2022 celebrity weddings that made us believe love is for all
Amid the easing of health restrictions and the change of administration, if there's one thing that holds true in 2022, it's that love is for all.
You'd see that in the biggest celebrity weddings that happened within the year, with couples standing the test of time—and an ongoing pandemic—all in the name of love.
Some started as long-time friends, like Korean stars Park Shinhye and Choi Taejoon, while others found the "perfect timing" after being boyfriend-girlfriend for over a decade, such as Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero, as well as Wilma Doesnt and Gerick Parin.
There's also Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck proving that love is sweeter the second time around, and Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker who said their "I do's" not once, but thrice.
Love truly knows no race or gender, as seen in beauty queen couple Fabiola Valentin and Mariana Varela. And of course, who would forget Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin's "wedding of the century" which was, in all ways, a cheesy real-life K-drama?
As we close 2022, let's look back on the sweetest celebrity weddings that swept us off our feet and made us believe in love's magic.
Park Shinhye and Choi Taejoon
College lovers-turned-lifetime partners Park Shinhye and Choi Taejoon ushered 2022 with a lot of romance during their intimate wedding at the Oryun Community Chuch in Seoul last Jan. 22.
The lowkey affair exuded elegance with flowers and the Hallyu stars' adorable photos beautifying the venue. Adding more magic to the couple's special day are fellow Korean celebrities Lee Minho, Kim Bum, Crush, EX.O.'s D.O., as well as F.T. Island member and Shinhye’s You’re Beautiful costar Hongki, who were all part of Shinhey and Taejoon's star-studded guest list.
Park Shinhye and Choi Taejoon said their "I do's" six years after they began dating as students at Chu-Ang University in 2017. They confirmed their relationship in March of the following year.
Three years later, on Nov. 21, 2021, Shinhye and Taejoon announced their pregnancy and marriage at the same time, The couple welcomed their baby boy on May 31 this year.
Wilma Doesnt and Gerick Parin
Wilma Doesnt and Gerick Parin are testimony to the Filipino adage, "Gaano man kahaba ang prusisyon, sa simbahan pa rin ang tuloy." The couple has been together for 15 years before their wedding on March 24. And it was the sweetest way to mark their crystal year.
The actress and her non-showbiz beau had a garden wedding at the Aquila Crystal Palace in Tagaytay City, with celebrities and politicians on their guest list.
Among Wilma's bridesmaids were GMA star Angelu De Leon and entertainment anchor Phoemela Barranda while Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Senator Bong Revilla, and Cavite Representative Jon-Jon Ferrer were principal sponsors.
Meanwhile, famous fashion designer Randy Ortiz designed the bridal gown, the groom's suit, as well as the entourage's dresses for the event, which took place eight months since Gerick asked Wilma's hand in marriage on her birthday on July 10, 2021.
Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin
The love story of Crash Landing on You stars Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin is one that many K-drama fans continue to wish for. Not only because the real-life Se-ri gets to spend her forever with her very own Captain Ri but more so, it proves that great things come to those who wait.
Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin, who are both 40, held their marriage ceremony at the Grand Walkerhill Hotel, in Seoul on March 31.
Dubbed the "Wedding of the century," the event was a spectacle with pastel-colored flowers adorning the venue and top Korean stars completing the guest list. This includes celebs like Gong Yoo, Song Joong Ki, Gong Hyo-jin, Jung Hae-in, Hyun-Bin's close friend Jang Dong-gun, and Girls' Generation's Im Yoo-na, among others.
Son Ye Jin was a glowing bride in her two designer gowns: one designed by Israeli luxury brand Studio Mira Zwillinger and the other which was part of Vera Wang's Spring 2020 collection.
Her marriage to Hyun Bin comes three years after the couple reportedly fell in love while filming Crash Landing on You. He is the first person she has publicly dated since her debut 20 years ago.
Son Ye Jin confirmed this during her February guesting on the variety show You Quiz on the Block, where she said, "My current love is my first love."
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker
Finding true love after divorce may seem complicated, but Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are proving that it is the most rewarding risk one could take.
The eldest of the famous Kardashian siblings and the Blink-182 drummer got hitched not just once, but thrice this year.
It came years after Kourtney ended her nine-year marriage with Scott Disick in 2015, and Travis finalized his divorce with ex-wife Shanna Moakler in 2008.
Kourtney and Travis, or "Kravis," started as friends and made their relationship Instagram official in February 2021. Six months later, in October 2021, the musician asked for Kourtney's hand in marriage.
On April 4 of this year, the two said their "I do's" at a surprise wedding in Las Vegas. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, however, revealed on Instagram that it wasn't official as they didn't have a marriage license.
It was on May 15 that they made their union legal in a private ceremony held in a courthouse in Santa Barbara, California. A week later, on May 22, Kravis held their glamorous third wedding at Dolce and Gabbana's Villa Olivetta in Portofino, Italy. Reception followed at the Castello Brown, a historic castle that also serves as one of the prominent attractions in the resort town.
Both the bride and groom wore outfitted in Dolce. They exchanged vows in the presence of the Kardashians and the couple's children with their exes.
Britney Spears and Sam Asghari
Britney Spears and Sam Asghari can attest that big celebrities can date non-famous folks, too, and sometimes, it turns out for the best.
The princess of pop and fitness trainer-turned-actor became espoused in a private ceremony on June 9 in California. It came nine months after the model popped the big question to Britney in September 2021 and five years since they became a couple.
Britney and Sam first met in October 2016, when the model played the singer's love interest in the music video of her song Slumber Party.
This is her third marriage following her 54-hour union with childhood friend Jason Alexander in 2004, and the one with backup dancer Kevin Federline from 2004 to 2007.
Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero
It's all about finding the right timing for Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero, who tied the knot 18 years since they became boyfriend and girlfriend. The celebrities became husband and wife in an intimate civil wedding ceremony held on June 9 in Mandaluyong City. They later celebrated the milestone with their closest friends and family at the Manila House Private Club in Taguig.
Their wedding took place almost three months after Troy asked Aubrey to marry him—and complete with a ring—on March 22 in Boracay. Before this, the couple initially planned to hold their wedding on April 23, 2020, in Batanes but had to cancel it due to the pandemic.
Looking back, Aubrey looks at their 2022 engagement as one that happened in perfect timing. She revealed this in an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe before their wedding. She said, "I don't know what it was, but being engaged and having a ring on my finger felt so exciting. It was just the perfect timing. I really believe everything has the right timing."
Lindsay Lohan and Bader Shammas
Just My Luck star Lindsay Lohan struck it lucky when she married her financier beau Bader Shammas in a secret wedding this year.
The American actress, who was away from the big screen since her 2007 studio film I Know Who Killed Me, announced her engagement to Bader in an Instagram post in November last year. "My love. My life, My family. My future," she wrote in the caption of her post, showing her engagement ring.
While the couple's wedding was all hush-hush, Lindsay finally announced the happy news in an Instagram post on July 1 this year.
"I am the luckiest woman in the world. You found me and knew that I wanted to find happiness and grace, all at the same time," she wrote. "I am stunned that you are my husband. My life and my everything."
According to an Us Weekly report, Lindsay moved to Dubai in 2014 and met her husband there four years later. The actress first hinted at their relationship in an Instagram post in February 2020 but deleted it shortly after. It wasn't until her post about her engagement in November 2021 that Lindsey finally made their relationship official.
Hidilyn Diaz and Julius Naranjo
Love and work can go together and with the right balance, it can bring out the best in your S.O. This is what weightlifting couple Hidilyn Diaz and Julius Naranjo have been manifesting in their relationship, especially when they got married on July 26, 2022.
The couple met in 2017 at a weightlifting event in Turkmenistan, with Julius becoming Hidilyn's coach shortly after. The wedding came as a back-to-back win for Hidilyn, who exchanged wedding vows with Julius exactly a year after she won the country's first Olympic gold at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
They held their wedding at the St. Ignatius Church in Philippine Military Academy Baguio, in the presence of their "bigaten" entourage, which includes big names in politics and sports, including former vice president Leni Robredo, former senator Manny Pacquiao, and Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino.
Reception followed at the Baguio Country Club, with Gideon Hermosa lighting up the place with a luxurious gold-themed setup. The celebrity event stylist likewise arranged Hidilyn's unique weight-inspired bouquet. Meanwhile, renowned designer Francis Libiran fabricated Hidilyn's custom, crystal-embellished gown and Julius' barong with cufflinks shaped like weights.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
Love is indeed sweeter the second time around, as seen in celebrity power couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck or "Bennifer."
The Gigli costars began dating in 2002, got engaged in the same year, but called it quits in 2004. They rekindled their relationship seven years later, in July 2021, and got engaged again on April 8 of the following year. The couple wed twice in 2022.
They had their first spontaneous wedding in Las Vegas on July 16 and followed through with a lavish second wedding on Aug. 20 at Ben's 87-acre Georgia property.
Present at the intimate event is the couple's closest friends, including Hollywood stars Matt Damon and George Clooney, as well as the couple's children from their previous marriages.
In an Instagram post, JLo described her relationship with Ben and their pursuit of happy-ever-after as one that happened in "perfect timing."
"I knew we were finally 'settling down' in a way you can only do when you understand loss and joy and you are battle tested enough to never take the important things for granted or let the silly insignificant nuisances of the day get in the way of embracing every precious moment," Jennifer wrote.
"We find ourselves in that long-desired time of life: having gratitude for all that life has shown us, even its trials and tribulations. That night really was heaven," she concluded.
Fabiola Valentin and Mariana Varela
The wedding of Miss Grand International 2020 queens Fabiola Valentin from Puerto Rico and Mariana Varela from Argentina are testament to the fact that love always wins.
In an Instagram post on Oct. 30, the couple confirmed that they are in a relationship and have tied the knot in a private ceremony in Puerto Rico. The caption read, "After deciding to keep our relationship private, we opened the doors to them on a special day. 28/10/22."
Both beauty queens finished their Miss Grand International 2020 journey in the Top 10.