POP CULTURE
It's official: As of last Friday, Justin Timberlake has said "bye bye bye" to the single life! After five years together, the former-*NSYNC member, 31, and Jessica Biel, 30, tied the knot in a top-secret Italian wedding. "It's great to be married, the ceremony was beautiful and it was so special to be surrounded by our family and friends," the newlyweds told People magazine in an exclusive statement on Friday.
The couple was so intent to keep the wedding's location under wraps that they initially had guests fly into Germany and then had them transported via private jet to an undisclosed Italian locale. E! News even reported that guests were requested to sign nondisclosure agreements, ensuring that the nuptial's details stayed private for as long as possible (in other words, until tomorrow, when exclusive photos and details will be published in People).
Us Weekly reported that the duo's closest family and friends joined in the ceremony and festivities, which took place at the Borgo Egnazia, a huge hotel complex in southern Italy. The ceremony was themed "white," boasting white floral displays throughout the entirety of the buildings, and guests showered the newlyweds with white heart-shaped flowers as they emerged from the chapel. Among the 150 guests were Saturday Night Live alum Andy Samberg and music producer Timbaland.
Why the choice of Italy as the ceremony's location rather than the more traditional stateside setting? It's possible that the newlyweds were influenced by the wedding of Biel's former 7th Heaven co-star, Beverley Mitchell, who was married in southern Italy back in 2008. Biel served as a bridesmaid and, who knows, maybe she was taking notes.
JT and his lady's nuptials mark the peak of their on-and-off romance, which began back in 2007. The couple briefly split in late 2009 and again in March 2011, releasing a statement that there were "no hard feelings"-which became obvious when Timberlake popped the question in December with a customized six-carat engagement ring.
Prior to all this romance between the "SexyBack" singer and his former-7th Heaven star love, they each had high-profile relationships of their own. Timberlake was linked to Britney Spears and later had a more mature relationship with actress Cameron Diaz. Biel spent her pre-Timberlake years dating Captain America hunk Chris Evans and, briefly, New York Yankees shortshop Derek Jeter.
Now that the couple is hitched, the pressure's on for kids: a five-year-long courtship and no baby before the wedding? Certainly doesn't sound like classic Hollywood to me. Then again, considering the pair's backgrounds-she was raised in Colorado, he hails from Tennessee-it's unsurprising that they take things slowly. Guess we'll just have to sit back and wait to see what Hollywood's freshest newlyweds do next.
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