Some might say that a long engagement means one or both people aren’t ready to commit. But it can be argued that not swapping vows right away is just giving a couple more time to get to know one another and doesn’t mean a relationship is rocky (not always, at least). Here are some stars who didn’t rush to exchange “I dos” and eased into marriage.
/love/photos/longest-celebrity-engagements/ 13271

Getty Images
1 / 15
Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen
Length of engagement: 2 years, the first time...
Current status: Together
Bilson and Christensen met on the set of Jumper and became engaged in 2008. Then they broke up in 2010. Then they reunited and have been together ever since—but still aren't married. They do have a daughter, now: Briar Rose, who will be two in October.
Current status: Together
Bilson and Christensen met on the set of Jumper and became engaged in 2008. Then they broke up in 2010. Then they reunited and have been together ever since—but still aren't married. They do have a daughter, now: Briar Rose, who will be two in October.

Getty Images
2 / 15
Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell
Length of engagement: Three years
Current status: Happily married
The actors began dating in late 2007 and announced their engagement in January 2010, after Bell proposed to Shepard via Twitter. They decided to delay their marriage until the state of California passes legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, which happened on June 26, 2013. The couple, who have two daughters—Lincoln, 3, and Delta, 18 months—were married just four months later.
Current status: Happily married
The actors began dating in late 2007 and announced their engagement in January 2010, after Bell proposed to Shepard via Twitter. They decided to delay their marriage until the state of California passes legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, which happened on June 26, 2013. The couple, who have two daughters—Lincoln, 3, and Delta, 18 months—were married just four months later.

Getty Images
3 / 15
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
Length of engagement: Three years
Current status: Happily married
For the longest time, it seemed Jen An would never find love again—at least, that's what the tabloids wanted us to believe. So we all breathed a sigh of relief when she began dating Theroux in May 2011. The two were engaged on August 10, 2012, and married at their Bel Air estate last August.
Current status: Happily married
For the longest time, it seemed Jen An would never find love again—at least, that's what the tabloids wanted us to believe. So we all breathed a sigh of relief when she began dating Theroux in May 2011. The two were engaged on August 10, 2012, and married at their Bel Air estate last August.

Getty Images
4 / 15
Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal
Length of engagement: Three years
Current status: Happily married
The actors first started dating in 2002 and in April 2006, they announced their engagement. Three years later, on May 2, 2009 the two finally tied the knot and they share two daughters, Ramona, 9, and Gloria, 4.
Current status: Happily married
The actors first started dating in 2002 and in April 2006, they announced their engagement. Three years later, on May 2, 2009 the two finally tied the knot and they share two daughters, Ramona, 9, and Gloria, 4.

Getty Images
5 / 15
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green
Length of engagement: Three years
Current status: Separated? Married? Divorcing? Who knows?
Their romantic history is a roller-coaster ride. They began dating in 2004, got engaged in 2006, but by February 2009, they broke it off. Fox and Green (that should be the name of a TV show, they could fight crime!) got back together, were engaged yet again and got hitched in June 2010. They have two sons, Noah, 3, and Bodhi, 2, but then they broke up, are maybe back together and expecting their third child.
Current status: Separated? Married? Divorcing? Who knows?
Their romantic history is a roller-coaster ride. They began dating in 2004, got engaged in 2006, but by February 2009, they broke it off. Fox and Green (that should be the name of a TV show, they could fight crime!) got back together, were engaged yet again and got hitched in June 2010. They have two sons, Noah, 3, and Bodhi, 2, but then they broke up, are maybe back together and expecting their third child.

Getty Images
6 / 15
Eric Johnson and Jessica Simpson
Length of engagement: Three and a half years
Current status: Happily married
Simpson and the retired NFLer began dating in May 2010 and were engaged by November. But then wedding talk was put on hold when Simpson became pregnant with their first child. Daughter Maxwell was born on May 1, 2012, and wedding rumours began swirling—until Simpson revealed she was pregnant again. She had son Ace on June 30, 2013 and the two married a year later.
Current status: Happily married
Simpson and the retired NFLer began dating in May 2010 and were engaged by November. But then wedding talk was put on hold when Simpson became pregnant with their first child. Daughter Maxwell was born on May 1, 2012, and wedding rumours began swirling—until Simpson revealed she was pregnant again. She had son Ace on June 30, 2013 and the two married a year later.

Getty Images
7 / 15
Matt Bellamy and Kate Hudson
Length of engagement: Four years
Current status: Split
The pair began dating in the spring of 2010. They got engaged the following year and three months later, on July 9, 2011, they welcomed their son, Bingham, into the world. The two announced the end of their engagement, and relationship, in December 2014 but remain friendly.
Current status: Split
The pair began dating in the spring of 2010. They got engaged the following year and three months later, on July 9, 2011, they welcomed their son, Bingham, into the world. The two announced the end of their engagement, and relationship, in December 2014 but remain friendly.

Getty Images
8 / 15
Brooke Burke and David Charvet
Length of engagement: Five years
Current status: Happily married
The couple began dating in 2006 and quickly got engaged. After five years and two children together, they tied the knot in a surprise ceremony on August 12, 2011.
Current status: Happily married
The couple began dating in 2006 and quickly got engaged. After five years and two children together, they tied the knot in a surprise ceremony on August 12, 2011.

Getty Images
9 / 15
Carmelo Anthony and LaLa Vazquez
Length of engagement: Five and a half years
Current status: Happily married
The NBA star and former MTV VJ got engaged in 2004, had son Kiyan in 2007, and exchanged official vows on July 10, 2010, in a ceremony that was filmed for TV.
Current status: Happily married
The NBA star and former MTV VJ got engaged in 2004, had son Kiyan in 2007, and exchanged official vows on July 10, 2010, in a ceremony that was filmed for TV.

Getty Images
10 / 15
Darren Le Gallo and Amy Adams
Length of engagement: Six years
Current status: Happily married
Their relationship has moved at a leisurely place, which was fine for both of them. They dated for 11 years, he popped the question in 2008, their daughter was born two years later and they finally tied the knot in May 2015.
Current status: Happily married
Their relationship has moved at a leisurely place, which was fine for both of them. They dated for 11 years, he popped the question in 2008, their daughter was born two years later and they finally tied the knot in May 2015.

Getty Images
11 / 15
Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher
Length of engagement: Six years
Current status: Happily married
The couple met in 2002 and became engaged in 2004. But it wasn’t until March 15, 2010, did they decide to wed. The two have two daughters, Olive, 9, and Elula, 5 and son Montgomery, 1.
Current status: Happily married
The couple met in 2002 and became engaged in 2004. But it wasn’t until March 15, 2010, did they decide to wed. The two have two daughters, Olive, 9, and Elula, 5 and son Montgomery, 1.

Getty Images
12 / 15
Alessandra Ambrosio and Jamie Mazur
Length of engagement: Eight years
Current status: Together
The supermodel and businessman have been together since 2005 and got engaged three years later, right around the time daughter Anja was born. They also had son Noah in 2012 but still haven't gotten hitched.
Current status: Together
The supermodel and businessman have been together since 2005 and got engaged three years later, right around the time daughter Anja was born. They also had son Noah in 2012 but still haven't gotten hitched.

Getty Images
13 / 15
Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga
Length of engagement: Seven and a half years
Current status: Together
The singer and former WWE wrestler got engaged on Hudson's birthday, September 12, 2008, and she gave birth to her first child, son David Jr., the following year. But they have yet to make it official.
Current status: Together
The singer and former WWE wrestler got engaged on Hudson's birthday, September 12, 2008, and she gave birth to her first child, son David Jr., the following year. But they have yet to make it official.

Getty Images
14 / 15
Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham
Length of engagement: 24 years
Current status: Together
The couple have been together since 1986 and got engaged in November 1992. The ceremony, however, never took place and Winfrey and Graham opted to have a spiritual union instead.
Current status: Together
The couple have been together since 1986 and got engaged in November 1992. The ceremony, however, never took place and Winfrey and Graham opted to have a spiritual union instead.

Getty Images
15 / 15
Shannon Tweed and Gene Simmons
Length of engagement: ???
Current status: Happily married
To be honest, we're not sure if they were engaged, and if so, for how long. They've been together since 1983—33 years, that’s a lifetime in Tinseltown!—and share two children, Nicholas, 27, and Sophie, 23. It was during Season 6 of their reality show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, when the longtime loves finally married on Oct. 1, 2011.
Current status: Happily married
To be honest, we're not sure if they were engaged, and if so, for how long. They've been together since 1983—33 years, that’s a lifetime in Tinseltown!—and share two children, Nicholas, 27, and Sophie, 23. It was during Season 6 of their reality show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, when the longtime loves finally married on Oct. 1, 2011.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT