Inside celebrity Valentine’s Day weddings from family feud to called off
Nicole Appleton and Liam Gallagher – 2008
Liam Gallagher and brother Noel may be about to embark on a reunion tour but given their much-publicised feuds over the years, it will come as no surprise that Noel did not attend his sibling’s wedding to All Saints star Nicole Appleton back in 2008.
The couple had a low-key civil ceremony at London’s Westminster Register Office before moving to the nearby five-star Landmark Hotel for a celebration.
At the time they had been together for eight years and she had spoken of her desire to marry him.
Earlier in 2008 she had said: “Marriage is important to me and I love the idea of being married.”
They had one child together, a son Gene. However, the marriage only lasted five years and they split in 2013 after it was revealed Liam had fathered a love child with New York music writer Liza Ghorbani.
(Image: Getty)
Tying the knot on a very significant date is one way to ensure you never forget your wedding anniversary. If it also happens to be the most romantic day of the year all the better.
While many people make do with supermarket flowers and chocolates several celebrities decided to forgo Valentine’s Day gift giving and instead present their other half with a wedding ring on St Valentine’s Day.
While mere mortals can struggle to get a table in their local restaurant, these celebrities managed to organise a wedding breakfast on the busiest day of the year for the catering industry. In the case of Elton John, whose first wedding took place on February 14 1984, he managed to pull together the entire event in a week as he was on tour at the time.
Other celebrities who chose February 14 for their big day include Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch and even music bad boy Liam Gallagher.
Express.co.uk takes a look at some of the couples who will be celebrating their anniversary today – or trying to forget it in the case of those whose relationship didn’t last.
Elton John and Renate Blauel – 1984
David Furnish isn’t Elton John’s first spouse. Back in 1984, he tied the knot with German recording engineer Renate Blauel on Valentine’s Day.
Elton was on the Australian leg of his Too Low for Zero tour and they wed in St. Mark’s Church the area of Darling Point in Sydney, Australia.
They were married for four years divorcing in 1988 and soon after Elton John came out as gay. He is now happily married to David, with whom he shares sons Elijah and Zachary.
Addressing his first marriage when urging Australians to vote in favour of same-sex marriage in 2017, Elton John took to Instagram and wrote: “Many years ago, I chose Australia for my wedding to a wonderful woman for whom I have so much love and admiration.
“I wanted more than anything to be a good husband, but I denied who I really was, which caused my wife sadness, and caused me huge guilt and regret.”
Three years later Elton found himself sued for £3million by Renate after he opened up about their relationship in his autobiography Me and featured it briefly in his biopic Rocketman. They settled amicably and joint statement said: “The parties are happy to announce that they have resolved this case, in a way that acknowledges Renate’s need for privacy.”
(Image: Getty)
Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter – 2015
Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch married Sophie Hunter on Valentine’s Day 2015. Despite his Hollywood star status the wedding took place on the not-very showbizzy Isle of Wight in an intimate 12th-century medieval church.
Despite the low-key location security was tight with police closing off the area, blocking the road to the church to keep fans 250 yards away.
Appropriately, given his most famous role the reception took place in the reception took place in a Baskerville-style manor that hosts murder mystery weekends.
The bride, who was pregnant, wore a stunning Valentino gown for the occasion and the couple welcomed their first son, Christopher, just four months later. They have since had two more sons Hal and Finn.
(Image: Getty)
Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault – 2009
Given their huge wealth, Salma and her billionaire beau Francois’ nuptials were surprisingly low-key as he whisked her away to the city of romance, Paris, so they could marry in City Hall.
It was second time lucky for the pair who had previously called off their engagment in 2008.
Two months after their official romantic Valentine’s Day ceremony, they held a second, star-studded lavish ceremony and reception in Venice.
Salma wore a dreamy traditional dress for that event and the guest list included Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz and Ashley Judd, plus U2 frontman Bono and Vogue editor Anna Wintour, as well as former French President Jacques Chirac.
Although it was a do-over after their reconciliation their Valentine’s Day wedding holds a special place in their hearts as they even named their daughter Valentina!
(Image: Getty)
Sharon Stone and Phil Bronstein – 1998
Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone and San Francisco Examiner Executive Editor Phil Bronstein had been dating for nine months when she invited guests to what they thought was a lavish Valentine’s Day bash at her Benedict Canyon mansion in 1998.
However, upon arrival, they learned that they were actually at the couple’s nuptials.
Limos dropped off 120 guests, including then couple Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas.
They adopted a son Roan, but the marriage didn’t last. After six years they announced an “amicable” divorce in July 2003.
(Image: Getty)
