Year in Review: Most Buzzed About Weddings (and Breakups!) of 2011

I don’t need to remind you that in a fairy tale wedding turned reality, commoner Kate Middleton married Prince William on April 29 at Buckingham Palace in front of 2 billion Brits and international admirers. Middleton stunned in a princess-worthy gown designed by Sarah Burton with hand-tooled lace sleeves and a cascading satin train that caused, without a doubt, the biggest wedding fanfare of the year—and maybe the decade.

Photo: WENN.com

Fashionistas were abuzz about supermodel Kate Moss’ marriage to Kills rocker Jamie Hince last July. Moss, no stranger to the camera, released many photos of the celeb-filled ceremony which took place in a 17th century castle. The couple were decked out in high fashion, the bride in a gauzy jeweled Galliano gown and the groom in a slate Stefano Pilati suit. Moss had a few wardrobe changes, wearing a blue vintage dress (something old and blue) and a Stella McCartney suit for the honeymoon.

Photo: WENN.com

On March 26, America’s sweetheart Reese Witherspoon wed agent Jim Toth in a small ceremony at her ranch in Ojai, California after a year and a half of dating. The bride wore a custom petal pink gown designed by Monique Lhuillier with an A-line skirt and lace bodice and a train decorated with silk flowers, matching a mini version worn by Witherspoon’s 11-year-old daughter Ava, the Maid of Honor.

Photo: Actress Archives

The media anticipation for Kim Kardashian’s wedding with New Jersey Nets player Kris Humphries lasted longer than their marriage; just 72 days after an over-the-top televised ceremony on August 20, Kardashian filed for divorce. Humphries is seeking an annulment as rumors fly that the entire wedding was a publicity stunt for Kardashian. The barely-a-bride’s dress was by bridal favorite Vera Wang which has already inspired countless knockoffs and her jewels, including a Lorraine Schwartz diamond across-the-forehead headband, were reportedly worth $15 million.

Photo: abcnews.go.com

Francis Ford Coppola walked his daughter, filmmaker Sofia Coppola, down the aisle when she married Phoenix singer Thomas Mars on August 27 in Italy. Coppola eschewed tradition by marrying in a lavender tulle dress by Azzedine Alaïa.

Photo: iwanttobeacoppola.com

It pays to be a fashion intern—designer and Project Runway judge Michael Kors married his in South Hampton last August. “To marry someone as wonderful and special to me as Lance barefoot on a glorious beach is more than I could have dreamed of,” Kors gushed of Lapere, who he’s known since he joined his company in 1990.

Photo: theunabashedqueers.com

Singer Leann Rimes and actor Eddie Cibrian met on the set of a Lifetime movie, and like something out of one of their sensational flicks, fell in love—despite the fact that they were both married. Rimes dazzled in a handmade Reem Acra gown covered in pearls and Alexander McQueen shoes.

Photo: stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com

Beauty Rachel Weisz married James Bond actor Daniel Craig in a top-secret ceremony in June with only four witnesses in attendance.

Photo: WENN.com

Nick Lachey is a newlywed… again. He kissed bride Vanessa Minnillo in front of 35 friends and family on a private island in July. Lachey wore a Dolce & Gabbana tux while Minnillo looked lovely in a Lhuillier dress with a pick-up skirt.

Photo: people.com

Nikki Reed’s wedding to American Idol contestant Paul McDonald might have been overshadowed by another Twilight nuptial, but Reed looked gorgeous in a strapless ivory Tacori gown when the couple wed on October 16.

Photo: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com

It wasn't all "'til death do us part" among celebs this year. After 25 years of what seemed to be a happy marriage, Maria Shriver found out about  Arnold Schwarzenegger’s love child with the housekeeper at the same time as the press. The couple split, and the Governator has since failed to inspire any sympathy after being spotted wearing an “I survived Maria” t-shirt.

Photo: Owen Beiny/WENN.com

Divorce is difficult for anyone, but it must be especially hard when every blogger who predicted that the May-December marriage between Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher wouldn’t last is able to say, “I told you so.” Kutcher supposedly had an affair on the eve of his sixth wedding anniversary, and then tried to appease Moore with an expensive car. It looks like after six years of being mrskutcher on Twitter, Moore’s going to have to make some changes.

Photo: Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

The rock ’n’ roll couple surprised everyone when they divorced after two years in December, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

Photo: WENN.com

The Latin lovers split after seven years of marriage just when their twin toddlers’ modeling careers are taking off.

Photo: WENN.com/FayesVision