This week, news broke that Kristen Stewart and her rumored girlfriend Stella Maxwell crashed a wedding in Winnipeg, Canada. The brides seemed to enjoy it—“It was complimentary to have her there but we just tried to keep it as normal and casual as possible,” they told E! News.
Stewart and Maxwell are far from the first celebrities to show up to nuptials uninvited. In fact, it’s almost a time-honored tradition in Hollywood—dine at the Polo Lounge, party at Chateau Marmont, crash some stranger’s reception in Malibu. But some celebrities crash betters than others.
Jeremy Grey and John Beckwith from Wedding Crashers famously had 115 rules for crashing a wedding (some of which did not age well, like Rule No. 21: Definitely make sure she’s 18 . . . cringe.) But for Hollywood A-listers, it can be narrowed down to these simple five.
Rule No. 1: Don’t steal the spotlight.
This rule is the most important—this is the bride and groom’s day. Make sure that it stays that way. We know it’s hard, and that your intentions are pure. You’re super-famous, super-good-looking, and super-charming—the spotlight naturally finds you! But we beg of you, tone it down.
Take this horror story: While dating Conor Kennedy in 2011, Taylor Swift reportedly not only went to a family wedding uninvited, but made a splash while doing so. The bride’s mother was so annoyed she blabbed to the press about it. “I personally went up to Ms. Swift, whose entrance distracted the entire event, politely introduced myself to her and asked her as nicely as I could to leave,” she told the Boston Herald. (Swift’s representative denied this claim.)
Now, we doubt that was Swift’s intention, but at the end of the day, the family’s feelings were still hurt. So, the key to positively crashing someone’s wedding? Not making an entrance.
Rule No. 2: Stick to fans and stans.
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Ask yourself this: Do I hold a special meaning to their relationship? Will my attendance make the bride and groom genuinely happy?
Taylor Swift seemed to learn from her earlier mistakes: In 2016, she showed up to the wedding of a super-fan who had used her music to cope with his mother’s death. It clearly meant the world to him that she was there. And that’s the best kind of celebrity crash—the one that makes a special day even more special, one that’s meaningful and genuine. But if you’re just bored and just think your presence might be cool? Think again, it could also be an awkward moment for a couple who’s wondering why you are there. So don’t roll up to that open bar willy nilly.
Rule No. 3: When in doubt, opt for the photo op.
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Last year, Tom Hanks executed the perfect low-key wedding crash when he photobombed a couple’s pictures in Central Park. The whole ordeal lasted a few minutes, and from the looks of it, gave the bride and groom quite the story. Brad Pitt did something similar in 2013, as did Serena Williams in 2014. An uninvited guest, celebrity or otherwise, at a ceremony or reception can turn stressful (see Rule No. 1.) But photos? That’s a much more relaxed affair, and it provides a fun memento that the couple will cherish for years to come.
Rule No. 4: Maybe don’t post on social media.
Remember: These are normal, non-famous people you’re dealing with. Although it might seem harmless to post a picture of their wedding to millions of followers, they aren’t used to—and may not want—all that attention. If they want to put it online, that’s their prerogative. But don’t make the decision for them.
Rule No. 5: You must dance.
Okay, we may have borrowed this from the movie. But the sentiment still stands—everyone, even superstars, must head to the dance floor. It’s just bad form if you don’t. So brush up on your “Livin’ on a Prayer” lyrics and prepare to twist and shout.