How 15 Celebrity Couples Looked When They First Debuted vs Today

Some Hollywood relationships start and finish before the ink on various tabloid pages dries. But there are some lovebirds with relationships that embrace each coming decade. Comparing their first debut photos to more recent shots, we can see how much some couples have changed yet stayed the same.

Here at Bright Side, we decided to arrange a “how it started vs how it’s going” contest for famous couples and found some photos that gave us both instant flashbacks from the past along with relationship goals for the future. We’d love for you to witness the never-fading love together with us.

1. Victoria and David Beckham

Victoria and David Beckham had been dating for a year before they made their big reveal at a press conference in 1998. Their romance is probably worth being recorded in history books, and their happy marriage has lasted for over 20 years now.

2. Kate Middleton and Prince William

In April 2021, Kate Middleton and Prince William celebrated 10 years of marriage. The relationship between the heir to the throne and the Duchess of Cambridge has always been followed closely by journalists and royal observers. This publicity might have been extremely difficult for any other relationship, but it seems they’ve been successful at coping with the public pressure by leaning on each other and trying to live as privately as possible.

3. Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn

This couple has been going strong since they first met in 1966 and began dating in 1983. The duo has never been married, but in numerous interviews, they’ve confessed that they’re happy together and don’t care that much about official wedding procedures.

4. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

The love story of Blake and Ryan began on the set of Green Lantern in 2010. In July of the same year, they first appeared together in public and provoked a huge stir among fans. At that time, they both were dating other people. In September 2012 the couple got married secretly in South Carolina and since then, their family has only grown bigger and stronger.

5. Meryl Streep and Don Gummer

Don Gummer has stood by Meryl Streep’s side for over 4 decades. They first met in 1978, when Streep was mourning the death of her then-boyfriend, John Cazale, who died of lung cancer. Later, in the same year, the couple got married in the garden of her parents’ home, and they’ve never parted since.

6. Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton

The couple first met in 2014 on the set of the show, The Voice. In 2015, their romance officially started, however, to many people, they seemed like an odd pair. They became not only romantic partners, but musical ones as well, and they even recorded a song, “Go Ahead and Break My Heart.” In July 2021, they finally made their relationship official by getting married, and their family is pretty big and includes 3 sons from Gwen’s previous marriage, and they all seem to be happy and enjoying life together.

7. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.

Life and destiny can play tricks on us and be unpredictable at times, but something everyone can rely on is Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s love. Their love story started in 1997 on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer. They got married in 2002 and have since been a model to follow for people who appreciate traditional family values and believe in true love at first sight.

8. Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault

Actress Salma Hayek and the CEO of a big fashion house, Pinault, have been married since 2009. Salma’s fans used to think that she married Pinault because of his wealth and status, but as she has confessed in numerous interviews before she was attracted to him, she didn’t know who he was or how much money he had. They have a common daughter and are never tired of saying that their marriage is something that makes them both better people.

9. Justin and Hailey Bieber

Justin and Hailey have been married since 2018, and their first meeting was quite awkward, as Hailey hardly even cracked a smile when she was introduced to Justin. They have a bit of an age gap between them, and their relationship hasn’t always been stable, as they’ve parted and then reunited in the past. But now they are happily married, and Justin never grows tired of expressing his love for his better half in any possible style and manner, showing fans a good example of what love and commitment are.

10. Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber

This 23-year-old relationship between a supermodel and a nightlife industry magnate started when Cindy was still married to her first husband, Richard Gere. The couple first met at Cindy’s agent’s wedding where they were invited with Rande’s girlfriend and Cindy’s husband, but Cindy came there alone. They liked each other at first sight, but only after Cindy parted with Richard Gere did she start dating Rande. Today, their marriage is crowned by 2 kids and is based on mutual respect and support.

11. Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith

Pierce Brosnan is not only the ex-James Bond and the symbol of masculinity to a lot of women, but he’s also a devoted husband and father together with his wife, Keely. The 2 have been together since they first met in 1994 by chance. Pierce is sure that his wife is the most decent woman on Earth, and Keely often says that her husband is a handsome man who is aging gracefully.

12. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

This couple was able to break all possible barriers and got married in August 2008. They met in 2000, but their relationship started only in 2004, and this gave de Rossi all the necessary confidence to come out as gay. In their interviews, the couple never grows tired of repeating that they, above all, are friends in their relationship, which means standing by one another’s side and doing lovely things together, like rescuing abandoned puppies or helping each other survive through toxic working relationships.

13. Beyoncé and Jay-Z

This couple is considered to be one of the most well-known duos in the world. They met in 2000 and started dating in 2001. Their secret wedding in 2008 marked the beginning of a family that is still as solid as a rock. They have 3 children together and their marriage has continued to stay strong over the years.

14. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

The couple first met in 2006 on the set of a music video for the song, Stereo. As Chrissy has often said in her interviews, marriage was never her goal, she just felt that John was her man without all the officialities. They tied the knot in 2013 and later made their union even stronger by welcoming 2 kids to the family. Legend claims that the keystone in the fortress of their relationship is the genuine sense of humor that Chrissy has. “She makes me laugh all the time”, he says in his interviews.

15. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

One of the most iconic couples in Hollywood just celebrated their twenty-third anniversary in 2020. Their marriage was full of drama and misunderstanding, but they managed to weather all the storms in their family, including separation and affair rumors. Will said that their marriage survived through the toughest of times only because they were not afraid of making mistakes, and he adds that they now have unconditional love for each other.

Which of the photos came as the biggest surprise to you? Which couple do you consider to be ultimate relationship goals?