Famous Couples Who Hit Pause before Tying the Knot
Discover the surprising stories behind famous celebrity couples who took a break before tying the knot, including Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, Prince William and Duchess Kate, and Pink and Carey Hart Explore their journeys to everlasting love!
Celebrity couples often go through splits, but some were able to reconcile and get married in the end.
Pink and Carey Hart began dating in 2001, but went their separate ways in 2003 before reuniting and getting married in 2006. Their marriage lasted for two years before they decided to part ways again. In 2008, Pink wrote on her website, "The most important thing for you all to know is that Carey and I love each other so so much. This breakup is not about cheating, anger, or fighting. I know it sounds like cliché bulls–t, but we are best friends, and we will continue to be."
During their time apart, Pink and Hart drew up divorce papers before deciding to give their relationship another chance in 2010. Pink later revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2016 that they had two breaks, the first lasting about a year and the second 11 months.
Pink, who has a daughter named Willow and a son named Jameson with Hart, spoke about how counseling played a crucial role in saving their marriage. "It's the only reason that we're still together because, you know, I think partners after a long time, we just speak — I can't say it's a man and woman thing, I think it's a partner thing, a spouse thing — that you just speak two different languages," she confessed during an Instagram Live session in June 2020.
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Scroll down to see which other stars took a break before getting hitched:
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Celebrity Couples Who Took a Break Before Getting Married
Many celebrity couples often split up, but some have reconciled and eventually got married. Pink and Carey Hart, for example, began dating in 2001, briefly broke up in 2003, and then reunited to tie the knot in 2006. Unfortunately, their marriage ended after two years. Pink assured fans that their breakup was not due to cheating, anger, or fighting, as they still loved each other and remained best friends. She emphasized that they would continue to love and support each other.
During their time apart, Pink and Hart drew up divorce papers but decided to give their relationship another chance in 2010. "We've had two breaks," Pink revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2016. "The first one was about a year. And the second one was 11 months."
Pink, who has a daughter named Willow and a son named Jameson with Hart, later shared how counseling played a crucial role in saving their marriage. "It's the only reason that we're still together because, you know, I think partners after a long time, we just speak — I can't say it's a man and woman thing, I think it's a partner thing, a spouse thing — that you just speak two different languages," she confessed during a June 2020 Instagram Live.
Scroll down to see which other stars took a break before getting hitched:
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Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
They first began dating after meeting on the set of their 2009 film, The Last Song. After getting engaged in May 2012, the couple broke up the next year, only to rekindle their relationship in March 2016. They eventually tied the knot two years later. However, they announced their separation in August 2019 and completed their divorce in January of the following year.
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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
The couple, who began their relationship in 2006, briefly separated before quickly reuniting. They eventually got married in 2013. Teigen and Legend are now proud parents to daughter Luna and son Miles.
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Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
In 2007, Timberlake began a relationship with Biel, but they briefly split two years later. After reconciling, the couple got engaged in 2011 and tied the knot in Italy the following year. They welcomed their first son, Silas, in April 2015, and their second son, Phineas, in July 2020.
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Prince William and Duchess Kate
The royal couple began their courtship while studying at St. Andrews University in Scotland, and continued their relationship after graduation. Despite a brief breakup in April 2007, they got back together later that summer.
William and Kate, who tied the knot in April 2011, share three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
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Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard
Shepard initially ended his relationship with the Good Place actress, but later had a change of heart. The couple, who are parents to daughters Lincoln and Delta, tied the knot in October 2013.
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Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo
The musician initially ended the relationship with the model in 2013. After two months, the couple patched things up and became engaged. They exchanged vows in July 2014 and eventually had daughters Dusty Rose and Gio.
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Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos
The twosome broke up one week before their May 1996 nuptials, only to get back together days later and elope in Las Vegas.
They couple share sons Michael and Joaquin and daughter Lola.
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Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green
Fox and Green were engaged for two years before calling off their wedding in February 2009. They got back together and exchanged vows in June 2010.
The Jennifer's Body actress initiated divorce proceedings in 2017 after five years of marriage, but later rescinded the request due to her third pregnancy. In May 2020, Green announced that they had chosen to part ways. The couple finalized their divorce settlement in February 2022.
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Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler
The reality star cancelled her engagement to the NFL quarterback in July 2011. Following couples therapy, the pair got married in June 2013. The Uncommon James founder announced her separation from Cutler in April 2020. The couple share sons Camden and Jaxon and daughter Saylor.
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Nick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey
The cohosts of Love Is Blind ended their relationship in June 2009, but reconciled four months later. They finally made their relationship official in July 2011 and eventually welcomed three children: Camden, Brooklyn, and Phoenix.
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Pink and Carey Hart
The singer and Hart ended their relationship in 2003 before getting married in January 2006. The couple, who have a daughter named Willow and a son named Jameson, separated again in 2008 but eventually reconciled.
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Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade
The Being Mary Jane actress originally dated the basketball player from 2009 to 2013. Although they briefly parted ways, they got engaged in December 2013.
Union and Wade got married in August 2014 and are currently raising his three sons from previous relationships, Zaire, Zion and Xavier, as well as his nephew Dahveon. In November 2018, they welcomed their first child together, daughter Kaavia, via surrogate.
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Michael Phelps and Nicole Johnson
The Olympian had a fluctuating relationship with Johnson for eight years before finally proposing. The couple, who have three sons - Boomer, Beckett, and Maverick, marked their June 2016 wedding with three separate ceremonies.
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Sam Hunt and Hannah Lee Fowler
In 2017, Hunt confessed to making seven trips to Hawaii in three months in an effort to win Fowler back. The couple, who had been in an on-again, off-again relationship for nearly a decade, got engaged after Hunt released a song titled "Drinkin' Too Much" as an apology to Fowler. They then married in April 2017.
However, in February 2022, Fowler filed for divorce, accusing Hunt of "inappropriate marital conduct" and "adultery." She revealed in the filing that she was expecting their first child. Although she withdrew the divorce filing that same day, Fowler later refiled in a different state.
Fowler eventually dismissed the divorce filing in April 2022, one month before she and Hunt welcomed their daughter, Lucy. The pair went on to welcome their second baby in November 2023.
