2014 has been a big year for celebrity relationships.
Not only was it the year that Angelina Jolie finally said “I do” and officially became Mrs Pitt, but it was the year Gwyneth Paltrow invented a new term for breaking-up – “uncoupling”. Not to mention all the eligible bachelors who are now suddenly off the market.
So here’s a guide to THE couplings and uncouplings that stood out over the last 12 months.
Getting hitched
Kim and Kanye
A lot of celebrity couples tied the knot this year. But one couple made sure they eclipsed that spotlight.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West stormed Europe this summer with an opulent pre-wedding bash at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, a lavish ceremony at a castle in Italy, and a honeymoon in rainy Ireland. Beat that Brangelina.
Brangelina
Brad and Ange have been together for years, and have six children – who had apparently been nagging them to make things official. And after years of saying maybe, this was the year they said “I do” in a tasteful and intimate ceremony at the French Chateau, with the bride in a veil covered in cute pictures drawn by the kids. Awww.
Jessica and Eric
Poor Jessica Simpson had been planning her wedding since she got engaged to footballer Eric Johnson in 2010. But she kept putting it off because, as she so delicately put it herself, she kept getting knocked up. But with daughter Maxwell born in May 2012, and then son Ace in June 2013, this year Jess got her post-baby body back and walked down that aisle. Go girl!
Katherine and Andrew
Katherine Jenkins said “I do” to film producer Andrew Levitas in September.
They tied the know at Hampton Court Palace, where Welsh lass Katherine, 34, got special permission from Buckingham Palace to fly the Welsh Dragon flag over the historic building for her big day.
Fearne and Jesse
And DJ Fearne Cotton married Jesse Wood – the son of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood in a rock and roll ceremony in July.
Secret ceremonies
Cheryl and Jean-Bernard
Cheryl certainly made a statement in July when she suddenly announced she was no longer to be known as Cheryl Cole – because she’d only gone and become Mrs Fernandez-Versini after a whirlwind romance.
So now Cheryl’s name is a right mouthful, and we’re wondering what her plans are for the Mrs C tattoo on the back of her neck. But when we look at her handsome and apparently super-wealthy French beau – we’d happily change our name to Fernandez-Versini too…
And Cheryl wasn’t the only one who had a secret wedding this year.
Steve and Phylicia
Welsh hunk Steve Jones had a rep as being quite the ladies man – counting Pamela Anderson and Hayden Panettiere among his former flings.
But American model Phylicia Jackson proved she had persuaded Steve to settle down when they suddenly announced they were now Mrs and Mrs in October.
Kaley and Ryan
The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco married tennis player Ryan Sweeting on New Year’s Eve 2013, after a whirlwind romance, before anyone had really realise they were dating. The cute couple have matching tattoos of their wedding date and have been living a loved-up life all year.
Naya and Ryan
Glee star Naya Rivera only called off her engagement to rapper Big Sean in April. Just three months the later she died the knot with actor Ryan Dorsey in an intimate beach ceremony in Mexico.
Off the market
2014 was the year the world’s most eligible bachelor was taken off the market.
George Clooney
George Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin and rumour is she will be his First Lady as he plans to run for President of the United States.
And George isn’t the only bachelor to break his fans’ hearts with a surprise engagement.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Cumberbitches all over the world shed a tear when Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch announced his engagement to actress Sophie Hunter, with a traditional ad in The Times newspaper.
Eddie Redmayne
And fellow former private schoolboy Eddie Redmayne also made a traditional announcement in The Times that he is to wed financial publicist Hannah Bagshawe, who he has been dating since January 2012.
Geri Halliwell
Also jumping on The Times classified announcements bandwagon was Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, who is to marry Formula One team principal Christian Horner.
Cameron Diaz
And sorry guys – Cameron Diaz is off the market too. The There’s Something About Mary star has been dating rocker Benji Madden since April and reportedly accepted his proposal of marriage in October. Check out the ring on her engagement finger.
Surprise pairings
It’s not just weddings and engagements that celebs have been surprising us with this year. Some star pairings you just couldn’t predict.
Charlize and Sean
Everyone was a little taken aback when towering beauty Charlize Theron, 39, started stepping out on the arm of vertically-challenged Sean Penn, who is 15 years her senior, during awards season at the beginning of the year.
But the odd couple seem to be very loved up and are still going strong.
Robert and FKA Twigs
It took Robert Pattinson a while to get over his Twilight sweetheart Kristen Stewart after she cheated on him with a much older director.
But R-Patz, 28, has finally moved on with 26-year-old kookie singer FKA twigs.
Joe and Sofia
Modern Family beauty Sofia Vergara and Magic Mike’s Joe Manganiello have became a sizzling hot couple. But it was all very whirlwind.
Sofia split from fiance Nick Loeb after four years together in May. That same month she and Joe are said to have been introduced for the first time at the White House Correspondents Dinner and now they’re an item.
Conscious uncouplings
Gwynth and Chris
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin had just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last year, and then in March Gwynnie announced their “conscious uncoupling” on her lifestyle website Goop.
Let’s be clear – it’s not a split. They’re still pals and staying close for the sake of their two kids. But now they’re free to date other people. And Chris has already had another uncoupling from Jennifer Lawrence this year, while Gwyneth is seeing Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk.
Antonio and Melanie
Much more upsetting than the uncoupling of Gwyneth and Chris was the divorce of Hollywood couple Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas. They met and fell in love on set of rom com Two Much in 1995, but after 18 years it was all over so suddenly, and their divorce is already through.
Mariah and Nick
And all we want for Christmas is for Mariah Carey, 45, and Nick Cannon, 34, to get back together.
They fell for each other while shooting the music video for her song Bye Bye. They tied the knot in 2008 and are parents to twins Monroe and Moroccan.
But in August Nick confirmed he and Mariah had separated.
Jennifer and Casper
And another diva to say goodbye to her toy boy this summer was J-Lo. The 45-year-old had been dating her former backing dancer Casper Smart for almost three years before they split in June.
Jason and Jordin
Jason Derulo and Jordin Sparks called time on their three year relationship in September out of the blue.
Bad break-ups
Rita and Calvin
As darlings of the British music scene, Rita Ora and Calvin Harris made such a cute couple. But since they broke up in the summer after just a year together, things have got ugly.
Rita has talked about the split to the media, which Calvin is not happy about. And since he produced a bunch of tracks for her new album, he’s refusing to let her release them, and Rita’s new record is still struggling to come together.
Robin and Paula
Paula Patton and Robin Thicke had been sweethearts since they were sixteen. They have a son together and tied the knot in 2005.
The actress put up with him twerking with Miley Cyrus at the MTV VMAs last year and all the Blurred Line’s stars other baggage.
But she drew the line in February and as of October the couple are officially divorced.
But Robin is still hoping to win his ex back, and has dedicated a whole album – Paula – to their relationship. Now is that romantic… or just desperate?
It’s just not working
Kara and Artem
Kara Tointon and professional dance partner Artem Chigvintsev found love when she competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2011. But with visa complications, and Artem having to travel back and forth to America to take part in dancing With The Stars, they appeared to be growing apart.
After speculation they had split had been brewing all year, Kara finally admitted in October that it was all over.
John and Katy
Singers Katy Perry and John Mayer had been on and off since 2012. But in April Katy declared herself single when she appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! And she’s already moved on with producer Diplo.
Nicholas and Jennifer
Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult first met when they worked on X Men: First Class and then rekindled their romance shooting follow-up X Men: Days of Future Past.
But they split in the summer and J-Law’s teenage crush dreams came true when she had a fling with Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Joey and Sam
TOWIE stars Joey Essex and Sam Faiers have dated on and off for three years and have even been engaged. But in October they called time on their relationship again, and their friends insisted this time it’s for good.
On again, off again, on again…
Some couples just can’t stay away from each other.
Justin and Selena
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have been on and off for years now. It seems good girl Selena just can’t resist bad boy Justin – as was evident in her emotional performance of The Heart Wants What it Wants, her song about Bieber, at the AMAs recently.
Katie and Kieran
Katie Price was furious when her husband Kieran Hayler was exposed as cheating on her with her best friend. But while she has vowed never to forgive her pal, with their new baby Bunny born earlier this year, Katie and Kieran are giving things another go for the sake of their family.
Kelly and David
Poor Kelly Brook has been very unlucky in love over the last few years.
But she seemed to have found happiness when she started dating the former Gladiator at the beginning of the year – only to split up in February and delete all her pictures of him from her Instagram account.
But David wooed Kelly back and they were rumoured to be engaged. Only for the model to announce she was single again in November. Will they patch things up again? Watch this space.
Rihanna and Chris
Rihanna and Chris Brown have most certainly had their ups and downs. And everyone was shocked when she took him back after he had been found guilty of assaulting her. But there’s something that just keeps bringing these two back together – and we don’t think this is the end of the road for them yet.
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