Celebrities Rush to the Altar - Is It for Love or Money?

By Amber James Posted Jan 13th 2010 03:46PM

In less than four months, Katy Perry and Russell Brand have gone from dating to engaged. The courtship began in September following the MTV Music Awards, and the couple's whirlwind romance has us wondering why they're rushing to the altar. For their sake, we hope it's true love. But in Hollywood where most romances fizzle quickly, we want to make sure no hearts get broken. Experts chat with PopEater about why Hollywood stars keep rushing into marriage and the looming trouble ahead with these quickie nuptials.

In a world where celebrity divorce is considered the norm, the public is quick to judge celebrities who appear to be rushing into marriage. Perry and Brand's engagement seems pretty lax compared to Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom, who tied the knot after a month-long courtship.

Lori Gorshow, a dating relationship coach and President of Dating Made Simple, points out to PopEater that the honeymoon courtship of any relationship is about three years, but for celebrities in Hollywood, it's accelerated. "What most people experience in 3 to 5 years, celebrities will face all in one year," she says. "What may seem like a whirlwind romance is actually innocent and normal," but Gorshow still thinks some Hollywood stars rush into marriage just for exposure.

Whether A-list couples are truly in love or not, it's no secret that money can buy love for some. When stars hook up, it draws attention to them leading to an "economic boom" in celebrities' careers and pocketbooks, Gorshow says.

Reports alleged that Odom and Kardashian's $1 million wedding was paid for by one man, Ryan Seacrest -- who produces 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians'. Every moment was caught on tape and aired during a special one-hour special. And OK! Magazine reportedly paid out close to $300,000 to have exclusive photos from the wedding.

In the same vein, celebrities can get pretty much anything they want, when they want it -- even when it comes to love. Who can forget Britney Spears' two whirlwind marriages in 2004? First, Spears married childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander on January 3, 2004, at The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas -- and had it annulled only 55 hours later. Then in July 2004, Spears announced her engagement to Kevin Federline, three months after they met. While we truly think Spears was looking for love, that relationship began the downward spiral of her career.

On the positive side, Tom Cruise proposed to Katie Holmes three months after they started dating. Critics were quick to judge, predicating they'd never make it. Proving naysayers wrong, Cruise and Holmes celebrated their third wedding anniversary in November.

Even Kyra Sedgwick joked with About.com reporters, saying waiting ten months for a proposal from Kevin Bacon felt like an eternity. "He said, 'Will you marry me?' I thought, 'What took you so long? We've been going out for 10 months already.'" The couple have been married over 21 years.

Although Hollywood couples have a lot stacked against them, Perry and Brand can make relationships work if they're really in love, says DeAnna Lorraine, a professional dating coach and matchmaker. "They need to sit down and figure out why they are choosing this person for life... Once the infatuation cools down, lots of celebrities end up disappointed and move on."

"Celebrity couples also need a strategy for overcoming the hard times because there are always going to be rocky moments, but they need to figure out how they'll overcome that as a team."

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Katy Perry Pics

Russell Brand and Katy Perry arrive at LAX airport on January 10, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. More photos >>

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Katy Perry Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Russell Brand and his fiance Katy Perry arrive to Los Angeles clinging to each other as they make their way through a sea of photographers. As Katy holds onto Russell's scarf you can catch a glimpse of her shimmering engagement ring. NON-EXCLUSIVE January 10, 2010 Job: 100111W1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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Russell Brand and Katy Perry arrive at LAX airport on January 10, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Russell Brand & Katy Perry Sighting In Los Angeles - January 10, 2010 Los Angeles, CA United States January 10, 2010 Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com To license this image (59255371), contact WireImage.com

Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com

Russell Brand and Katy Perry arrive at LAX airport on January 10, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - January 10, 2010 Los Angeles, CA United States January 10, 2010 Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com To license this image (59255377), contact WireImage.com

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©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Newly engaged Russell Brand and Katy Perry arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). NON-EXCLUSIVE January 10, 2010 Job: 100110NB1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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Tags: britney spears, BritneySpears, Katy Perry, KatyPerry, kevin federline, KevinFederline, khloe kardashian, KhloeKardashian, LamarOdom, Russell Brand, RussellBrand

Comments

(9)

Wednesday 13 January

By Happy Single Captain of Her Own Ship

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I have to laugh whenever I hear of anyone getting married - famous, not famous, gay, straight, whatever. Why would anyone in his/her right mind want to legally and financially bind themselves to another person? And EVERY single divorced couple starts out on their wedding day saying, 'It'll never happen to us, we'll be together forever'. Too funny!

By Joella Mortimer

I finally found a person to feel sorry for and it is "Happy Single Captain Of Her Own Ship". Wow...to talk as if you have never loved or been loved by another person is so sad :(
If you thing of marriage as being financially and legally binded to another person but never mention love....that is so sad :{

By leon

It is for Money even my ex said on our divorce that she married me for financial convience not for love. It must be true then. Money rules Love takes a lesser place.

By frenchblue367

Leon, and Happy Single Captain, I do truly feel sorry for both of you. That you've never found the sort of true love that will make your life happy. Pathetic is really the word I think I'm looking for. Look outside of your own selfish world Miss Happy Single Captain, and maybe you'll find happiness knowing that you bring it to someone else (besides yourself) and Leon, you just picked the wrong one the first time. But I can say that I'm just glad you didn't fall for Miss Happy Single Captain, because she'd have ripped out your heart and stomped it.

By Frank Verdi

Russell & Katy getting married - That's nice & about as meaningful as what they ate this morning for breakfast.

Of course I believe in "soulmate love" & there are veritable couples in Hollywood whose marriages have worked as credit to themselves and as exceptions who validate the rule.

The self-centeredness of stardom & the selflessness of sharing one's life do not make bedfellows.

Why is it that their divorces seem so much more honest...

By uacrack

I was on set of Russel Brands movie get him to the greek, and he made out with several girls and a dude, all without the extras being informed before hand. So I would give this relationship 5 months at best, he was also nearly burned Wacko Jacko style as pyrotechnics poored on him

By Aisley

What's the big deal? They dated for four months? For me that's an eternity. My husband and I got engaged two days after we met, and we married 30 days after. And guess what? That was 15 years ago, and we're still together. Things haven't being a garden of roses, but I do not regret even a second of those 15 years. So, good luck to Kate and Russell.

Thursday 14 January

By James

My wife and I have been married for just over 10 years, and we have four lovely children. Even after all this time I think she is the sexiest thing on the planet. She is so incredible that I thank the Lord almost every day for her.

I think marriage is such a strong symbol and imperative for a long lasting relationship.

By brettdb334

Maybe he's in a rush before she reads his book and gets to the part where he joins an orgy at a sex party before joining sexaholics anonymous.

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