Reality TV thrives on drama, tears, and high viewership numbers which is why these shows love to film their stars getting married. After all, nothing says emotional drama quite like a wedding which is why an entire sub-genre of reality TV is dedicated to finding the perfect wedding dress or even the perfect spouse.
Nothing draws audiences to reality shows quite like lavish wedding specials about their celebrity cast members, probably because these celebrities have money to burn. And yet, no amount of money or professional video camera crew can save a marriage; in fact, sometimes it makes a marriage implode faster. While these reality celebrities may not be married anymore, their weddings live on-demand on the various shows they were filmed for giving fans a chance to relive them again and again.
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Angela Deem & Michael Ilesanmi
TLC’s 90 Day Fiance became an instant hit in 2014 and since then it’s earned countless spin-offs including the fan-favorite 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? where fans got to continue following the somewhat tumultuous relationship between Angela Deem and Michael Ilesanmi.
The two wed in Nigeria in a traditional ceremony during season 5 of the spin-off series. Since then, they have called their marriage off several times with the most recent incident happening in early 2022. While differing opinions about their futures is a big problem for these two, the biggest problem seems to be Michael’s visa process which causes a strain on their relationship.
Bethenny Frankel & Jason Hoppy
When Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel got engaged to Jason Hoppy it was a prime opportunity for Bravo to give her her own spin-off that centered around her marriage planning. Upon its debut, Bethenny Getting Married (or Bethenny Ever After in later seasons) was the highest-rated series premiere in Bravo’s history.
Frankel and Hoppy got married in the fifth episode of season 1 which drew in the highest views. Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t last, and cameras were there to catch the beginnings of trouble in paradise.
Cynthia Bailey & Peter Thomas
Actress and model Cynthia Bailey shared her life with the world in 2010 when she joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta in season 3. During her first season on the show, Cynthia let cameras capture her wedding to Peter Thomas.
The episode was a fan favorite especially since Bailey and Thomas opted to throw tradition out the window and instead take on a luxurious gray theme which included a gray wedding dress. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in 2017. Bailey went on to marry Mike Hill in 2020 which was also captured for RHOA’s fans.
Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey
One of the most infamous onscreen weddings was the one between pop stars Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. The pair wed in October 2002 with VH1’s All Access Celebrity Weddings capturing the iconic moment.
These two looked so happy and gorgeous on their wedding day that they ended up getting their own reality TV show Newlyweds which also aired clips from their wedding before documenting their lives post-wedding for three seasons. Unfortunately, that meant documenting their downfall.
Katie Maloney & Tom Schwartz
Like its mother series, Vanderpump Rules is full of drama including tons of relationship drama since the stars of the series are younger, broke, and often not in committed marriages. However, that started to change when the core cast began tying the not.
In season 5, Katie Maloney married her longtime boyfriend Tom Schwartz in a gorgeous outdoor wedding with Lisa Vandermpump officiating. The two later had a second wedding captured for cameras after Schwartz failed to file their official paperwork the first time. Perhaps that should have been a clue that these two weren’t destined for forever. The two announced their divorce earlier this year to the surprise of very few fans who hope the new season will catch all the breakup drama.
Kailyn Lowry & Javi Marroquin
In the case of the Teen Mom franchise, first comes a baby, then comes a marriage — at least that’s been the case for most of the women who get married on the show. One of the most memorable weddings has been the one between Kailyn Lowry and Javi Marroquin which was shown on season 5 of Teen Mom 2.
The two wed at the Philadelphia Aquarium in a heartfelt ceremony that included Lowry’s first-born son, Issac, walking her down the aisle. While these two seemed destined for greatness, the pressures of the cameras and their daily lives led to their downfall. The cameras were then there to capture their tumultuous divorce in later seasons.
Kendra Wilkinson & Hank Baskett
Kendra Wilkinson became a household name thanks to the E! reality series The Girls Next Door which followed her time in the Playboy Mansion while dating Hugh Hefner. After meeting her future husband, Hank Baskett, E! gave Wilkinson her own spin-off which documented her new life.
Wilkinson and Baskett wed in June 2009 at the Playboy Mansion and cameras from her reality show Kendra caught the whole thing on camera. After E! canceled the series after three years, Wilkinson landed another reality series with WE tv which ultimately, captured the beginning signs that her marriage was on the rocks. The pair officially divorced in 2018.
Kim Kardashian & Kanye West
One of the most talked-about reality TV weddings of all time was the one between reality starlet Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West. Kardashian was no stranger to reality TV weddings but pulled out all the stops for her destination Italy wedding.
While the wedding footage aired during the season 9 finale, Kardashian later admitted that they never planned to share their wedding with the world which is why most of the footage isn’t as pristinely shot as some of the other wedding episodes are. Unfortunately, their fairy tale life ended in disaster when Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021.
Michael Jessen & Juliana Custodio
90 Day Fiance has captured several weddings over the years but one of the most memorable remains American Michael Jessen’s wedding to Brazilian Juliana Custodio. The two’s road to marriage was rocky but eventually, they put a prenup behind them and wed in Jessen’s backyard.
What made this wedding so memorable was the fact that Jessen’s ex-wife officiated the ceremony. This was proof that Jessen’s past and future lives could coexist peacefully together. Unfortunately, it was the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and Jessen’s change in personality that lead to these two calling it quits two years into marriage.
Scheana Shay & Michael Shay
Scheana Shay made Vanderpump Rules history when she became the first cast member to get married on the hit Bravo series. The hopeless romantic wed her longtime boyfriend Michael Shay during the season 3 finale of the series. Though the wedding, which took place in Santa Susana, California, was gorgeous many fans remember the wedding episode being full of drama thanks to a fellow cast member’s outburst and a surprise non-proposal proposal.
While the couple looked happier than ever on their wedding day, their marriage hit several rocky patches in the coming years. And though fans thought the two were finally in a good place, Shay’s addiction started to get bad again and Scheana knew it was best to call it quits.
About The Author
Danielle Bruncati
(297 Articles Published)
Danielle Bruncati was born and raised in Southern California and has been a story-teller for as long as she can remember. She is currently a freelance writer for ScreenRant and is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Television Writing and Producing from a top 10 film school. When she’s not writing, Danielle can be found binging the latest sitcom or teen tv series with her dog by her side or walking around Disneyland with a Mickey-shaped snack in hand.
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