearing a wedding ring, and the news was later corroborated by sources.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds secretly married on September 9, 2012, at Boone Hall Plantation in South Carolina, going to extreme lengths to keep it quiet, including NDAs for guests and confiscated cell phones. The intimate ceremony featured close friends, with Florence Welch and Bette Midler reportedly performing. Years later, the venue choice became controversial due to Boone Hall’s ties to slavery, prompting Reynolds to publicly apologize and call it a giant mistake, acknowledging they hadn’t understood its significance at the time.
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker
While their subsequent wedding ceremonies were anything but private, the reality star and the musician initially had a secret, non-legal “practice” wedding in Las Vegas in April 2022. The unannounced late-night ceremony was officiated by an Elvis impersonator and was a complete surprise to fans, who only found out after photos and details of the event were leaked to the media.
John Mulaney and Olivia Munn
The comedian and actress surprised everyone when they quietly tied the knot. The couple, who share a son named Malcolm, reportedly had a low-key, intimate wedding ceremony over the Fourth of July weekend in 2024 at a friend’s home in New York. The news was not made public until a source leaked the information, fitting with their preference for keeping their relationship and family life out of the public eye.