Celebrity Weddings

While guests are often surprised by the wedding favors, and sometimes caught off guard by a quirky theme or a unique first dance, those who attended Nicole Richie and Joel Madden's wedding were in for a much larger treat – an elephant! According to People magazine, a trained pachyderm was brought to Lionel Richie's Los Angeles home, where the ceremony took place.

Though it is not yet known what the elephant's role was, other details of the celebration have been revealed. The news source reports that Richie wore awedding dress by Marchesa and that a few celebrities were in attendance, including Joel's Good Charlotte bandmate and twin brother Benji Madden, DJ Sam Ronson, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale.

The menu appeared to be as top notch as the guest list. The wedding party dined on a beet and red greens salad, homemade butternut squash ravioli and a choice of filet mignon with truffle risotto or seared Ahi tuna with wasabi cream.

While it sounds perfect, we're still scratching our heads about the elephant's involvement – perhaps it helped the couple pass out the wedding favors? Regardless, we wish the newlyweds, who already have two children together, nothing but happiness!

While celebrity weddings are often kept a secret from the public, it seems that one recent ceremony was even a surprise to the groom! According to People magazine, Danny Bonaduce's girlfriend Amy Railsback, his current manager, planned a beautiful private wedding for the pair, which took place November 22.

Bonaduce, who rose to fame as Danny Partridge on the '70s television program The Partridge Family and then re-entered the public eye in the 2000s as a television host and reality TV star, found out about the wedding after answering a phone call one afternoon.

"The wedding planner from the hotel called to speak with Amy and told me I was getting married!" he told the news source. "I said, 'Honey you got something to tell me?' Then I thought about it, and said, 'This is a great idea!'"

While he may not have had a hand in picking out the wedding invitations or favors, it seems that the "surprise ceremony" was just what the 51-year-old actor wanted. According to the news source, for the past three years he has told Amy he wanted to get married as long as she took care of the planning.

This is Bonaduce's third marriage – he was previously married to real estate agent Setsuko Hattori from 1985 to 1988 and Gretchen Hillmer from 1990 to 2007.

Katy Perry has had her fill of wedding invitations and favors from her recent wedding with beau, Russell Brand, but that doesn't mean she isn't looking forward to seeing Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot.

The pop star has recently used her husband's English ancestry as an excuse to brush up on English history and to gain perspective on the rare occasion of a royal wedding.

"I think it's just one of those moments you don't want to miss…One of my favorite subjects has always been history, and Russell has been very helpful in filling me in with the history of the English," said Perry.

Brides-to-be who are also interested in the monarchy can consider a royal wedding theme for their rehearsal dinners. They can kick it off with invitations that feature royal stylings and perhaps even pictures of the royal couple themselves.

Of course, those who prefer a less tongue-in-cheek approach can opt for classic elegance, as Middleton and her crew of wedding planners are sure to do on the big day. 

Though Jessica Simpson recently made headlines for what many viewed as a rushed engagement, it seems that she is in no hurry to pick out her wedding invitations and wedding favors. Simpson recently told People magazine that she is taking her time planning the ceremony.

"I personally have no idea. I have not set a date and I can't even think about putting together like table settings and all that," Simpson told the news source. "We're just going to enjoy the engagement and we'll get married the moment we feel like it."

However, the bubbly blonde does hope to be celebrating the next holiday season with a wedding ring on her finger.

"By next Christmas, hopefully…we don't have any plans but I'm pretty sure by next Christmas we'll be married," she told the publication.

We wonder how this wedding will compare to Simpson's last ceremony. The performer was famously married to fellow singer Nick Lachey in an elaborate 2002 wedding. After saying "I do," the couple's life was famously documented for the MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.