Nothing brings out paparazzi like a celebrity wedding. Lurking behind bushes, hovering in their helicopters, they can wreak havoc on the most romantic event. Some celebrities have decided to take matters into their own hands and elope rather than weather the onslaught of the unwelcome. There is more to life than miles of tulle, flower girls, and bridesmaids.

The late Kennedy darling, John, Jr., and his blushing bride Carolyn surprised the world with a secret wedding at a little chapel off the coast of Georgia. Only the closest of family members were invited, keeping with a Kennedy tradition of privacy when at all possible. Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck flew away to pledge their respective troths. Heaven forbid another Bennifer disaster. Runaway brides notwithstanding, many famous names have chosen to forego large weddings so they can reap some semblance of solitude for their special day.

For every celebrity who chooses to go into hiding with the love of her life, there is another who wants to flaunt it at every turn. Take Liz Taylor. The number of weddings she had tops the charts. Some were even a little restrained, but more times than not, she chose extravaganza over subtle. But really, how much is too much? Princess Di and Prince Charles had the world watching when they took their vows. Millions of dollars for one afternoon can seem a little over the top to some, but others revel in the attention.

A wedding does not make the marriage. Many show biz weddings have proven that. And the old saying “opposites attract” couldn’t be more true when you look at some of the celebrities hooking up. Biker Lance Armstrong and rocker Cheryl Crow, Dr. Phil’s therapist-type son and his Playboy Playmate, sweet Sandra Bullock and her biker Jesse James—stranger things have happened. When love is in the air, nothing else matters.